Sudden hearing loss and muscle weakness/twitching

[jim1975]

Hi – I started having hearing problems about 6 weeks ago. It started with my right ear feeling clogged.  A couple days later the left ear also felt clogged.  I thought it was wax in my ears but after 4 or 5 days of drops I woke up with sudden hearing loss in my left ear – a loud constant ringing noise too.  This was about 1 week after the fullness/clogged feeling started.  Left ear was also very sensitive to sound.  Hearing test showed moderate hearing loss for the left ear in the low frequencies.  MRI was normal.  Blood work was all negative except for what appears to be a false positive for syphilis – my internist gave me a follow up syphilis test (2 kinds) that was negative.  Internist prescribed 6 day treatment of methylpredinisone.  During this treatment or slightly after I started getting muscle twitches (mostly arms and legs on both sides but really all over) in addition to general muscle weakness that started around the same time as my hearing loss.  I was also pretty fatigued, but I chalked this up to poor sleep and the stress of losing my hearing.  Saw an ENT a couple days after finishing the steroids – I had improved some and he put me on a stronger dose of steroids.  50mgs of prednisone for 5 days tapering down 5mgs a day after that (9 more days).  Twitching and muscle weakness persisted but hearing returned basically to normal.  Had another audiogram which was about 1 month after the first hearing in left ear was almost back to normal.  Overall I was feeling better – still some twitching but it was improving every day and I wasn’t feeling as weak. (ENT attributed to the muscle weakness and twitching to the steroids).

About two weeks after being off the steroids the low frequency hearing loss returned as confirmed by another audiogram.  ENT gave me another 6day pack of steroids.  I just saw him today – 2 days after finishing the 6day pack – audiogram was slightly better and he gave me prescribed another 6 day pack for me to take.

Ringing in left ear hasn’t stopped but is significantly quieter than 6 weeks ago.  I’m also unsure what to make of the clogged feeling in the right without loss of hearing like I saw in the left ear.

I had slight dizziness in the beginning (no vertigo) but I haven't noticed it since.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

You have had a pretty comprehensive evaluation, including an evaluation by an ENT as well as an MRI.  

If the symptoms continue, you may want to consider a neurology referral to evaluate the muscle twitching.  

Electrodiagnostic studies can be considered to evaluate for any peripheral nerve dysfunction that can lead to your symptoms.  

Metabolic disorders like diabetes, thyroid disorders or anemia can also lead to hearing loss.  These can be evaluated via blood tests.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_

[borninquisitive]

As for twitching & weakness, you might want to look up Magnesium rich foods and see if you are getting enough. If you think you might be deficient, try taking a Magnesium supplement and see if your twitching subsides.

http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/magnesium.asp

Some medications, as you will find, deplete magnesium. Too, magnesium may interfere with certain medications so be sure to read up on this prior to taking supplementation.

I do believe stress can exasperate, if not cause twitching on occasion.

Good luck!

[Zakk's mommie :)]

I suffer a rare autimune disease, Hyshimotos Encephalopathy, onset  3 years ago. With the onset, I received many tests, spinal taps, brian biopsy, chemo (immune supressant), mega dosages of steroids, Plama Frese (sp?) and a cathiter to my chest (after 3 months of living in the hosp not knowing what I had). I got an infestion from this. I am taing a medication that suppress my immune system, CellCept. I was given an IV antibotic (antibiotic), not sure which one, for appox. two weeks. Since the antibotic (antibiotic), I now suffer hearing loss to my left ear and partial to my right. I have had numerous tests done thinking it would improve. Has not. Just this week to went to see a differnt Audiologist who suggested it might be a result of the antibotic (antibiotic) I was given. Any suggestions and where I go from here? Thanks for you comments. Anji in Houston, TX