Connect
ear pain and intermittent throat pain
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.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Support Group.
Connect
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.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI 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.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@amandabanana80
I sent you a msg but cldnt attach pics... so I put them here:)
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.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@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.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@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?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHello @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!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHi, @amandabanana80 - how are you doing? Have you been able to get an appointment with a new doctor?
My experience of TMJ pain has been sporadic over the years. I have found the cause to be overuse in the form of clenching the jaw both during sleep, but also when concentrating on doing something during the day.
Awareness is the way to stop this unconscious habit by catching yourself doing it and focussing on keeping a loose jaw. Practice makes perfect. Be patient.
At night before sleep I focus my awareness on keeping the jaw loose with a homemade self-hypnosis talk. It works.
I bristle when people mention using a mouth guard. All the guard does is to protect the teeth. It does not stop clenching of the jaw. (Why don't people see this?)
I want to warn people of forcing irrigation fluid (warm saline) through the sinuses too forcefully when using a Neti pot. Recently I didthis, and felt my eardrum squeal and pop. Two days later I began to have ear canal pain, TMJ pain, swollen and painful submandibular glands, throat pain and, strangely, a sore scalp on the affected side of the head.
The cure was to use the scuba diver's technique of mixing a solution of half alcohol and half vinegar. Lie down with affected side up and dribble half an ear dropperful into the ear while pulling the ear up and back to straighten the canal. Lie still for five minutes while occasionally pressing your earflap (it's over the opening) a few times to help fluid drain down to the eardrum. Wait five more minutes, sit up, and let fluid drain out onto a tissue.
Repeat this technique again before sleep that night. My pain was gone in the morning. The alcohol and vinegar kill bacteria and dry the ear canal.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction