Pulsatile Tinnitus / Heartbeat in Ear - What From?
 

I have pulsatile tinnitus, or heartbeat noise, in one ear on the left side. I was hit on the right side. The noise can sometimes be altered by messing with the tissue or muscle (or artery, I don't know) next to my throat on the same side. It comes and goes.

Other things also on the left side of head:

• a one-sided headache after the injury
• a black dot in my vision
• when I press on my pulse in the neck, a whooshing sound is created
• when I turn my head from right to left, a clicking noise is heard in my ear (I can feel a muscle or something move)

None of these symptoms are present on the right side. Is it likely muscular, tissue, vascular, vestibular, a combination, or something else? What kind of doctor do you recommend seeing or tests to get for this, if any?

I don't know, but I can relate to your problems. I used to get whooshing in my left ear, tinnitus, hypercusis and earache. I am thankfully much better and only have earache after a gym session now. Like yourself, I hit my head on the opposite side. A year on I am still on medication, but it is helping me lead a normal life.

Please do not manipulate your Carotid artery - the neck artery pulse area. Checking your pulse is a different pressure; but pressing to check on sounds, or pressing too hard and holding that pressure can be bad.

There is an area called the Carotid Sinus, used in emergent situations for Cardiac care;

-- if you manipulate this area of the Carotid artery wrongly, you could induce severe Bradycardia (slow heart rate), hypotension (low blood pressure ) and cardiac arrest.

Hey Vanilla Bean,
Sounds very annoying! I have some similar issues. My Neuro recommended I see an ENT. I haven't yet scheduled an appointment but I can let you know how it goes.

If your neck muscles are tight or in spasms, they can cause those sounds.
The muscles could be squeezing /pressing on the artery, creating the pulse like whooshing sounds.

If you, a friend, PT or expert chiro can massage/ relieve the muscle tightness this sound may disappear.

Vanilla im having the same issues, right now my ears are ringing badly, head pressure bad, lot of whooshing sounds, i know how u feel im in it rough right now.


ED

I got ultrasound therapy session on my neck muscles today and my noise is much lower. Should I be concerned about the heating effects of ultrasound around my neck area? Can that gentle heating caused by ultrasound damage my inner ear(cochlea) assuming it enters the ultrasound waves enter my cochlea through my neck ? I still have 5 sessions to go. Should I continue ?