ear pain and facial numbness

[iluvgrn]

I have had a fullness in my ear along with pain and my face droops.  I have been dx with bell's palsy, which I disagreed with (I could move my eyebrows and if I thought about it, I could lift my mouth)  The only part of my face that was drooping was my chin and part of my cheek.  Now my eye lid closes and I have a pressure-like feeling from my left temple to my chin.  It isn't a headache.  I get sick to the stomach feeling when this happens too.  Has anybody else had this??  Thanks

[Enoch Choi, MD]

Let us know how the MRI goes!

[iluvgrn]

Thanks.  I am sure the dr. is going to get an MRI w/contract too to rule out a tumor.

[OtoHNS_MD]

With these symptoms for a few months and no benefit from steroids, as well as hearing loss...I would get an MRI with contrast.  I'm sure the neuro otologist at UMN will get this (if it hasn't already been done).  Tumors in this area are rare, but better to make sure there's nothing there.  Good luck with your appt.

[iluvgrn]

I have been having these sx's for a few months now, the are progressively getting worse.  I was on steroids for the bell's palsy and they didn't work.  I went to the e.r. the first time this presented.  I had a ct w/out contrast to rule out a stroke.  I have about a 50% loss of hearing in my ear too.  I have had tympanograms with normal peaks, my audiogram is abnormal because of the hearing loss.  I have an appt. at the U of MN to see an neuro ent.  So I am looking forward to that appt.  I also have a history or a benign brain tumor in the left frontal lobe, that was 8 years ago.  I am not too worried about it being another tumor.

[OtoHNS_MD]

Technically, Bell's palsy is a diagnosis of exclusion...meaning everything else has been ruled out.  This includes having a normal MRI brain and internal auditory canals.  Typically audiogram, tympanometry, blood work etc are also done.

Are you on medications?  Oral steroids are the most likely to help, but they have to be started asap and especially within 2 weeks of symptom onset.

[Wear/a/Jimmy]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell's_palsy

Sounds like Bell's Palsy to me, and for all the other alternative causes of such symptoms, I would rather it be Bell's Palsy.

http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/unilat/bells.html