nerve pain ,,Jim/anyone

[Myown]

The outer ear pain that I described the other day must have been nerve pain because now it goes up the sides of my head and back of my neck rarely effects the ear now. Almost like boom/gone, boom/gone(its quick when it comes and then leaves and repeats.) Not ever 7 seconds like the ear was yesterday but still annoying.

Has anyone heard of interferon causing nerve pain? Or maybe its not related to meds at all. Anybody know or take a stab at it?

Thanks

[ladybug52]

You have an excellent memory by my standards!
It's scary to see an adult go thru Bell's Palsy, it must be worse when it's your child! How long did it take him to get over it? How old was he, is he?
Lots of people don't like Bug, and many call me Lady. There's a lot more lady's that post than Bugs! Take care, you stimulated a few of my brain cells into firing this morning by being a sounding board, thanks!
Bug

[Myown]

Thanks guys for all your advice and websites.

Bug, the one message board you posted that speaks about static sounds like its the same as I have as far as my 'right ear'. I still have a feeling this is hep c related tho. It would be good if I knew someone personally who had this same problem because I would tell them to get a hep c test just to see if that is the common denominator. I have always had a hunch the virus was causing the ear problem after learning I had hep and now I just read (I think in the article Jim posted) that virus's(in general) can cause ear problems, so maybe I am not off base in my thinking.


But the good news is the nerve pain or whatever it was is totally gone today (so far, thank God)  But maybe if its TN or pinched nerve as mentioned by Missmiss and NY this WOULD come and go? I don't know. All I know is if I don't feel it now, I am not even going to try to analyze it.

Thanks again.
Its a rainy gloomy day here. I wish the sun was out so I could go outside with my dogs. The one dog is like having a kid and always wants to be doing something together. She doesn't give me a break. She is so spoiled, but my life would be empty and sad without her even as big of a pain that she can sometimes be. (probably the same thing my husband says about me  Ha!)

[MissMiss]

You are probably right.  I was relying on my memory which, as we all know, tain't much these days.  lol. See, I even called you lady instead of Bug!  What I do remember about the Bell's was it was awful to watch my young son go thru it.  And why it happens to anyone at all!  

Now, if you change your name, well, one of my craniel nerves won't know how to react, lol.  You are a dear to try to help so much.  I will back out now cause I think you know more about this. Have a great day.

miss

[ladybug52]

I think I'm going to change my moniker to myown'spain researcher!
Does this link resemble what you're going thru. Not all the symptoms but some?
http://blog.evidenceinmotion.com/evidence/2006/09/index.html
OR:
http://www.tmjsolutions.com/
OR:
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/archive/index.php/t-58105.html
Well I've been up since 4:30 not just researching  just messing around. I have to go to work but I was thinking of you!
Bug

[MissMiss]

It is the third cranial nerve that has to do with Bells Palsy. Is that the TN nerve?  My son had Bells Palsy.  Kept saying he was having trouble closing his eye and within a few hours, Wow!  I had to see it to believe it.  They gave him Prednisone, the sooner the better I was told.

When I was having these troubles, I was sent to a neurologist.  Of course, they were looking for all kinds of things too.  I hope this isn't the case here and it is a simple ear thing going on.  Let us know what you find out.

Good luck.

miss

[ladybug52]

Actually I thought it was the 7th cranial nerve, the facial nerve that contributes to bell's palsy. It crossses beneath the cheek bone. I was tired when I thought of trigeminal. I'm tired now, mught not be facial nerve either!
Bug

[nygirl7]

:Well this didn't seem to help too much cause now the pain is traveling, so I am going to try heat. I will try anything at this point. This is getting on my nerves.:


LOL my doctor and every other one ALWAYS insists you put on ice to reduce the inflammation but for me it simply DOES NOT WORK!  It makes it WORSE!

I have a lot of back problems because I had a broken back in '93.  

The ONLY thing that really does help me (aside from going to the ER and being given 100mgs of Demerol which is a LOT for someone my wieght and I HATE it cause it makes me throw up big time) is to take an anti-inflammatory like advil for the inflammation and then use the heat to help loosen up the muscles that have tightened up like little clamps - that is what is causing the nerve to "pinch".  The dics press on each other.

so between the two things it really REALLY helps me a LOT.  Plus...I love how it feels all toasty and warm on my back.

The combo works so well for me I hope to God it works for you too.

[jmjm530]

If you do start taking pain killers, do run them (and the dosage) by your treatment nurse as things work and affect you differently when on treatment.  You might also want to check out the "Tylenol" thread on the other side.

-- Jim

[ladybug52]

Well, I didn't pull it off as well as you did! But here's the scoop. Maybe consult an audiologist as Trigeminal Nerve pain soulds very plausible. I'll have to check an old anatomy book, but I think it's the trigeminal nerve that cause Bell's palsy also and someone posted a while back with that on tx.Could just be a coincidence.
Also, I hate to spread horror stories, but that won't stop me. I had a friend that is a nurse (REALLY this time) She treated hep B in the old days before I was  licensed to drive, like in the 90's. They use just interferon, no combo tx, and she txed 5 shots a week for a long time. Fuzzy on that detail. Anyhow, her ears bothered her and a hearing test later revealed she was nearly deaf in one ear. She swears it was the tx, but no one would believe her. Can you call the B-N-Charge nurse? Do you want me to call and say I'm you??? Lying seems to be a side effect I aquired during tx!
Bug

[MissMiss]

First, the main reason children get the ear infections is their estachion tube doesn't drain down as it does in an adult.  It is more level so fluids can stay trapped.  An adult tube angles more down toward the chin.

