Thumping/drumming in one ear

Posted by kerryf88 @kerryf88, Mar 15, 2019

It started about a week ago, I was walking my dog and suddenly I hear this rapid drumming sound in my right ear, twice, it doesn’t match my heartbeat at all, the second time it happened I covered my right ear with a finger and it’s gone. And since then I’ve been having occasional rapid thumps (3-4 thumps) in the right ear, maybe once or twice a day or sometimes none in a day, no common trigger, just happens randomly during the day. I don’t know why? When the thumping happens it feels like that ear is partially blocked like under water.

I’m currently experiencing slight dizziness due to bad postures from a few weeks ago, which leads to sore neck and shoulder, not sure if this could be related?

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@jones911

So I had this issue of sporadic drumming, especially on my right ear, the whole right side left tight and tensed, and had tinnitus over that. The spasms and the drumming sound went away but the pulsation feeling still comes once in a while but slowly reduced in its intensity. It seems to be getting better. My PCP said it is a stress response and to get a mouth splint. Nowadays I feel some TMJ pain and will see a TMJ doc soon hopefully. I also felt my shoulder and neck tense and it still is tense. My neck artery on my right side started to pulsate since yesterday, it is scary, and making me nervous. If anyone had the same experience please share.

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I’m going to try acupuncture before Botox maybe that may help for all of us.

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@zoomer925

I’m going to try acupuncture before Botox maybe that may help for all of us.

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Yes, you can go to a TMJ dentist for the botox.

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@jones911

Yes, you can go to a TMJ dentist for the botox.

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Is that what you plan on doing ? Botox ?

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@zoomer925

Is that what you plan on doing ? Botox ?

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I am feeling a lot better now. It took a while but things turned around. But I am not healed yet. You are only 30, if you are healthy it should start to resolve itself within a month or two. Give it 4 to 5 weeks you should start to see some differences and by the end of month 2 a lot of difference. It may take a while before it resolves completely maybe 4-6 months. But by the end of month two and a half, you will likely start to feel good enough to go back to work if you do a desk job. Make sure you sleep in a way that doesn't put pressure on your neck, shoulders, or Jaw. As a religious person myself, I do some prayers every day, and after doing multiple sujoods i.e. touching the forehead with the ground and getting back up the tension pressure intensifies but then it reduces for good each day. Maybe because of the blood flow and the pressure. So I think acupuncture may help. However, my biased view is it is a combination of both. Do you get any clicking of the jaw when you open wide or while eating?

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Hello, just wanted to give an update. I saw an ENT today. He was super nice and kind compared to the last one I saw. He confirmed that he does think I have middle ear myoclonus as well as TMJ. I actually mentioned botox but he hadn't heard of that being done, he said there is surgery but its a last resort. I may consider botox still. He is giving me medication for TMJ, to help reduce inflammation in my jaw. I'm not 100% sure I have TMJ but willing to try it, on top of the tips and tricks he gave me in regards to treating TMJ. He said TMJ doesn't cause middle ear myoclonus but can contribute to the symptoms. I also plan on doing acupuncture as well, as I believe that can give some relief. I feel relief in finally being diagnosed, but now its more of reducing or eliminating the thumping. Honestly, if I have to deal with it a couple times a month, I can live with that, but getting rid of it for good would be amazing. I truly hope we all find our resolve this year!

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@jones911

I am feeling a lot better now. It took a while but things turned around. But I am not healed yet. You are only 30, if you are healthy it should start to resolve itself within a month or two. Give it 4 to 5 weeks you should start to see some differences and by the end of month 2 a lot of difference. It may take a while before it resolves completely maybe 4-6 months. But by the end of month two and a half, you will likely start to feel good enough to go back to work if you do a desk job. Make sure you sleep in a way that doesn't put pressure on your neck, shoulders, or Jaw. As a religious person myself, I do some prayers every day, and after doing multiple sujoods i.e. touching the forehead with the ground and getting back up the tension pressure intensifies but then it reduces for good each day. Maybe because of the blood flow and the pressure. So I think acupuncture may help. However, my biased view is it is a combination of both. Do you get any clicking of the jaw when you open wide or while eating?

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Wish it was that easy :/ mine started around 2017/2018 and so far it’s just bin getting worse. I get a little clicking in my right side when I open my jaw all the way then close it but I went to a TMJ specialist already and went for months with no good results at all D:
Some days it’s not bad but it always comes back :/ I can make it spasm to on demand when I yawn or burp …

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@zoomer925

Wish it was that easy :/ mine started around 2017/2018 and so far it’s just bin getting worse. I get a little clicking in my right side when I open my jaw all the way then close it but I went to a TMJ specialist already and went for months with no good results at all D:
Some days it’s not bad but it always comes back :/ I can make it spasm to on demand when I yawn or burp …

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Oh! then you have a different condition I guess. You should record your spasm and show it to your ENT and get a disability.

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Mine is the same in that if I yawn, stretch, burp or hiccup, it can trigger the thumping, however its also done it all on its own. I wonder, since I have gerd, if acid reflux has caused some middle ear issues as well. Zoomers925, I would try and see an ENT who knows about Middle Ear Myoclonus, that may help. Ive had mine since end of 2021 and its also gotten worse, but I believe there is hope for us yet. I get the feeling you also have MEM, and maybe going from there can help.

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@jones911

Oh! then you have a different condition I guess. You should record your spasm and show it to your ENT and get a disability.

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I bin seeing my ENT he knows what’s going on if my treatments don’t go well then he’s going to help me get on disability I’m also looking into a physiatrist as well..

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I'm really sorry to hear this. Kind of scares me tbh, hoping mine is able to improve. But definitely try acupuncture, and again I've read a few articles now that says botox works. Will you see that dr in Beverly Hills?

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