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!

[mom2max]

Hi. I am not in the medical field at all, but am having some of the symptoms you describe. Left ear, fullness, ringing, motion problems, forgetfulness, pain in neck, ( though I do have arthritis in neck), really bad headaches that sometimes last for days, usually starting in my left temple. Sore, achy hips and sometimes shoulders. My mom had something called Polymyalgia rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis, also called temporal arteritis. What that is, the GCA, is the lining of your arteries become inflammed. She was in the hospital for 2 weeks before our family doctor finally figured out what she had. She thought she was dying. I know they can test your blood, and if you had this, it would show up in a sedamentation rate, a simple blood test. It is something to think about, because if not caught, you can go blind. The PMR causes the achiness in te shoulders and hips, but can be any joints really. You can look up these things on the mayo clinic website. I wouldn't let it get the better of you, I mean, live for today, but with some doctors, if they can't find anything they assume you're crazy. Insist on more testing because the stress is going to manifest itself elsewhere if you keep worrying. Just an idea. I hope you are feeling better.

[susie197702]

If they can't find it, they do assume you are crazy,

[Boo722]

Sorry OccDoc, but I have to say this to you. You are the typical doctor downplaying these symptoms. They are anything but unremarkable. I would bet a good portion of these people have found themselves diagnosed with IIH. It took me over a year to convince my doctors that there was something wrong with me. By the time they figured it out I was losing my vision completely over and over. By the time they did a spinal tap my opening pressure was 55+. They put the + in because before they could attach the manometer the fluid was squirting out of my back at such a force that it hit the ceiling. My father said the doctor went completely pale as he realized just how much pain I must have been dealing with. As the CSF drained out I could feel the pressure and pain slipping away as if it had never been, but then only a few hours later it had built back up to the fifties and another spinal tap had to be performed. When my surgeon placed my VP shunt the surgery notes include an anecdote about the burr hole being drilled and upon completion the CSF squirted out and hit my neurosurgeon in the face and goggles. I was dealing with something that none of them had ever seen before and it was horrific for me. So before you tell all these people that they probably have "Medical Student Syndrome" these symptoms when added together equal something very serious that requires brain surgery to fix!!

[susie197702]

I so agree with you Boo,this so called Doc is a very typical doctor of downplaying these symptoms! "Medical Student Syndrome" Please Doc!

[Boo722]

Oh and the floaters you are having in your vision is most likely Papillodema. Which I also had, but resolved with the diamox and eventual shunting. If you have Pap you need to get to a neuro-opthamologist quickly. Every day that you let the pap continue it is damaging the optic nerve because the pressure inside your head and behind your eyes is pressing on the optic nerve starving it of proper flow. The CSF builds up either because your body has begun over producing or under absorbing CSF. That is why you are experiencing the headache, the neck aches, the body pain, the sluggishness, and the pain behind your eyes, the tinnitus or ringing or whooshing to the sound of your pulse. I am so sorry if you do have this disease. The fight with the doctors to get decent care is on. If you are having the worst headache of your life with tinnitus, double vision or blurry vision please go directly to the emergency room. Tell them your symptoms and you need a spinal tap and MRI to confirm. If you have IH your ventricles in your brain will appear swollen on a CT scan or MRI. Good luck. Let me know if you guys have any more questions. But start by watching your salt intake and if you are overweight start losing weight immediately. The sooner you get into a normal weight range the less flack you are going to catch from the doctors. I am atypical because I am not overweight, but it is a stereotype placed on this illness. So if you are overweight get ready to hear about it from your doctor. Have a plan, and put together your support system because you are going to need everyone to pitch in and help you. There will be weeks where you won't be able to shower due to exhaustion. This is a terrible illness, and you have to be ready to fight for everything.  

[xxtiffiexx]

I have tmj, I grind my teeth at night. Sounds like the same ear pain as I have. I feel bad for you :/ I've found that wearing my night guard to bed and putting a heating pad on my pillow with the affected ear down, it helps relax the muscles. You can also try massaging in front of the ear. Other than that, I haven't found much relief :/ good luck

[Boo722]

I am so sorry to drop in on this discussion, but I had all the same symptoms you guys are describing, neck pain, headaches, tinnitus, and I was diagnosed with idiopathic Intercranial Hypertension. If this is what you have then be prepared to say goodbye to the life you once lived before this illness. You could also have Meniers Disease of the inner ear. I have both, lucky me. The IIH was treated first with diamox, but then I had several surgeries to place a VP and an LP shunt. I am still experiencing the ear fullness, pulsatile tinnitus, and myoclonus (pulsing ear drum). I am seeing an otolaryngologist in a few weeks. I am now trying to follow a low sodium diet which helps with the ear fullness and myoclonus, and I am taking Lipo Flavanoid Plus at twice the recommended dose and it helps stop the pulsatile tinnitus and myoclonus.

[Matty1315]

Have you every thought of seeing an Osteopath or a cranial sacral therapist. The fluid balances an bones in your cranium can be moved an shifted an can increase these symptoms. If medications aren't doing it then proceed w alternative health an Osteopath can give you amazing results..