Unexplained Ear Pain

[nikilotta7]

I'm hoping someone else may have these symptoms and can help me out. I also have post in "I cannot get a diagnosis. Please help." titled "can anyone help?".

Long story short I have a lot of medical problems. The most recent that have been plaguing me has been unexplained sharp ear pain in my left ear since late November. At first the doctors thought I had an URI and put me on two rounds of antibiotics. It was the same. Ear drops. The same. They have even taken sinus xrays and they came back clear. I have been sufferieng with daily migraines and headaches, dizzinesses, vertigo, balance problems, falling down, ringing and a loud whooshing noise in my ear, nausea, extreme drowsiness and just sharp pain. I have also noticed that things sounds quieter and a bit muffled on that side. The docs have looked in my ears several times and say everything looks perfect. Blood tests come back within normal range. No sign of inflammation or infection.

Any idea? The neurologist thought it is possible I have something called psuedotumor cebrii but we won't know until tests come back but not all the symptoms match what I have been researching.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!!

[nikilotta7]

Well went in for eye exam yesterday and negative for pseudotumor cebri. However I'm now experiencing up to 5 headaches a day plus up to 2 migraines a day! Can anyone help? The doctor put me on topomax 100 mg a day! to prevent headaches, 400mg motrin 3x a day to treat headaches, and I'm allowed using imitrex 100 mg only once a day for one migraine so I save it for the worse one of the day. The wooshing sound has gotten extremely loud and is driving me mad!!!

[dixied01]

See an ENT …

A CT of the orbits/internal auditory canals/post fossa without contrast … maybe an MRI of the brain and internal auditory canals (without and with contrast) …

Your symptoms are reminiscent of those I suffered due to bilateral cholesteatoma … those I am suffering … again … due to recurrent bilateral cholesteatoma …

Sounds like you have some type of vestibular disorder going on, as well …

Hang in there! As I always say, keep pushing until someone finds out what’s wrong.

(I am new to this site. I plan to post my story as soon as is possible. It’s a long one, but it is well worth the read).

Good luck to you ...

[nikilotta7]

Originally Posted by dixied01

See an ENT …

A CT of the orbits/internal auditory canals/post fossa without contrast … maybe an MRI of the brain and internal auditory canals (without and with contrast) …

Your symptoms are reminiscent of those I suffered due to bilateral cholesteatoma … those I am suffering … again … due to recurrent bilateral cholesteatoma …

Sounds like you have some type of vestibular disorder going on, as well …

Hang in there! As I always say, keep pushing until someone finds out what’s wrong.

(I am new to this site. I plan to post my story as soon as is possible. It’s a long one, but it is well worth the read).

Good luck to you ...

I would be interested in reading your story when you put it up, let me know. I also have a post called "Can anyone help" with a total list of all my symptoms and medical history under "I cannot get a diagnosis. Please Help."

I'm scheduled for an MRI and a MRA with and without contrast on Tuesday. The whooshing noise has become almost deafening at this point, almost constant headaches, and it feels like I have a knife in my ear at all times. Do this fit with anything you listed? The doctor said he is doing this testing to rule out any structural issues in my brain. :-s

Oh and I got switched from topomax to depakot, add magnesium tablets, naproxen instead of motrin, and a combo of midrin and imitrex for migraines. This still will not control the headaches or migraines. I'm up to about 4-5 headaches a day and 1-2 migraines.

Thanks for your input!

[dixied01]

Yes, I have constant, debilitating, put-you-on-your-knees headaches … behind the eyes, across the forehead, and along the sides of my skull.

I use an old drug, Butalbital compound … it helps some. I am also prescribed 10 mgs of Oxycodone every four hours … I try not to take this, though, if I can help it. I only use this when the headache has lasted for more than 24 hours or when it is extremely intense. (My doctors stay on me all the time about this ... they say I should take the meds as ordered so my pain won't get "out of hand" ... once it reaches that point, it's hard to "catch it up") ...

I experience sharp, stabbing, spasmodic,deep, knitting-needle-in-the-ear type ear pain … again, will knock you to your knees … not long-lasting, generally, but extremely painful.

