Q I have facial spasm and also hear a sound in my ear. Is it the same cause?
A When facial spasm and tinnitus appear at the same time, we suspect a vascular abnormality near the facial nerve or a common cause in the brainstem area. In particular, when the posterior inferior cerebellar artery compresses not only the facial nerve but also the auditory nerve, tinnitus may accompany the spasm.
Detailed Answer
The facial nerve (the 7th) and the auditory nerve (the 8th, the vestibulocochlear nerve) run side by side through the internal auditory canal. When the same blood vessel compresses both nerves together, or when an inner-ear blood flow abnormality affects both nerves, facial spasm and tinnitus can occur together. Differentiation from causes such as endolymphatic hydrops in Meniere's disease is needed, and neurological imaging (MR neurovascular angiography) helps to distinguish the cause. When tinnitus accompanies the spasm, the scope of treatment is broader than for simple facial spasm.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
Korean medicine also views tinnitus as a problem of Kidney deficiency (sinheo) and phlegm-fluid. The Liver-Wind and phlegm-fluid treatment for facial spasm and the Kidney-deficiency and phlegm-fluid treatment for tinnitus overlap considerably, so it is possible to design a prescription that addresses both symptoms together. In combined symptoms, integrated Korean medicine treatment actually shows its strength.
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