Severe Ear Pain !!

[meubanks09]

I have had this horrible pain in my ears for months. It comes and goes from time to time, and can last days to weeks. The pain level is between 4 and 10 ( I just hold my head and cry when its at a 10 ) It's in both ears, but dramatically worse in the left ear. It feels like I have a major ear infection and my ear drum is going to BURST! Sometimes it feels like someone is stabbing a screwdriver through my ear.

My ears are also extremely sensetive to noise. I am constantly yelling at my husband because the TV is hurting my ears. Sometimes when the pain is bad I tell my husband to stop TALKING because the sound of his voice is too loud. He makes fun of me and says I have dog ears. LOL but it's not funny, at all. I am miserable. I can not even listen to the radio in my car, because it hurts my ears way too bad.

I have gone to the doctor, and they have looked all inside my ears. I have no fluid, no infections, no wax buildup, not even any redness. They look perfect... and they always tell me " theres no way your ears can really hurt THAT bad, they are fine"

I am so frustrated !! Does anyone else have this?? What do I do? What could be wrong?

I also have crackling/popping sounds in my ear like they are full of water or somthing...??

Please help!! I am in so much pain it's rediculous

[marie4u]

maybe your doctor is right by not telling you about your problem. some times its good not to tell the patient everything because patients get worried.

[cardoin]

Hi everyone.  I am not diagnosing here, but you might have hyperacusis which you can google.  I am gathering research to write a book about it.  I believe there will be a news program on this subject this coming weekend but I can't tell you what channel. I went through everything you've been through.  What hurt the most is that most docs do not know what it is.  Go to an ENT if you haven't already.  Good luck and don't give up.  You are nowhere near crazy.  

[rickkster]

I, too, have this pain in my right ear.  It started over a week ago and has not abated.  Doctor could find nothing visibly wrong.  It hurts much more when I eat.  I have to eat soft foods and then it still hurts.  I've not read where anyone mentioned gout.  I understand gout in the ear is a possible cause.  I do have gout but am taking meds for that problem.  

[xxdebxx]

Have any of you found a solution yet?  My husband has the same thing, it started 3 months ago.  Yesterday, an ENT told us it was caused by a muscle spasm below the inner ear.  He said to increase calcium 1000 mg twice a day and magnesium 400 mg twice a day.  He said he had it once and it took 4 to 6 weeks to improve.  
It sounded a little out there to us, but I stopped and got the vitamins as my husband is in such pain he will try anything.  He said muscle relaxers might help and pain meds as well.   Just wondering if any one else has come up with a diagnosis and or solution?

[K81]

I have the exact same problem and have had all tests you can imagine! Same thing, doctors think I'm crazy.......I am now going back to see a doctor about tonsil stones? I'm on google all the time trying to cure myself, I can't handle this!!! I need to fly soon too for work and am worried about the pressure but the ent specialist tells me I have perfect ears......

[AmyL777]

I have very severe inner ear pain in both ears followed by all over body pain from head to toe.  I had bad ear infections when I was young and in my 20's. The severe ear pain started when I was over worked and became very ill. I have had the severe pain off and on for years ever since. It is like a migraine at times because light and sound do bother me.  I also have allergy related asthma.  Is there anything that I can do besides use pain medication to prevent such pain. What would be a possible cause of such pain. I have had the same results as the mubanks 09 and vixxon.

[vixxon]

OMG! I can't beleive it. I've been going throught the same thing for 3 months now. Nobody can figure out what it is and they act like i'm making it up or over exagerating. How can the doctors not know what this it? I had an MRI, whick was fine & now i'm going for some more tests. A cat scan and pat scan. I had a scope put down my nose and still nothing. I AM DYING!!!! Mine is constant. It never goes away. I can't hear out of my right ear which hurts more and my temples, face, ears and neck are killing me. I do not have TMJ eigther. I've been going from dr. to dr. and nothing. They are clue-less. Meanwhile they now put me on steroids which also isn't helping and has horrible side effects. Why do they act like they've never heard of this? What can it be? I need to fix it. I can't live with this pain and function on a daily basis. Any help would be appreciated.

[meubanks09]

Thank you for responding. No, the doctor never mentioned anything about TMJ, or the rest of my head or neck. He just looked at me like I was crazy.

I have Fibromyalgia, and did not think this was related at all. Nor did my Rheumetologist... but she never listens to me, so she probably wasnt paying attention. I have severe pain in my neck on a daily basis, and sometimes Jaw pain for the FM too.. I'm glad to know that this is what it probably is, and I am not going deaf!! ( or crazy, LOL)

Thanks!!

[ENTMD]

OK, so your ears look fine; have they checked the rest of your head/neck?  There are several nerves traveling to the ear that also innervate other areas.  Problems in those other areas can cause what is called "referred pain" to the ears.  Common sources are the TMJs (jaw joints), teeth, Temporalis muscles and the throat.