I was dx'd with Trigeminal Neuralgia a few years back.  The pain would come on like a bulldozer, last a few seconds to a minute or two.  Very quick and very painful.  On and off, etc.  I really have my doubts about the dx but ya never know.  The way you describe this, TN is a possibility.  My pain was around the ear progressing down to my jaw.  At the worst I even felt something way down into the arm on that side.  Two quick hospitalizations and a stroke or plugged carotid were ruled out and TN was dx'd.  I also get a feeling like rough sandpaper is just under my skin on that side of the face.  Wind, cold, clothing could all set it off.

Just a thought to consider.

miss

[Myown]

Otitis again, which btw is not just for children. I was told to put cotton in my ears when taking showers, etc.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I read adults get Otis, but I was comparing a child's 'immature immune system,' to a 'compromised immune system,' as someone with hep would have.

Its just so annoying that doctors don't know what is causing this. The only good thing is that most of the time I don't feel the fullness or hear static, unless my dog barks or I put the phone to that ear or am around loud music, but even with the music "at times" its okay, so I really don't understand what the problem is.

But I still do think it is somehow related to hep C, maybe I'm wrong but maybe not.


I'm thinking about checking out a neurologist after tx.

Thanks, see ya.

[jmjm530]

I highly doubt this has anything to do with the HCV virus. Yes, I had a "fullness" in my ear but it actually started around 2 weeks into treatment. It was most probably related to Otitis, LPR (reflux), sinus, TMJ, or any other guess my ENT or myself could muster. The fullness lingered for many months but is totally gone now that treatment is over. If your symptons persist, especially the fullness, you might want to see an ENT specialist. They'll first do a hearing test, then test the fluids in your inner ear, and after both come out OK, they'll probably disappear and a nurse will appear to prescribe something for either reflux, or an allergy, etc. At least you'll get your moneys worth cause I assume your insurance will be paying for it. And in the event they see an infection, you may even get something that will help.

-- Jim

PS Just re-read your post and see you've already been to an ENT. Sweet fellows the lot, eh :) Anyway, maybe see another. Did they stick that lighted tube up your nose for a good look downwards? That's how they diagnosed my LPR and some studies suggest that LPR can affect the nerves in the larynx which can then radiate up into the ear or something like that. Otitis (swimmers ear) can also cause a fullness, so back to Otitis again, which btw is not just for children. I was told to put cotton in my ears when taking showers, etc. I have a feeling that a lot of this stuff will go away once treatment ends. That's what my NP told me and she was right. Even though you've had a relatively easy time of it, tx does take a toll on the body. As to "20 minutes on and 20 off", sounds pretty good for a married couple.

Be well,

-- Jim

[Myown]

Are you saying you've now turned into a pain-in-the-neck?
LOL "TURNED into"?  Born that way, its innate.

According to the above site you mentioned children because of their 'immature immune system" have this otis problem, so I guess a compromised immune system could have this problem too. So I guess that would be a possibility.

Did you ever get a static sound in your ear, noise induced? My other ear for over a year has that problem. But now I have noticed that even without noise, an upsetment causes a 'fullness feeling"(hard to describe) in that ear.

I believe it is inflamation cause by hep c,but I may as well talk to the wall because no one takes me seriously. I can't even begin to tell you how it drives me crazy with an amplifier and I have to pretend nothing is wrong. So frustrating. Been to ENT(right before hep dx) and no one knows what it is, so I guess I am supposed to live with it. I'm tired of hearing it may be water. I know what water feels like and if it was water I would feel it 24/7 and I don't.

so I guess time will tell what this neck/ear pain is. Hopefully it goes away soon.
Thanks Jim

NYgirl
I wanted to put heat on it because it seemed in my mind that it would feel sooo good, but my husband kept insisting "no put ice on inflamation." 20 minutes on and 20 off, he said.

Well this didn't seem to help too much cause now the pain is traveling, so I am going to try heat. I will try anything at this point. This is getting on my nerves.

Thanks NYgirl.

[nygirl7]

Could you have pinched a nerve somehow like when you were sleeping?  For some reason as soon as I started the meds I started sleeping in all sort of wierd ways...then adding the Ambien...yowza!  I woke up MANY a day with all sort of things that hurt!

I don't think it's from the interferon...did you try and nice hot heating pad and an advil?  Advil is an antinflammatory so it generally helps.  I hope it does!

[jmjm530]

Come to think of it, Otitis is another possiblity but your symptons sound very mild so far. I had otitis on tx among other things awry in my upper regions. If it starts getting worse, you can always call your nursie.
http://www.healthandage.com/html/res/com/ConsConditions/OtitisMediacc.html

[jmjm530]

Are you saying you've now turned into a pain-in-the-neck?

But seriously, maybe you just twisted something in your sleep or your husband rubbed that ice on a little too hard. Have you tried some neck stretches or maybe a massage?  

-- Jim