Still have some pressure but the MRI diagnosed my C-3,C-4,C-5 bulging disks and severe spinal stenosis. After seeing a Neurologist, she prescribed Lyrica which has significantly reduce symptoms.
Oh my goodness, where do I begin. First I ended up with vertigo while working , did not know what was happening. I have been in the hospital 4 times. Have had ear pressure for a few years that comes and goes in the fall and spring. Been seeing a neurologist for years , he has been giving me trigger points. He says my nerve flipped, ,my levels in my body get so high during the change of season that causes me to have problems with the blockage in my ear. Have had MRI of my brain that shows no signs of vertigo, I have had a cat scan of my neck to see if there was anything putting pressure on my nerves, came out good, just getting some arthritis in my neck caused by an accident. Been to an ENT doctor, just had me on all different meds with no help. Went to a second neurologist who tested me and told me it is not my nerve , it is a blood vessel and he cannot help me. Went to different healing churches, I do not get vertigo anymore, thank GOD. The pressure in my ear is caused by me turning a deaf ear when I should have got involved. The holy spirit told the women at the church as she was asking GOD to heal me . When this comes to pass I will be telling my story of the past 2 and a half years of trying to fight this and having faith in the LORD.
Did you find any relief? What helped you?
Hi VMarie,
I am sorry to hear of your frustrating experience. It is no fun when the doctors cannot pinpoint our problems. But, don't give up, I am sure you will get this figured out if you keep at it. The fact that your pressure comes and goes and affects both ears would probably make it less likely that you have superior canal dehiscence (SCD). However, more information on SCD below.
SCDS
The inner ear has 3 canals that provide feedback to your brain on head movements/position. The superior canal detects motion in the vertical plane like when nodding your head. With SCD, this canal has developed a hole or crack and this can cause a lot of problems/symtpoms. Each sufferer seems to have a different mix of possible symptoms with different severity making it difficult to diagnose and sometimes mimics the symptoms of other ear conditions. It is also not well known because it is uncommon, first reported by Dr Loyd Minor in 1998. Most people with SCDS have been incorrectly diagnosed for other conditions first. The main possible symptoms for SCDS include.
- cronic imbalance/unsteadiness/disequlibrium/dizziness
- Noise induced dizziness/vertigo the Tulio phenomenon
- Autophony (hearing your own voice loudly with a kazoo type of distortion) May be able to hear blinking, eye movements, heartbeat, footsteps, other internal sounds.
- Aural Fullness - sense of fullness/pressure in the affected ear.
- hyperacusis - sounds which would otherwise seem normal to most people seem unbearably loud. Like the sound of clapping, kids squealing
- Tinnitus - high pitch ringing
My History
I had my first symptom develop about 10 years ago with the disequilibrium/imbalance/dizziness. Not spinning but more of a since of unsteadiness. I went to Dr that referred to Neurologist which ordered MRI and this didn't show any problems. This ruled out acoustic neuroma and MS. Then 6 years later, I woke up with what I thought was water in my ear. A sense of fullness in my ear and and could hear my own voice loudly in my ear when I spoke. Also could hear chewing loudly. I noticed intolerance to some sounds (clapping, kids giggling, etc.) With these new symptoms (aural fullness autophony hyperacusis) I went to ENT who ordered up a few tests and then eventually a special high resolution CT scan which identified the hole in my superior canal. We followed up with a VEMP test to confirm the diagnosis. About 4 months ago, I started to notice that I could hear my eye movements (very bizzare) can also hear my heartbeat when it is quiet. My understanding is that the hole seems to get bigger over time and symptoms tend to get worse.
Treatment
Unfortunately, with SCDS the problem is caused by a hole in the canal and so there is not really a medicine type of treatment. Instead, the solution is to close the hole. This however, is a rather big surgery where they need to cut a hole in your skull to get access to the canal to patch or plug the hole. This is typically reserved for people that have severe symptoms. While my symptoms are very annoying, I don't feel that I am at a point to consider surgery. So I am trying to manage my symptoms. At first these symptoms are overwhelming but as time passes, I don't notice them as much. My symptoms have never come and gone. I have been mildly dizziness for 10 years and had fullness in ears for 4 years. I manage by talking softly, and carry ear plugs for when it gets loud. I am happy to not have the Tinnitus which is a very tough symptom from what I have heard.
Other people with this condition, may have the autophony but not the dizziness, or the dizziness but not the autophony. This makes it very difficult to detect. Also, most ear tests come back normal making it less likely to be considered.
I hope for your case that you find a simple solution like allergies, or MAV where medicine can help resolve your symptoms. I think in most cases where Ear pressure is the primary symptom, that the problem is related to eustation tube disfunction.
I read it might help to sleep with my head elevated,
to help the blood circulate better to the brain, tried that, next day was perfect, but today was back.
Went to ear doctor, could be early onset of Meiniere, but he does not know. First questioner how are you now?
They are also some chi kong excercise which might also help. Like tapping on the back of your head to activate the nerves but you need the precise technique. best look it up in your town. I am having similar issues. It really helped me.
ENT said "No", an MRI showed mastoiditis so have appt. with another ENT. Can't imagine what he will have to say. Don't think anyone knows what's really wrong.