1. < Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)

ear pain and intermittent throat pain

Posted by vickieb876 @vickieb876, Jan 6, 2019

I am currently diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia. I have had ear pain since 1995. I also have a glossopharyngeal cyst. More recently I have had pains in my throat, which does not coincide with the ear pain. I do have inner ear pain when I swallow, and talk. . Also bouts of tenderness on my scalp. .A few years back I had a ACDF for Klippel-Feil Syndrome. I am wondering now if I have been diagnosed incorrectly as I understand that happens frequently. Any insight would be appreciated.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Support Group.

amandabanana80 | @amandabanana80 | Feb 24, 2020
In reply to @lisalucier "Hi, @amandabanana80 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I wanted to let you know I moved..." + (show)
@lisalucier

Hi, @amandabanana80 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I wanted to let you know I moved your post on ear pain and soreness in your throat here to an existing discussion on a very similar topic so you can talk with @vickieb876 about your symptoms. I've had ear pain this last 1.5 weeks, and I can't imagine having this over a long period of time. Boy, does it hurt, and also distract.

I'd also like to invite into this discussion @imallears @lioness for their thoughts on the lingering ear and throat pain. Since you mentioned a concern over any ill effects from previous smoking, I'd also like to invite @merpreb and @littleonefmohio into this discussion. @alpaca also has a lot of familiarity with the head and neck region from her own experiences and those she's connected with online, so may have some thoughts for you abour the possible status of your tonsils and not getting anywhere with antibiotics for your ear.

What happened with the doctor you saw this afternoon, amandabanana80?

Jump to this post

The doctor suggested that it could be TMJ pain and prescribed me Naproxen to help with pain and inflammation. He also gave me a list of jaw exercises to do. So I've been doing that for almost a week and the ear pain is feeling a bit better, but it is still there. I'm going to wait another week and see how it feels then, but I might go back in and ask him about the Eagle's syndrome and see what he says.

REPLY
1 reply
amandabanana80 | @amandabanana80 | Mar 4, 2020

I just wanted to update that I have been taking the Naproxen and I'm almost done with it and the ear pain isn't as strong as it was, but I'm still feeling it. I'm thinking the doctor might have misdiagnosed me because lately I've been noticing that if I'm outside and the wind is blowing, the ear pain gets stronger when the wind blows through my ear. I have also started experiencing pain in my jaw and actually went to the dentist last week because I thought there was something wrong with my teeth on the lower left side, but the dentist did an xray and didn't see anything wrong. It also continues to hurt underneath my left jaw so at this point I'm really stumped as to what could be going on. I am in the midst of switching doctors so hopefully in the next couple of weeks I will get in to see a new doctor and talk to her about all of these issues.

REPLY
3 replies
jenlink | @jenlink | Mar 4, 2020
In reply to @amandabanana80 "I just wanted to update that I have been taking the Naproxen and I'm almost done..." + (show)
@amandabanana80

I just wanted to update that I have been taking the Naproxen and I'm almost done with it and the ear pain isn't as strong as it was, but I'm still feeling it. I'm thinking the doctor might have misdiagnosed me because lately I've been noticing that if I'm outside and the wind is blowing, the ear pain gets stronger when the wind blows through my ear. I have also started experiencing pain in my jaw and actually went to the dentist last week because I thought there was something wrong with my teeth on the lower left side, but the dentist did an xray and didn't see anything wrong. It also continues to hurt underneath my left jaw so at this point I'm really stumped as to what could be going on. I am in the midst of switching doctors so hopefully in the next couple of weeks I will get in to see a new doctor and talk to her about all of these issues.

Jump to this post

@amandabanana80
I sent you a msg but cldnt attach pics... so I put them here:)

REPLY
jenlink | @jenlink | Mar 4, 2020

To avoid confusion..... on 3D images you can remove certain parts so it gives you a better view of what you want to see. Think of it like taking an eraser to a picture to see what's behind smthg.... So parts of my jaw, teeth, ect are removed from the images to get a better view of the styloids.
Hope it's helpful.

REPLY
jenlink | @jenlink | Mar 4, 2020
In reply to @merpreb "@jenlink- I remember hearing about Eagle's Syndrome but never knew what it was. I do now,..." + (show)
@merpreb

@jenlink- I remember hearing about Eagle's Syndrome but never knew what it was. I do now, sort of... From what I gather it is indeed very rare and very difficult to diagnose. It is an elongated styloid process. The length of the styloid process is usually 2–3 cm [2]. When it is more than 3 cm it is called an elongated styloid process, and it can cause pain in the throat, difficulty in swallowing, foreign body sensation, carotid artery compression syndrome, etc.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321946#treatment
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4439650/

