Chronic Ear Problem

For about 2 years now, I've had fullness and tingling in my ear. This started after I moved to Kansas and developed allergies, and also after I had started to use q-tips to clean my ear (which I found out wasn't a good idea.)

I have constant inflammation in my left ear. It always feels full and now my nose on that side seems to get clogged more as well. I have been on steroids to reduce the inflammation and some kind of eye drops to put in my ear. I was also advised to take decongestants. This was not very effective. But I tried it again and it didn't help.

I have tried all sorts of over the counter nasal decongestants, and things to reduce ear aches (though it doesn't hurt, I wasn't sure if maybe it would get rid of the inflammation.)

I recently went to another doctor, and she tried something else. I was placed on amoxicilin  and advised to take a daily claritin with it for 10 days. This actually worked wonderfully, though the inflammation didn't go down. But it did feel a lot better. Almost immediately after stopping this treatment my problem came back, now I also have this little bump on the bottom of my inner ear as well.

By looking at it, none of them seemed to think this was a tumor or anything. What could it be, and what can I do to get rid of it? I'm at a loss and I feel this annoying fullness everyday. I'm also concerned that it's getting worse or spreading, if a bump is forming on the bottom of my inner ear now.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

There are tubes called 'Eustachian  tubes' which connect the middle ear to the throat, this balances the air pressure in the ears. This tube can get  blocked due to infections of the throat, which can give lead to a feeling of fullness in the ears. This can also result in infection of the ears. The blocked ears can be opened up by the valsalva maneuver, where air is blown into the cheeks against a closed nostrils, this sometimes helps to open up the tubes. Steam inhalations can help clear the tube.

The bump, it's most probably a pimple. You could apply warm compress and for pain relief you can use OTC  Tylenol (acetaminophen). The other causes could be due to fungal infections, otitis externa, mastoiditis or an enlarged lymph node.  You may need to consult your primary care physician who will examine you and initiate appropriate therapy.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.