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!

[Teacherpete]

I am a 59 year old male, in excellent health, other than having this bizarre chronic ear, head, and neck pain. My right jaw clicks constantly, and both of my ears feel like they are going to explode. The back of my head feels like it's constantly in a vice. I've had a thorough tmj evaluation, and the doctor who evaluated me said that my jaw was "normal". I had neck surgery with a fusion on C-3 to C-7, which did nothing for the pain. I have been to two well-reputed ENT's who found absolutely nothing wrong with my ears. However, the last ENT said that severe neck pain can lead to ear pain, as there are nerve fibers in the neck that go to the ears. Now, I believe that this is what is probably going on. I'm in physical therapy now, trying to strengthen and lengthen my neck muscles, and my head feels a little better, but my ears are still killing me. The ear pressure/pain has been going on for 3 years now. I take Cymbalta, Nucynta, and Klonopin, but none of these eases the pain in my ears. I have also tried the so called "nerve pills" Nuerontin and Lyrica, which also did nothing. The only option I can see now is suicide, as I cannot fathom living the rest of my life like this. The quality of my life *****. I am a married man, with a very supportive wife, and two beautiful grown daughters. Does anybody have any suggestions? I really don't want to have to take my life. It would be so devastating to my loved ones.

[leah2000]

Has anyone looked into chiara malformation?   I have all these symptoms and wirh mri found out I have slight malformation.

[leah2000]

Has anyone looked into chiara malformation?   I have all these symptoms and wirh mri found out I have slight malformation.

[Tjones04]

I am 24 and I too have had very similar symptoms and have had many different tests, procedures, and treatments done. Hopefully I can help give some feedback on what has and hasn't  helped me out.

I woke up one day about five years ago with a horrible headache, severely stiff neck, extreme sensitivity to sound and light, and had a sinus infection. This was odd because I have never had a headache in my life, let alone waking up with all of these symptoms occurring at once. I went to the emergency room to make sure that it wasn't meningitis, after that came back negative I got put on some antibiotics for the sinus infection. After about a week on the meds, I was feeling better but eventually never fully got rid of the infection. Just felt like it took down the severity of all the symptoms down about 50%.

After that is when the roller coaster began. I went to a ent about a year later after getting put on numerous antibiotics but still couldn't get rid of the infection so had to resort to sinus surgery. About 3 months after surgery the symptoms were still prominent which made me question   that maybe it wasnt my sinuses causing the neck pain, headaches, and sound sensitivities.

I began seeing different physical therapist for the neck pain which didn't really do to much for me.

Then moved on to different chiropractors, some being better then others, I was able to get some relief in the neck area temporally which in essence helped bring the headache level down as well. Only problem was I was still feeling like I was sick (sinus congestion headaches and ear sensitivity).

At this point I was just really trying to figure out if was more muscle related, infection related, or maybe a combination of both.

Then about a year ago I had another  MRI done and took them to a headache specialist  who proceeded to do a blood patch, nerve block shots in the back of my head, and Botox shots after he saw nothing wrong with the MRI. none of these worked at all and I  definitely wouldnt recommend getting these done unless need be.

I then found Doug Fogel at tensionheadaches.com and followed the program that he co wrote with Paul Bacho. This was the best thing that has helped me in my journey so far in regards to my chronic headaches and neck pain. It definitely gave me a good understanding of the muscles in your neck, back, and face and what problems they can cause.

So after being on there program for a couple of months and having a lot more relief from the "tension type headaches", I was still feeling like I was waking up sick with sinus type headache, and ear sensitivity. So I go get another ct scan of my sinuses and behold I have another infection in my upper sinuses this time. Good news is I qualify for the newer ballonplasty procedure instead of going in and getting the full on sinnuplasty that is quite invasive.

I am scheduled to get the procedure done here this next weekend and will let you'll know the results.

So to sum it all up, hopefully after the procedure and continuing along the tension headache program, I can achieve getting back to a normal lifestyle again after being completely miserable for the past 5 years.

Obviously all our bodies are different, but after spending tons of time and money being a human guinea pig, I thought I can relate to many of the people suffering in this forum.

I will keep everyone posted.

[JoshJones2010]

I have read the posts starting back in 2007. Back in Jan of 2012 I had appendicitis. After surgery I had major neck pain. The doctor after X-rays said it was muscle spasms. I did PT for several months and it seemed the pain went away. I am currently a pilot, I did a normal flight up to 6000ft and the next day woke up with miserable ear pain. I thought it was just normal ear pain with congestion and the fact I was flying the day before we'll however two three months later I have been dealing wit his constant ear pain,fullness,some dizziness spells,still have the neck pain located right below the skull. I have been to the General practitioner  referred me to a audiologist who referred me to an ENT and I have seen two others ENT's.i have had an ENG test as well as an MRI both showing negative results. I am to the point where I just want an answer. I haven't been able to fly in over a month and it's disrupting my schooling. I apologize first hand for providing a long story I'm sure no one wants to sit and read through my crying but I am beyond frustrated with the doctors who do not find anything. And pretty much push me out of an office so they do not have to deal with it. Has anyone ever had is associated with neck pain? Thank you all for listening.

Josh

[darg59]

What do those initials VGKC stand for?  What is its functions or is that the name of the illness or malfunction?  Treatment?

Thanks for bringing that up.