“Ringing in the Ears”

HEAR TOGETHER

AZ Tinnitus Support Group for September, 2007

Annual revised WebSite/Newsletter for Fiscal Year 2007-2008

 

                 “Do you have ringing in the ears?”  Does this constant ringing in your ears bother you?  Are you looking for relief or answers how to cope with this ringing, or tinnitus?  Do you need to meet and network with fellow tinnitus sufferers? 

 

                Look to our local tinnitus support discussion group in metro-Phoenix to ask questions, to get some answers from fellow tinnitus sufferers, and for one to one “buddy” telephone support, education, and assistance.

 

                We are the Phoenix local tinnitus support group, an affiliate of the American Tinnitus Association formed in 1971 in Portland, Oregon.     On the World Wide Web visit the National American Tinnitus Association headquarters at:    www.ata.org

 

                The American Tinnitus Association’s mission is to silence ringing in the ears.

 

                Did you know that tinnitus, ringing in the ears or head noises, is experienced by as many as 50 million Americans?  Those who have it in a severe, stressful, or life-disrupting form often seek medical help without answers from their physicians!!!  It is estimated that about 80% of these sufferers cope with it with no medical treatment.  However, it is believed that an estimated 12 million people have tinnitus to a distressing degree.  It is to those sufferers our local chapter offers some support. 

 

                This is our sixth revised newsletter published, on the Web, since September of 2002.  Again during the past fiscal year we had regularly been meeting Monthly at Denny’s Downtown Restaurant in Scottsdale.  We have again been scheduled to continue meeting at Denny’s Restaurant generally set (but not always) on the first Mondays.  This year we will start the new fiscal year on Monday—September 10th, 2007.   (This is the Second Monday of the Month because Labor Day falls on the previous Monday.)  We will resume meeting at our regularly scheduled time beginning at 7:00 p.m. until around 9:00 p.m. 

 

                The address for Denny’s is:  3315 North Scottsdale Road, which is one-half block South of Osborn Road on the East side of Scottsdale Road in ‘old’ downtown Scottsdale, Arizona. 

 

                Since we only publish an annual newsletter on the Internet, we suggest for you to save and download this newsletter and keep our permanent WebSites and contact numbers handy. 

 

                Our meetings are open, on a month to month basis, for tinnitus sufferers, and with compassionate and professional medical practitioners/speakers.  Over nine years ago my predecessor, John J. Nichols, had prepared a monthly agenda of  medical speakers, and a summary of their presentation was regularly mailed to our supporters.  Our library/depository has most of the monthly newsletters previously prepared by John Nichols from circa 1994 through March of 2002. 

 

                We are always open to new tinnitus sufferers and with our faithful supporters—and up to date health practitioners—who are seeking the truth in fact .  Primarily we are a network support group discussing how we can cope and live with tinnitus.  We are flexible with our scheduled first Monday of the month support group. 

 

                It has been the mission of  our current facilitator of our tinnitus support group, to seek the truth, searching for better and better alternative solutions coping with tinnitus, at reasonable medical cost, that benefit tinnitus sufferers and sometimes we address other related health concerns.  Unfortunately, during the past several years, some medical practitioners are not in the new up to date technology “to silence tinnitus through education, advocacy, research, and support.”  One Example:  Mrs. Carol Brook’s book (mentioned below) about her horror story goes into some details about this. 

 

                One of our on-going guest speakers has provided to our group about the world-wide exponential growth of medical research on Tinnitus that is becoming more and more readily available through the Internet.  Literally, thousands of WebSites throughout the world have articles on tinnitus.  To narrow searches consider using www.pubmed.com the national library of medicine’s research site.  If you are looking for thousands of “hits” on the Web, I would suggest you use the two major search engines:  Dogpile.com and Google.com and type related search words such as  “tinnitus.”    

 

                We strongly encourage you to call upon the only Tinnitus Medical Clinic in Arizona.  You may call upon Dr. Michael J. Robb, M.D. at:   (480) 303-1133.   You may call his office for his WebSite.  We hope that in the near future that Dr. Robb will provide us with an up to date Newsletter for this WebSite. 

 

                In addition we suggest you specifically search the following WebSites:  (Always being changed, and updated --not all inclusive)

 

American Tinnitus Association        www.ata.org

American Hypocausts Association  www.nia.nih.gov/naca

Dr. Pawel J. Jasterboff         www.tinitus-pjj.com

Dr. Jonathan W. P. Hazell (Otologic Surgeon)

www.tinnitus.org

Google:  “OHSU Tinnitus Clinic” Oregon Health Sciences University

 “Oregon Tinnitus Data Archive”

Managed by Mary Meikle, Ph.D.

