Yes, ringing in the ears (tinnitus) is a common symptom associated with fibromyalgia (FM), often occurring alongside other ear complaints like dizziness, ear fullness, and noise sensitivity, stemming from central nervous system changes in FM patients. Studies show a high prevalence of tinnitus in FM, and treating FM can sometimes improve tinnitus, though the exact link is still being researched.
In a nutshell, the fibromyalgia brain is much quicker to respond to sound than healthy controls. This can lead to additional auditory noise or distortions like tinnitus and vertigo, as well as sound sensitivities.
Temperature sensitivity: Feeling excessively hot or cold without explanation. Digestive issues: Bloating, IBS-like symptoms, and nausea are common. Tingling or numbness: Some people report strange nerve sensations in their hands or feet. Restless legs: An uncontrollable urge to move the legs, especially at night.
With lupus, hearing loss often begins in one ear, affecting high-pitched sounds, before spreading to the other ear and affecting lower pitches, known as reverse-slope hearing loss. It can also cause tinnitus (ringing in the ears), dizziness or aural fullness.
Each person's symptoms may vary. But chronic pain is the most common symptom. The pain most often affects the muscles and the points where muscles attach to bones. These are the ligaments and tendons.
Several rheumatic diseases can mimic fibromyalgia. These include sero-negative rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Lyme disease, polymyalgia rheumatica and lupus. They have symptoms of widespread pain along with joint involvement.
To meet the fibromyalgia criteria, patients must have widespread pain in at least 11 of the 18 specified tender points in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum of three months. The 18 sites used for the fibromyalgia diagnosis cluster around the neck, shoulder, chest, hip, knee, and elbow regions.
Tinnitus has been linked to vitamin B12 and vitamin D deficiencies. Vitamin B12 helps create myelin, which is the insulating and protective cover that surrounds the nerves. Vitamin B12 deficiency can irritate and hamper the function of nerves in the ear.
Ménière's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes severe dizziness (vertigo), ringing in the ears (tinnitus), hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness or congestion in the ear. Ménière's disease usually affects only one ear, but in 15% to 25% of people with the disorder, both ears may be affected.
Diabetes, migraines, thyroid disorders, anemia, and certain autoimmune disorders such as lupus and multiple sclerosis are among the chronic conditions that have been linked to tinnitus.
Possible triggers
Fibromyalgia is often triggered by an event that causes physical stress or emotional (psychological) stress. Possible triggers include: a serious injury, such as after a car accident. an infection, such as Epstein-Barr virus or Lyme disease.
There isn't a universally accepted "Stage 4" for fibromyalgia, but it generally refers to severe, debilitating symptoms where pain and fatigue significantly impair daily life, often with overwhelming central sensitization, sleep disruption (non-restorative deep sleep), and potential links to other conditions like autoimmune diseases. Management focuses on personalized, multi-modal treatment, including medication, physical therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and lifestyle changes to manage flares and improve function.
TNX-102 SL (Tonmya; Tonix Pharmaceuticals), cyclobenzaprine HCl sublingual tablets, has been approved by the FDA to treat fibromyalgia in adult patients, making it the first new treatment approved for the musculoskeletal and chronic pain disorder in over 15 years and the fourth treatment approved overall.
Other causes of tinnitus
Most of the time, it's temporary. But when the ringing in your ears continues day after day, week after week, it can become unbearable. Whether you have hearing-related tinnitus or there's another factor at play, it's important to see a healthcare provider — especially if symptoms last longer than a week or two.
Although tinnitus can improve with treatment, there is no known cure for the condition.
Neurologist: A medical doctor who specializes in the evaluation and treatment of disorders that affect the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. If you have headaches associated with your tinnitus or sensitivity to sound, you may benefit from a consultation with a neurologist.
What Is Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease? Autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED), is a rare disease that happens when your body's immune system mistakenly attacks your inner ear. It can cause dizziness, ringing in your ears, and hearing loss.
Magnesium Deficiency and Tinnitus
Magnesium deficiency is associated with tinnitus. Several studies that document patients with chronic tinnitus have lower magnesium levels than healthy controls [1]. There are a few other dietary supplements where this is true, including vitamin D, vitamin B12, and zinc.
Fluctuating estrogen levels can disrupt auditory processing and inner ear blood flow, leading to tinnitus. Many women report tinnitus emerging alongside other hormonal symptoms like sleep disruption, mood changes, or migraines. Addressing hormonal imbalance and brain sensitivity is key to reducing tinnitus.
There's no specific fibromyalgia test. But your GP may do some blood tests to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms to fibromyalgia. Sometimes, your GP may refer you to a specialist for further tests or treatment.
Toothaches in those with fibromyalgia aren't always due to typical dental issues such as cavities or gum disease. Instead, fibromyalgia can cause orofacial pain that is unrelated to these common dental problems1.
Stage 4: Severe and Debilitating Symptoms
The final stage of fibromyalgia is marked by severe and debilitating symptoms. Pain can become overwhelming, and fatigue may prevent patients from engaging in even the simplest tasks.