Ear pain and fullness with headaches and neck pain

[Mels22]

I was wondering, does anyone have ear pain without any ear problems?
I have been checked out by Neuro, ENT and GP and NOTHING. I'm wondering if I have TMJ but I don't know.
Here are my symptoms...
Right ear pain
Right ear fullness/ringing
Pain behind right eye
spot headaches on right side
grinding teeth at night
stiff neck - going into my shoulders

I had an MRI/MRA back in Oct and all it showed was chronic sinusitis which I am being treated for by my ENT however he knows the pain is not coming from my ear. I am worried. Could this be an aneursym? I know a tumor or something like that would have showed on MRI. I've heard horror stories about aneurysms in carotid arteries and next to ear. I'm terrified of dying from one. Does this sound like that? Should I have another test? I am going to see a TMJ specialist in March but I feel I can't wait that long and sadly my birthday is tomorrow and I just want to know what is wrong with me! If anyone could help I would be more than greatful. Does anyone know about TMJ or aneurysms?
I would appreciate it...THANKS and good luck to all of you!

[YvetteKalb]

So many years later.....Hope you've seen a neurologist by now who was smart enough to think of the possibility that all these symptoms(that sound like my trigeminal neuralgia) are most likely coming from your neck, like you said. I really hope someone gave you a diagnosis. I feel much better knowing what I have, eventhough I still have pain. To everyone on this site, I would recommend finding a neurologist. Some specialize in TMJ problems. I think some of the pain not going away is because of nerve pain. I have nerve pain all in my face and head on the left including the ear. My ear itself gets really hot and painful and sometimes it feels swollen and big and like it must have an abcess, but it looks completely normal. Sometimes my ear looks red when I have these symptoms. I also have a deep earache and pain in the bone behind my ear. One of the triggers for this pain is wind blowing on my ear. Look at the nerves coming from the brain stem and pictures of the trigeminal and occipital nerve. It may help you figure some things out. It is typical for nerve pain to persist despite any of the treatments I have read about here. Sometimes ear pain can come from a neck muscle called the sternocleidomastoid muscle, feel if that muscle is painful. If so, getting that muscle relaxed might relieve your earache. I don't know if anyone still reads this stuff, since it dates back to 2007, but I had to write this down in case it might help someone.

[Kaycee0811]

You're the first person I have seen with what I have... mynoclonous. I have ear fullness, etc. Blurred vision. Etc.
Can I email you so we can talk? I really need advice. I would appreciate some insight. God bless.


You can reach me at ***@****

[ACollinson]

MYOFASCIAL PAIN DISORDER of the SUBOCCIPITAL MUSCLES (muscles behind the neck, even though I don't have neck pain)

I am 50 years old and began experiencing ear pain in my right ear 4 months ago (a burning pain deep in my ear).  I've seen 1 allergy doctor, 2 primary care physicians, 3 dentists, and 2 ENT specialists. I've had a sinus cavity x-ray, Cranial MRI, Neck MRI, and Auditory MRI, and a full hearing exam --  All results are perfect and show no answers. -- I finally gave the back of my neck a good massage since a cold drink made the pain worse and all that I could think of connecting was the back of my throat/neck.  For the first time in months, I experienced a few pain free days.  Still no doctor could explain why the back of the neck massage seemed to help.  Finally, in reading this forum (Joe Coffee March 2008) led me in the right direction.  Also the two website below seem to confirm my diagnosis. -- I contacted my physical therapist who helped me a few months back and he also believes it is MYOFASCIAL PAIN DISORDER stemming from my suboccipital muscles (in the back of the neck even though I have no neck pain) referring pain to my ear (there is a diagram in the 2nd website below) . -- I will begin treatment this week. -- I will write again with my progress

These 2 websites also helped me diagnosis.
The second website has a diagram of the Suboccipital muscles.

http://intermountainhealthcare.org/services/medicalgroup/clinics/physicianclinics/memorial/resources/Documents/Final%20Myofascial%20Pain.pdf

http://www.mccc.edu/~behrensb/documents/MYOFASCIALPAINSYNDROMEIN.pdf

[Blackie64]

I've been getting neck and shoulder pain eye aches fullness in ears hot flushes and headaches has this got anything to do with menopause because I am 50 years old

[Tula52]

I have suffered with the very same symptoms on both sides for over 2 years. I have had many tests and been through PT, muscle relaxers, I've been to a maxilla facial specialist who did injections into my head and ionohotoresis therapy. I've hadcmri, mra, cat scan, bone spect, all showing some arthritic changes and one particular hotspot but no real answers towards a solution. I have 2 tiny aneurysms that the neurosurgeon says are common and just need to be watched. I'm at the end of my rope with constant pain, pulsating, and tinnitus. Suggestions!

[golde81]

Here we all are with similar symptoms.  I have a night guard and it helps tremendously.  They are expensive, so be careful when you fit them, so you don't have to replace them.  If you follow directions, precisely, you shouldn't have any trouble.  Sometimes I feel a lump in my neck, but I think it is a muscular reaction.  Also, my chiropractor can give temporary relief.  My dentist has worked on my bite, but that only lasts for a little while.  Good luck to us all.  Kate