 

Dr. Petroff Audio Technologies        www.tinnitushelp.com

 

Tinnitus Clinics in the United States:

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (T.R.T.)

www.tinnitus-pjj.com

www.tinnitus-hyperacusis.com (Susan Gold, M.A., CCC-A, audiologist, University of Maryland

http://epl.mei.harvard.edu/~ral     Robert A. Levine, M.D.

Dr. Levine is an oto-neurologist at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Informary/Harvard Medical School. Boston, Massachusetts

 

www.tinn.com (Dr. Stephen M. Nagles—general surgeon

www.dizziness-and-balance.com (Timonthy C. Hain, M.D., -- oto-neurologist in Chicago

 

www.healthyhearing.com (Doubles L. Beck, Au.D.

 

Hearing Instrument Companies—specializing in custom and ready-to-wear sound generators for the purposes of facilitating habituation of tinnitus reaction and perception:

 

Inexpensive Sound Maskers at Wallgreen Drug Stores

 

General Hearing Instruments, Inc.

Post Office Box  23748

New Orleans, LA  70183-0748

(800)-824-3021

Name of product:  Tranquil and Harmony

WebSite:  www.generalhearing.com

 

United Hearing Systems

137 Norwich Road

Central Villate, CT  06332

(800)-835-2001      Name of product:  Solace

WebSite:  www.unitedhearing.com

 

                A few years ago we made a new friend in Northern California who almost died when she suffered from an extreme case of hyperacusis-tinnitus.  Mrs. Carol Lee Brook in her book, “Tortured by Sound—Beyond Human Endurance,” is excellent reading in novel form a real horror story  (based upon her true experience) beginning from where she started hearing ringing in her ears, (auto accident) how it impacted her life, the many medical charlatans she met and finally describing non-surgical and non-invasive therapy which completely and permanently reversed/cured Carol’s hyperacusis.   The narrative, goes into specific detail describing treatment from several infamous medical charlatans, and finally her discovering Dr. Jastreboff’s tinnitus retraining therapy (“T.R.T.”) which first alleviated Carol’s hyperacusis.  New tinnitus medical patients may expect to receive the same treatment from the medical establishment that Carol describes in her book.  Carol also has strong reservations against having air-bags employed in automobiles.  Why?  Because the very loud noise of the activation of an air-bag, even in minor accidents, can cause serious hearing loss/hyperacusis.  I understand the explosive sound of a deployed car airbag is louder than a jet engine upon takeoff.  As St. Augustine once said, “Without knowledge we must have faith; and Without faith we must have knowledge.”  We need both faith and knowledge to fight tinnitus.  You may contact Mrs. Brook at:  Roaring Productions, Inc. at 1318 High Street in Alameda, California  94501.  Her direct telephone number is:  (510) 895-5571. 

                                                               

                Again, during this past year, we did not spend much money since Denny’s Restaurant has been very supportive with us allowing us to meet in their complimentary back room.  All of Denny’s Restaurants are now smoke free!!!  Therefore, we ask all of you when you visit Denny’s , please order a meal, and also to be generous with our waitresses.  We need to continue maintaining a good rapport with Denny’s. 

 

                We received about 100 new referral calls during the past year mainly through the A.T.A. and our WebSite, and other groups.  One common denominator I noticed from all our callers, new and old, is that just about every person suffering with tinnitus probably also has problems with depression, anxiety, panic attacks, etc.  During the past several years our current acting president of the Arizona Support Group personally experienced some problems with Depression, panic attacks, and numbness in his feet, and other psychological disorders, so he got a list of Depression support groups in the Valley through the Mental Health Association of Arizona—Peer Support Groups.  To get a list of 16 Peer Support Groups, we suggest contacting them at: 6411 East Thomas Road in Scottsdale.   Telephone number is :  (480) 994-4407.  To print-out the depression Peer Support Groups, you may go directly to their WebSite at:  www.mhaarizona.org.   If any of you have symptoms of depression, we highly recommend you review the peer support group list and consider visiting some of these meetings.  At these peer support groups you will be introduced by your first name.  Also, their meetings, like ours, are free!!!  No reservations are required. 

 

                We have maintained (or added) accumulating an additional 100 active people to our regular mailing list during the past fiscal year.  We have deleted those who have been largely inactive during the past several years.   We need to drop in -actives to save mailing costs!!!

