I didn't know there was a tinnitus group since I didn't know what
tinnitus was a few weeks ago, at least not by name. So here goes.

I have intermittent tinnitus in my right ear and some very mild
dizziness when it's bad. I have no hearing loss. I went to an
otologist who did a whole bunch of testing taking half a day. He gave
me a test in a chair that rotated in the dark and then I sat on a
table with a dark hood over me with hot and cold air in my ears. He
did this after an MRI said everything was okay.

I know I've spent too much time at concerts and bars with no ear
protection, and it was stupid since I had some warning signs of waking
up with this too many mornings. Now, I'm close to having this all the
time. Maybe I'll sue Metallica...HA!

I'm researching like crazy, which is what I read everyone does, and
I'm coming to the same answer that everyone does. Stop exposure to
loud noise and wait and see and maybe I'll be one of the lucky few and
it goes away.

My doctor said his tests showed that I damaged the hearing nerve in my
right ear and that I don't have Meniere's. I have two questions after
thinking about everything he said:

1- if I damaged the nerve I thought nerves can regenerate so am I
hoping for nothing? I'd rather know it's not going away than hope for
the next year when there is no chance.

2- if these hearing hairs can't be seen without a powerful microscope,
how does he know I damaged the nerve? Or is that just an easy way to
explain it to the patient that it's the likely hood from it happening
after concerts, but he really can't do a test for that? All tests were
within the normal ranges according to his discussion with me. So if
the MRI reading says it's a normal MRI, what tests showed I damaged
the nerve? Or is that just the best guess since all other things seem
to be ruled out?

Thanks,
JohnT