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Magnet Therapy Didn't Help 'Ringing in the Ears'
Fox News ^ | March 25, 2011 | Staff

Posted on 03/25/2011 6:55:04 AM PDT by Red Badger

A constant annoying ringing in the ears – called tinnitus - didn't go away when researchers tried zapping patients' heads with magnetic waves in a recent study.

The researchers still think magnetic therapy could work, if they can find the right part of the brain to apply it to.

"We haven't found the sweet spot yet," said Dr. Jay Piccirillo, the lead author of the study and a professor of ear, nose and throat surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Missouri.

Tinnitus is caused by a "phantom" sound, thought to be the result of mis-wired brain cells. The condition is common. One study estimated that 50 million Americans experience chronic ringing in their ears at some point in their lives. Piccirillo said most people are not bothered by the ringing. A very small fraction of people are crippled by the sound, however. Some become depressed, or even suicidal.

Doctors who treated the patients in the current study generated magnetic waves outside each person's head that traveled through the skull into the brain; the waves would temporarily rewire the brain's circuits. Several studies in Europe have found that sessions of such magnetic therapy can help relieve ear ringing.

In the United States, sending magnetic waves to the brain is approved for use in patients with depression, but it is only experimental for tinnitus. Piccirillo and his colleagues recruited 14 patients who were severely bothered by the ringing in their ears.

All of them received 10 treatments with a magnet over a 2-week period, and another 10 sessions over another 2 weeks using a fake magnet. The order of the 2-week periods was flipped in half of the patients.

After the treatments, the ringing was no better than before.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: ears; health; hearing; tinnitus
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To: brytlea

I mentioned it to my reg. doctor and he said many different things can cause it, including some medicine, even Pepto Bismol.
In my case, I didn’t have it until that incident with the jet fly over.


41 posted on 03/25/2011 8:01:56 AM PDT by IceAge
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To: joe fonebone

That’s what mine sounds like. High pitched and gets louder at night. Does that make sense? I am trying out leaving the tv on all night to be able to sleep.
It worked, last night was the first night I slept all night since Jan.


42 posted on 03/25/2011 8:04:37 AM PDT by IceAge
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To: donozark

As a former U.S. Air Force corpsman I did hearing tests on Air Force pilots and crew chiefs.

The hearing damage was phenomenal.


43 posted on 03/25/2011 8:05:16 AM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet - Visualize)
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To: mancini

Thanks!! I’ve had tinnitus for many years with many of the symptoms shown. I understood that it was primarily from stress and have been on different antidepressants.

I’m going to check out these homeopathic remedies, and with my pharmacist to see if one might help.


44 posted on 03/25/2011 8:05:55 AM PDT by wizr (Keep the Faith! Even when it gets tough! Nothing else will do.)
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To: JoeProBono

You’re not helping. ;^)

I hated doing exhaust inspections. The dirtiest and HOTTEST job on the F-16 Flt line.

That looks like a PW engine btw.


45 posted on 03/25/2011 8:05:55 AM PDT by SZonian (July 27, 2010. Life begins anew.)
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To: yefragetuwrabrumuy

My husband has terrible tinnitus. At this point, I think he would try accupunction. I’m going to suggest it.


46 posted on 03/25/2011 8:07:07 AM PDT by luckystarmom
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To: mancini

My husband has a history of kidney problems. Nothing is going on right now that we know of. However, his tinnitus is flaring up, and it’s really bad now.

This is an interesting thread.


47 posted on 03/25/2011 8:10:23 AM PDT by luckystarmom
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To: numberonepal

Hell, I’ll give anything a go at this point.


48 posted on 03/25/2011 8:10:38 AM PDT by 23 Everest (A gun in hand is better than a cop on the phone.)
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To: IceAge

Many medications can intensify existing tinnitus. Heart meds, i.e. Lisinopril/amlodipine. Most unpleasant predicament to put a patient in.


49 posted on 03/25/2011 8:12:23 AM PDT by donozark ("Never wound a King." Machiavelli)
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To: Red Badger

Gregorian Chants...............


I don’t care who you are...that right there was funny!


50 posted on 03/25/2011 8:12:46 AM PDT by 23 Everest (A gun in hand is better than a cop on the phone.)
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To: donozark

“So you get 20% for tinnitus? Were there other mitigating conditions?”

Why do you ask?

Do you suffer from tinnitus?

Just askin’


51 posted on 03/25/2011 8:14:32 AM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet - Visualize)
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To: 23 Everest

It wasn’t meant to be. It’s true. And not only me, but other people have reported it too.................


52 posted on 03/25/2011 8:16:02 AM PDT by Red Badger (How can anyone look at the situation in Libya and be for gun control is beyond stupid. It's suicide.)
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To: Red Badger
Vagus Nerve Stimulation Helps Resolve Tinnitus in Rats
53 posted on 03/25/2011 8:16:33 AM PDT by FReepaholic (Pray for Japan.)
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To: JoeProBono

HUH?
Seriously, yes I do.


54 posted on 03/25/2011 8:17:18 AM PDT by donozark ("Never wound a King." Machiavelli)
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To: 23 Everest

You’ll see many benefits, so if the tinitus doesn’t go away you’ll still be better off.


55 posted on 03/25/2011 8:18:13 AM PDT by numberonepal (Yes We Cain!)
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To: donozark

I was an MTR operator at a Nike-Herc. battery from ‘68 to ‘71. The electronic noise was constant.

However, I didn’t notice the tinnitus until about 1990 when, as plate ump, I was hit in the face mask by a pitch ball. It has been constant since then.


56 posted on 03/25/2011 8:18:27 AM PDT by wizr (Keep the Faith! Even when it gets tough! Nothing else will do.)
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To: yefragetuwrabrumuy

“Acupuncture seems to have some value”

Tried it with a couple different Chinese acupuncturists. No relief at all. Even had the gold pins that stay in your ears for about a week.


57 posted on 03/25/2011 8:19:12 AM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ( Ya can't pick up a turd by the clean end!)
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To: Red Badger

I have live it for all my married life...I should have had a clue by her first name...Tinnitus....but lust got the better of me :)


58 posted on 03/25/2011 8:19:18 AM PDT by BubbaJunebug
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To: wizr

Head injuries, concussive type injuries, loud noises, illness, medications...tinnitus can have multiple etiologies even in the same patient.


59 posted on 03/25/2011 8:24:01 AM PDT by donozark ("Never wound a King." Machiavelli)
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To: FReepaholic

I’ve read that. It’s very interesting............


60 posted on 03/25/2011 8:31:39 AM PDT by Red Badger (How can anyone look at the situation in Libya and be for gun control is beyond stupid. It's suicide.)
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