 

                Our meeting schedule, at Denny’s Restaurant, for the upcoming fiscal year (2007-2008) are tentatively scheduled as follows:

 

Generally starting on Monday Evenings beginning at our regularly scheduled time which begins at 7:00 p.m.:   September 10th, 2007, October 1st, November 5th, December 3rd, 2007, January 7th, 2008, February 4th, March 3rdth, April 7th, May 5th, and June 2nd, 2008.  We generally recess during July and August, and some Septembers of every year.

 

 

Also:  Keep these local E-Mail addresses handy: 

 

Http://aztecfreenet.org/tinnitus  (always being updated)

E-Mail:  tinnitus@aztecfreenet.org

Alternative E-Mail:  freeacs@aztecfreenet.org

 

Our main contact numbers are:  Bill Teske at (480) 947-3243 and Jim Soudriette at (602) 955-8877. 

 

                Again like the past year, we have regularly invited Michael J. A. Robb., M.D., an oto-neurologist several times to provide his up to date news for our tinnitus sufferers.  (Unfortunately, at this time, we must stress, there is no known cure or “magic silver bullet” that can cure tinnitus 100%.) 

 

This WebSite/newsletter was prepared by:  

 

 

WILLIAM L. TESKE,

Acting local chapter President

AZ Tinnitus Support Group

Post Office Box  1211

Scottsdale, Arizona   85252-1211

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Message Telephone:  (480) 947-3243

 

 

The following medical News Briefs have contributed the following articles:

 

 

A Perspective on Nerve Functions and Tinnitus

By the late Dr. Robert C. Bright, D.C.

(Doctor of Chiropractic, 52 years)

(1923 -  2006)

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NERVE FUNCTIONS

 

                This article is being written in lay language for the layman.  Function means to work.  In this article we are not concerned in the mechanics of how they work. because physiologists have never really found the answers.  For example, we do not know if electricity travels through the wire or around it, but we use electricity everyday.  We need to recognize that our nerves, do in fact, work like wires.  At a University in Colorado several years ago, an experiment was done by a Japanese researcher and he found the weight of a thin dime lying across a nerve changed the ability of that nerve to function by 10%.

 

                It is my opinion, that it takes a well functioning nervous system for our bodies to be healthy.  Anything less than 100%, your body is considered sick, or crippled. 

 

                It takes a healthy functioning nerve to do its job.  Since energy, by way of the nervous system, controls the workings of all organs and stationary cells in the organs of the body, it is paramount that the nervous systems works properly AT ALL TIMES. 

 

                If some organ is not functioning normally, than we have a problem with the nervous system, since nerves are involved with all bodily functions.

 

                Each cell reproduces itself after its own kind.  We do not find any finger nail cells in the eye, or kidney cells in the liver.  The physiologist tells us that we get a complete new body about every seven years by the process of cells splitting and dividing.  The old cells die off and the new cells carry on the function of each organ.

 

                If it is a traumatic situation (any injury), the body controls the repair itself and when the nerves attach to the new blood vessels they will be able to regain control the blood vessel muscles and they are able to contract and dilate like normal tissues.

 

                It is my opinion that is why Hypocrites (called the Father of medicine) said 4-thousand years ago, “If any of you are sick, look well to the spine.”  The spine is the most likely area in the body to have nerve interference.  The most vulnerable areas of the spine is at the transitional vertebrae. (bones)  The most vulnerable transitional area is at the atlas-axis articulation right under the skull.  (Between the 1st and 2nd Spinal Bones under the skull.)   The next most vulnerable area to have a subluxated is between the 5th lumbar and the sacrum.  And the next vulnerable area is between the 12th thoracic and 1st lumbar vertebrae, unless the problem is caused by a major traumatic experience.

 

                If there is continual pressure on nerves, then the area becomes inflamed and the energy (tone) is distorted, and the cells cannot function normally in coordination with the rest of the organs of the body.  When that happens, we do not feel normal (or well), since some of our organs do not function correctly. 

 

                That is why we should learn to use the techniques we use in the study of Bioneuroenergenlogy in Dr. Bright’s book, The Language of the Cells,” and as taught by Dr. Robert C. Bright, Doctor of Chiropractic.  There is much more to understanding to learn than a bone pinching a nerve.

 

TINNITUS

 

                We hear because of the different vibrations of sounds putting pressure on nerves within the middle ear causing different nerves to vibrate in harmony with the vibrations coming to them by way of the osicals vibrating between two tympanic membranes.  In my understanding, there is pressure on nerves going to the areas of the tympanic membrane, so the body can not control the flow of energy or blood in the local area causing a stasis.  (Slowing down the blood flow.)  When the blood does not flow as fast as it should, the salts in the blood precipitates and crystallizes, causing pressure on the hair like nerve endings in the inner ear.  The high pitch (the sound we subjectively hear) is from pressure on the shorter nerves that vibrates giving a steady high pitch.  The stimulant to the auditory nerve endings, is the pressure, we hear as “tinnitus.”

