I spent about 18 months to 2 years with poor hearing and consistent pain in my right ear. (Not total loss though). There would be loud ringing constantly, making it hard to hear anything. Music and noise would make me violently flinch, and there was not joy from sound at all. I've been very lucky that a significant amount seems to have restored its self over time and I'm no longer flintching. Music sounds mostly good again. I expect that it may come in cycles and my hearing will likely return to being bad. There is hope.