I have also been diagnosed with (post-surgical) geniculate neuralgia, which contributes to all this pain …

Since March 6th of 2006, I suffer from incessant tinnitus (due to hearing loss, due to cholesteatoma). Mine doesn’t “whoosh” … it’s more like a high-pitched whistling sound (like a tea kettle whistling) …

Try “white noise” to distract you from the sound (like running fans or the television on a channel that has gone off the air --- I can’t stand the television so I use fans and air purifiers) … I also sit in the tub quite often … the sound of running water tends to distract me from this shrill for a few minutes …

Good luck with your MRI/MRA. When I had my first closed scan, I had to have the tech slide me into the scanner --- stayed in there for a little bit so I could see what it’s like --- then had the tech slide me right back out. After I got myself together, I let him slide me back in there. The last MRI that I had took almost an hour … I try to get into the sounds … pretty good rhythms, really … make the best of it, I suppose … (<:

I truly hope all goes well …

[nikilotta7]

Originally Posted by dixied01

Yes, I have constant, debilitating, put-you-on-your-knees headaches … behind the eyes, across the forehead, and along the sides of my skull.

I use an old drug, Butalbital compound … it helps some. I am also prescribed 10 mgs of Oxycodone every four hours … I try not to take this, though, if I can help it. I only use this when the headache has lasted for more than 24 hours or when it is extremely intense. (My doctors stay on me all the time about this ... they say I should take the meds as ordered so my pain won't get "out of hand" ... once it reaches that point, it's hard to "catch it up") ...

I experience sharp, stabbing, spasmodic,deep, knitting-needle-in-the-ear type ear pain … again, will knock you to your knees … not long-lasting, generally, but extremely painful.

I have also been diagnosed with (post-surgical) geniculate neuralgia, which contributes to all this pain …

Since March 6th of 2006, I suffer from incessant tinnitus (due to hearing loss, due to cholesteatoma). Mine doesn’t “whoosh” … it’s more like a high-pitched whistling sound (like a tea kettle whistling) …

Try “white noise” to distract you from the sound (like running fans or the television on a channel that has gone off the air --- I can’t stand the television so I use fans and air purifiers) … I also sit in the tub quite often … the sound of running water tends to distract me from this shrill for a few minutes …

Good luck with your MRI/MRA. When I had my first closed scan, I had to have the tech slide me into the scanner --- stayed in there for a little bit so I could see what it’s like --- then had the tech slide me right back out. After I got myself together, I let him slide me back in there. The last MRI that I had took almost an hour … I try to get into the sounds … pretty good rhythms, really … make the best of it, I suppose … (<:

I truly hope all goes well …

Thanks for the good wishes. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some answers. I talked to my dr about me have a bit of claustrophobia lol and they are going to give me some meds in my iv to calm me a bit. Good thing!

Yep mine is definitely a loud whooshing noise.. almost like helicopter scenes on tv. It happens whenever I lean forward even the slightest bit, roll over in bed, go to the bathroom, etc. It is in sync with my heartbeat. Atleast my blood pressure is good 112/60 :-)

Hi,

I have been having similar symptoms myself since my fall on new years day, like yourself I was getting frustrated because conventional doctors didn't seem to be interested. For a while I suspected in was a result of my mild head injury but I wasn't really unconscious, then as time went on I suspected Eustachian Tube Problems, then Jaw misalignment now after seeing 3 or more different people each one of them after describing my symptoms of sharp ear pains in my right ear, a sort of mild tinnitus like a quiet gas leak, hearing sensitivity, pains round the temples and a clicking neck. A conclusion has come about that I have a neck injury and trapped nerves, it's a sensitive part of the body and the head and neck are all linked up.
If you want to chat more my e-mail is williamh005@aol.com.

Bill
London UK

Hi, regarding the ear whooshing, please see a new forum at http://www.whooshers.com to find some articles and possible causes.

Hope it's helpful. Good luck.

Originally Posted by nikilotta7

I'm hoping someone else may have these symptoms and can help me out. I also have post in "I cannot get a diagnosis. Please help." titled "can anyone help?".

Long story short I have a lot of medical problems. The most recent that have been plaguing me has been unexplained sharp ear pain in my left ear since late November. At first the doctors thought I had an URI and put me on two rounds of antibiotics. It was the same. Ear drops. The same. They have even taken sinus xrays and they came back clear. I have been sufferieng with daily migraines and headaches, dizzinesses, vertigo, balance problems, falling down, ringing and a loud whooshing noise in my ear, nausea, extreme drowsiness and just sharp pain. I have also noticed that things sounds quieter and a bit muffled on that side. The docs have looked in my ears several times and say everything looks perfect. Blood tests come back within normal range. No sign of inflammation or infection.

Any idea? The neurologist thought it is possible I have something called psuedotumor cebrii but we won't know until tests come back but not all the symptoms match what I have been researching.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!!

Sounds like Meniere's disease. I have have all of those problems and they slowly formed one by one. It's been diagnosed as Meniere's. You can lose your hearing if left untreated.

it sounds like Meniere's disease. I know someone with it and your symptoms seem to be the same. it's hard to diagnos but you may ask your doctor about testing for it