 

                Whenever problems in any tissues are from pressure on nerves, it is most likely, the symptoms are worse whenever the person is under stress or tension for some reason.  All sensations and information travel by way of the nervous system.  Pressure is the thing that stimulates the nerve endings of the five special senses of our body.  We also have nerve endings that pick up tactile feelings, smell, and taste.

 

                We also have nerve endings in our inner ear that vibrate with the vibrations that is transferred from the tympanum membrane (ear drum) through the three little bones (in the inner ear) to a membrane with nerve endings that vibrates.  These vibrations cause some nerve endings to vibrate and the energy travels over nerves to the brain being ‘subjectively’ interpreted by us—as sound.

 

 

                When the person is quiet or relaxed, the symptoms can subside.  If the condition, of the ringing in the ears, is a slight one, the symptoms may disappear only to return under more tension.

 

                As with arthritis the salt crystals have to be dissolved for relief, and possibly a cure can be accomplished.  It is a very laborious process and it takes time and a lot of work. (of treatment and therapy)  This is further explained in the curriculum of the course in Bioneuroenergenology.  

 

                AN ANOLOGY OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SALT CRYSTALIZES ANYWHERE IN THE BODY:

 

                Take a beaker of brine and let it set still.  Hang a string so that a few inches hang in the brine.  After awhile what would you get?  Of course, salt crystals accumulating on the sting.    This same thing happens in the body when there is a lack of normal flow to the blood.  Blood is salty, and when blood is slowed down, in an inflamed area, the salts precipitate, and crystallize on the ligaments and tendons--causing pressure on the nerves at the local area. 

 

                If you stir the brine in the beaker, the salt will dissolve without adding any water or any chemicals to it.  The same thing happens in the body.  If the blood is made to flow through the area of inflammation, again the salts will dissolve just like the salt in the beaker dissolves when stirred.  If the nerves are kept un-pinched between the inflamed area and the brain, the body will naturally dissolve the salts and maintain the process of dissolving the crystals.  In time the calcium salts will dissolve and the tinnitus is no more. 

 

                I  had a few of reported cases of tinnitus in my practice over 52 years.  Some patients received good results, and some people did not receive any help at all.  None of them ever became worse or stayed that way.  Since I have been lecturing at some of the tinnitus meetings, my interest in that condition has increased.  At  81 years of age, I also have tinnitus off and on.

 

                Treating tinnitus is a laborious job, and takes a lot of time and patience on the part of the one helping you and especially on the part of the patient.  You can do this yourself, but it works better if your tissues are relaxed--and someone else can do it for you.  The reason your patience runs thin is, because you do not see immediate results. 

 

                By keeping the nerves un-pinched and milking the drainage tubes in the neck that drain the ears, we may be able to be effective treating that condition.  I told the people at one tinnitus support meeting about how I adjusted one man and it became worse, but by milking his neck, the ringing went back to normal sound right away.  This is another indication this could be the case.

 

 

                If you condition is worse when under stress, it may take a lot of work and time to subside some.  If the symptoms comes and goes, you have a better chance of making a change for the better-- if we can “nip” it in the bud, so to speak—the earlier the better. .  If your tinnitus (the sound you hear) is constant with no relief ever, then the prognosis is guarded.  Such conditions either stay the same, or become a little worse with age.

 

                IT IS MY EXPERIENCE THROUGH THE YEARS, THAT PUTTING MORE CALCIUM IN THE BLOOD INCREASES THE PROBLEMS OF CALCIUM DEPOSITS ANYWHERE IN THE BODY.  These deposits are called by different names when found in different tissues in the body.

 

                I did not notice my tinnitus for years, but it flared up again when I started lecturing about it because I put my attention on it.  Previously, I had just put it in the background.  If I do not think about the ringing in my ears, I do not notice it.  Sometimes when the ringing comes back, I could tilt my head to the extreme left and spread the vertebrae apart on the right side of my neck and it would subside and I no longer notice the ringing. 

 

                The nice thing about the techniques used in “Bioneuroenergenology,” they are nontoxic, non invasive, non traumatic, and there are no side effects.  If treatment does not help, neither will it do any damage to tissues.  The key is we do no harm to the patient.  Any questions?  I can be reached at any of the captioned addresses.

 

               

Prepared by:  DR. ROBERT C. BRIGHT, D. C.

 

 

 

 

 

                This Newsletter/WebSite had been updated during June of 2007