Isn't it great that doctors no longer treat the whole patient, just focus on their specialties? I recently suffered a severe uptick in all of my Meniere's symptoms after two very complex and serious spinal surgeries in a six-week period. My hearing sharply declined, the distortion in what I heard dramatically increased, my tinnitus soared, and my vertigo, balance, dizziness and spatial recognition issues all went nuts. My spinal surgeon surmised it might have been caused by an excess fluid buildup from having been on IVs for days for each operation. There is even a huge fluid pouch in my lower right back still, a month after the last surgery. He thought things might improve as the fluid is gradually reabsorbed, reducing the fluid pressure in my ears. Then Monday, I saw my Meniere's doctor of the last several years. He downplayed the fluid angle without entirely dismissing it. He felt the real reason for my hearing decline is that for many years I have been on varying doses of painkillers, especially oxycodone, which he told me could cause permanent hearing loss. Here's the problem: so can all opioid painkillers, including the synthetics like tramadol, and addictive abused drugs like heroin or cocaine. Worse yet, so can NSAIDs like aspirin and Ibuprofen, and other over the counter painkillers like Acetaminophen (Tylenol), which I have been taking at the maximum dose for months. So be sure if you are going into surgery and have Meniere's to discuss this with your surgeons. It's probably too late for me. I am terminating my pain meds as fast as I can without severe withdrawal or unbearable pain, and hoping some of my symptoms may diminish. Or when the fluid reabsorbs. I wasn't really confident of what my Meniere's doctor told me. I did a lot of my own research, and while on average, there is a correlation between pain-killer usage and an increase in hearing loss and other vestibular symptoms, it again always varies by patient. I do know conversation is painful for me now, and deeply frustrating. I prefer texting or typing emails. Probably because I type fast. But my poor wife feels bereft of her companion, and I cannot abide social situations because I miss so much and misunderstand so much else. So I stay home. Except for doctor visits of course. They are endless. This disease is a curse in so many different ways...
Of course, pain killer numb your sense, that include hearing and balance. I think it will get back to normal once you discontinue usage. But on the other hand, i never seen anyone get deaf for taking painkiller. Doctor is probably trying to scare you away from those because of stigma. Ive been using opioid for the past 3 years(also for physical pain) and in my own case it help relax my ear and improve my symptoms while making everything more bearable(a well welcome bonus imo). Everyone is different. What i mean is, dont feel guilty or blame yourself for taking painkiller. We all do our best with what we know at the time being. Sometime theres just no other choice, you cant go on a surgery without painkiller.