ear ringing and fullness

[Louise]

I am having problems with my right ear that I hope you can help me figure out.  It started ringing and kind of chirping in November.  I went to the doctor in mid-December.  It hurt when she put the light in my ear to see. She said the ear canal looked inflamed and a little infected.  She gave me neomycin drops for ten days.  Ringing semed to get a little better but never went away. I went back to doctor early January.  She said to contine drops for ten more days and they would schedule me with an ENT.  Canal was not sore at that time and looked okay.  She said eardrum looked a little unusual.  At this point I was starting to get the ringing worse, also sometimes a pulsing sound.  Also starting to get the plugging (full feeling).  Saw ENT last Friday.  They did a hearing test.  Said I had lost some hearing in that ear (but not alot).  Did a test to check eardrum movement.  The eardrum in that ear did not open and close near as well as the other ear. Said I did not have any infections.  They put me on nasalcort and a decongestant to clear out any fluids and I go back in three months (or sooner if worse).  I have had clear nasal drainage this whole time.  When I blow my nose it plugs my ear a little more.  The ringing and plugging really get to me somedays.  Have had a little dizziness with the plugging, but not vertigo. One note, I used to wear earplugs to bed (my husband snores).  I quit when this all started.  What could this be?  Anything major to worry about?  Thanks in advance for your opinion.

[Forum-M.D.-DT]

Thanks for visiting the Family Practice Forum.
Well, I have to say that the condition of Meniere's Disease comes to mind. This is typically the triad of tinnitis (ringing in the ears), hearing loss, and vertigo. I understand you have no vertigo but all 3 are not ALWAYS present with Meniere's disease. Now, the ENT would appear to be on the right track. Neomycin drops would typically be used for Otitis Externa (this is an infection of the external ear canal and is typically painful when you tug on the ear). It sound like the middle ear is clear (i.e. no infection) based on what your doctors are telling you. I would tend to agree with the approach of trying to get any fluid out of the middle and inner ear. (In effect, Meniere's disease is quite commonly due to fluid in the inner ear). I have to say that it does quite commonly take months for this fluid to clear, particularly if you are someone who suffers from allergies. If it doesn't get better, a trip to the Neurologist and possibly some imagaging (i.e. MRI) may be in order.

[Louise]

Thanks for your response Doctor.  Can you tell me if fluid would have been seen by the doctor?  It feels to me like the stuffiness in my ear has gotten worse since I am taking the nasacort and decongestant.  Although I am getting alot of drainage.  I have some relief from the ear stuffiness when in bed lying down, but still rings then.  Even though it bothers me so much, should I be patient and wait the three months?  Also, for years I have gotten shoulder tension pain on that side.  If I let the pain go without going to the chiropractor it will eventually go up my head muscles and around that side of head to my eye.  Could this be related in anyway?

[Biffy]

A related discussion, Ears Ringing was started.

[shenzi]

A related discussion, cause of right ear pain,fluid and ringing was started.

[vyrlpad]

A related discussion, sinus or ear was started.