Pain in my ears with noises of different pitch

I was diagnosed in 1993 with MS.  It apparently has been in remission until July 2007 when I experienced a relapse.  Since that time I have been having intermittent severe pain deep in both ears.  When I the pain is present it is excrutiating to hear the clanging of dishes or silverware, some peoples voices (including my own at a certain level), the tv at a certain volume level and the dog barking.  This pain isn't present at all times but when it is it is excrutiating!  Can you tell me what could be the possible cause of this?  My hearing has always been exceptional in that I can usually hear things other can't.  Would a regular hearing test be helpful in discerning what this problem may be?

I appreciate you taking the time to answer this question.  I have submitted it previously but it inexplicably disappeared.

Sincerely,

Rena705

[Vivek V Gurudutt, MD]

MS can cause a host of symptoms, pain being one of them.  The demyelination of the nerves (nerves losing some layers surrounding the nerve fibers) is related to the disease and can cause severe pain.  Having an increased discomfort to sounds is being described with MS as well.  This response could be due to a middle ear muscle, the stapedius muscle, not working efficiently and causing sounds to be perceived as loud.  The stapedial reflex portion of the audiogram may be abnormal and could indicate stapedial muscle dysfunction.  Also possible is damage to nerves in the central auditory pathway and in the brainstem.  I would discuss your symptoms with your neurologist.   Further work up with audiogram and imaging may be used to better assess the cause.  

[Wobbly]

Hi .. I get the same problem at times, it's not everyday...but on some days it is really bad.  Any loud noises...eg putting the dishes away...sounds so loud it hurts...I know what you mean, but I don't have any idea what it is...maybe this Dr can help??  

[Rena705]

Hey honey...I talked to Quix about this in the past and she had a name for it but I would like to hear what an ENT specialist has to say.  I posted a query along the same lines as this last week to this same dr. and it just disappeared...don't know why.  I have the Medhelp Question Confirmation e-mail but the post just seems to have vanished.  Oh well, we will see what happens with this one ok?

[rudeye]

I have been reading a lot of other medical blogs and one really made some since to me. A lot of the symptoms that I am having and it seems, you and others might be caused by amalgam in teeth filligs, provided most of you have a few. Check out "mercurypoisoned.com", it seems that the mercury in the amalgam fillings that goes into the compoud with other metals is becoming a big issue. It has been related to all kinds of health issues. If you or others have amalgam fillings and have had them for some time, it may be something to look into. My problems did not start until a few months after my second, third and fourth fillin was installed. I plan on having them removed and have the composite or porcelin type put in. If it doesn't fix it, at least thats one variable out of the way. From several different medical blog sites, I have read and learned that there are a lot of people out there with much of the same issues. I have been really healty, Thank God, for many of years, nearly all of my life. I do all of the right things and eat the right foods. Up until the last 10 months, when I had those other fillings installed.

Good luck, I know there is an answer