I am trying very hard to describe this disease but I am not a doctor. "Eagle syndrome is most commonly seen after the age of 30 years. There is no significant sex predilection in the occurrence of mineralization of the SP; however, symptoms are more common in females.[8] Eagle's syndrome is not frequently suspected in clinical practice. The symptoms in Eagle's syndrome range from mild discomfort to acute neurologic and referred pain. These may include: Pain in the throat, the sensation of a foreign body in the pharynx, difficulty in swallowing, otalgia, headache, pain along with the distribution of the external and internal carotid arteries, dysphasia, pain on cervical rotation, facial pain, vertigo, and syncope.[12,18]
The styloid process is a thin, elongated, cylindrical bony projection that is situated anteromedially to the mastoid process. Its length varies from 2 to 3 cm. Posterior to the styloid is the facial nerve, which emerges from the stylomastoid foramen. Medial to styloid, moving posterior to anterior are the internal jugular vein (with XI, XII, X, and IX cranial nerves) and the internal carotid artery. Medial to the tip of the styloid process are the superior constrictor muscle and the pharyngobasilar fascia, which lie adjacent to the tonsillar fossa. Lateral to the tip of the process is the external carotid artery that bifurcates into superficial temporal and maxillary arteries. The stylohyoid ligament extends from the styloid to the lesser cornu of hyoid bone.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4379291/?_ga=2.36630178.326493342.1582377355-517597283.1582377355#!po=31.8182

Are you seeing a dentist or oral surgeon or head/neck surgeon?

Jump to this post

@merpreb
I've seen every kind of dr and then some.....
I posted a few pics that are 3D images from one of my CT scans. Definitely, reason for my pain and other symptoms.

REPLY
Mentor
Merry, Volunteer Mentor | @merpreb | Mar 5, 2020
In reply to @amandabanana80 "The doctor suggested that it could be TMJ pain and prescribed me Naproxen to help with..." + (show)
@amandabanana80

The doctor suggested that it could be TMJ pain and prescribed me Naproxen to help with pain and inflammation. He also gave me a list of jaw exercises to do. So I've been doing that for almost a week and the ear pain is feeling a bit better, but it is still there. I'm going to wait another week and see how it feels then, but I might go back in and ask him about the Eagle's syndrome and see what he says.

Jump to this post

@amandabanana80- Good morning and welcome to Mayo Connect. I had a very bad case of TMJ in both jaws. I even went to a special PT lady for it. It takes much longer than a week for those exercises to help and work. They are like beginning weight training and expecting to see huge muscles the next day. The pain caused by TMJ is due to inflammation and that has to abate too. And it takes time to heal! I think that I am way too quick in judging if a medicine will work if I don't get instant relief. TMJ doesn't happen overnight and it takes a while for everything to heal. Some people keep these exercises up for years. Have you considered getting a night guard?

REPLY
abby4paige | @abby4paige | Mar 5, 2020
In reply to @amandabanana80 "I just wanted to update that I have been taking the Naproxen and I'm almost done..." + (show)
@amandabanana80

I just wanted to update that I have been taking the Naproxen and I'm almost done with it and the ear pain isn't as strong as it was, but I'm still feeling it. I'm thinking the doctor might have misdiagnosed me because lately I've been noticing that if I'm outside and the wind is blowing, the ear pain gets stronger when the wind blows through my ear. I have also started experiencing pain in my jaw and actually went to the dentist last week because I thought there was something wrong with my teeth on the lower left side, but the dentist did an xray and didn't see anything wrong. It also continues to hurt underneath my left jaw so at this point I'm really stumped as to what could be going on. I am in the midst of switching doctors so hopefully in the next couple of weeks I will get in to see a new doctor and talk to her about all of these issues.

Jump to this post

Hello @amandabanana80 I have had surgery for Eagles Syndrome. It took me a year and a half to get my diagnosis. My styloids were elongated and the ligaments that extend to the hyoid bone were also calcified on both sides so I had a necklace of bone. My left side was the one that was removed and I am hoping that the right side will not become symptomatic. Are you in Minnesota or another state? The website Bens Friends is also a very good resource for many who are living with Eagles syndrome. I was seen by my family dr., dentist, oral surgeon and finally was able to get a diagnosis by getting a CT scan in the ER. The radiologist is the one who diagnosed me. The ENT's in the area said they had only read about it in the medical books and never met anyone who actually had it. I believe in MN there are 2 surgeons that have done this operation. Best of luck to you!

REPLY
Lisa Lucier | @lisalucier | Mar 11, 2020
In reply to @amandabanana80 "I just wanted to update that I have been taking the Naproxen and I'm almost done..." + (show)
@amandabanana80

I just wanted to update that I have been taking the Naproxen and I'm almost done with it and the ear pain isn't as strong as it was, but I'm still feeling it. I'm thinking the doctor might have misdiagnosed me because lately I've been noticing that if I'm outside and the wind is blowing, the ear pain gets stronger when the wind blows through my ear. I have also started experiencing pain in my jaw and actually went to the dentist last week because I thought there was something wrong with my teeth on the lower left side, but the dentist did an xray and didn't see anything wrong. It also continues to hurt underneath my left jaw so at this point I'm really stumped as to what could be going on. I am in the midst of switching doctors so hopefully in the next couple of weeks I will get in to see a new doctor and talk to her about all of these issues.

Jump to this post

Hi, @amandabanana80 - how are you doing? Have you been able to get an appointment with a new doctor?

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.