Oh yeah, my Dr. tried to tell me that my age was probaley the reason that the ringing was happening in my ears/head. But, I notice that you are considerabley younger than I. I wonder if he would say it is because of your age that you have ringing in your ears. Allergies, it has to be. I have been researching this for months, nearly every night on the internet. Can't seem to come up with anything else.
I have had the same symptoms as you, but with a few others to go along with them. Mine, too, started with a spring cold and chest conjestion. I had sharp pains in the ears and the throat glands that connect to the inner ears. I have crackling when I swallow and it feels like there is fluid on my ears from time to time. My ears are still tender and sore for most of the time. I have taken nasal decongestants and antihisamines. I also developed a ringing in the ears or my head, that was never there before. I have seen several Dr.s, but what do they know. I have come to the conclusion that maybe I have developed some type of allergy. My primary Dr. and an EENT specialist have been of no help. There seems to be several of us on this form that have similiar symptoms plus a few more. Maybe you should be checked for allergies, thats my next step. Can't seem to find a answer anywhere else. Good luck, please post if you find an answer or cure.