[Bella_Rose]

Hello- I am fairly new to PC and haven't written much more than some poetry but I really need help. My doctors can't seem to help me and I know that the best person to find help from is someone who has been where I am. Hopefully you are here and you read this.
I am 34 years old and female. I have struggled with depression, PTSD, and been diagnosed with other things over the years. In May I was put on disability from work due to some sexual harassment issues causing major flair up in my symptoms. I am dealing with that stuff leagally but my mental and physical state is somewhere it has never been before. I guess the main thing is the physical pain I can't seem to get under control. I've got problems with joints locking up, muscles pain and all that. I have a TENS unit that doesn't help much. But the thing that I can not deal with is my head and ear pain. It gets so bad that I want to shove a knife or something into my ear just to make that pain go away- like a different pain would be better. I have never dealt with ear pain and this must be the worst ear pain there is, I have visions of taking some kind of tool and just carving into my ear to get it out- It is horrible. My doctor has tried all sorts of medications, nothing works- muscle relaxers, pain medication- nothing. I am unable to functin at all, in fact- I just would rather be alone with quite and sleep. Is there anyone who knows this ear pain and what it could be? Suggestions of any kind? I can't deal with this anymore- I have two beautiful little girls who are suffering because I am always miserable. PLEASE HELP

wow! i'm sorry that you're suffering so much. i've had neck pain like that but never ear pain. have you tried heat? such as warming a towel in your microwave and lying down with your ear on that?

i just thought of something, i had a friend with horrid ear pain and it turned out to be a tooth. have you been to a dentist? you might give that a try. anything to find out what is going on........good thoughts and support to you tonight.......xoxoxo pat

[FaithisAlive]

Hey bella rose... have you been checked for fibromyalgia?When I first was dx'd with it, i had been suffering for months with the same exact symptoms you are talking about.

I would lay awake at night, virtually all night long in pain... I did everything to relieve it right on down to taking 3 or 4 hot showers a night...

in the wee hours of the morning I would be in the shower.. standing there crying with relief because it did bring temporary relief.

I tried ice,i layed on the couch all the time with a bag filled with rice, heated in the microwave... trying to make it stop hurting.

The right side was the worse for me.. the right ear and beneath it, behind it.. around it.. the side of my face hurt.. my eyes... my shoulder eventually started hurting too... it was awful.. i am so sorry you are hurting like you are..

I was first dx'd with occipital myaglia and then the fibromyalgia.... nothing seemed to help it much, but with pain pills and flexeril, the worst of it was brought under control... and then I took celexa for a while...

Anyway.. ask your doctor about it or go to your emergency room.... you don't have to be suffering so badly....i went only when i couldn't take it anymore.. I thought I was going to die from an anyeurism or something like that....

Also, I have TMJ... which can cause severe pain in the ear area.... I am learning to be more aware of jaw clenching and such...So ask about that as well.. it can be brought on by trauma and stress too...

Please let us know how you are doing and what you learn.. and don't be discouraged.. it may just be that you need the RIGHT muscle relaxers and pain killers....something for depression and anxiety is good for this too... wellbutrin maybe... cymbalta...

I will be thinking of you.. Faith

[(JD)]

I also have TMD, and it can be excruciating pain. I had surgery for my TMD...

but I have menierres also...which can do that.

See 2 specialists: an oral surgeon to dx your jaw and make sure it's in the correct place (even slight mal adjustments (too small for naked eye?) can cause this type of pain) and an ENT (ear,nose throat doctor)

Have you tried heat? Warm home made salt bags if you don't have a heating pad... but they have hot packs/gel packs you can warm in the microwave

Tense neck muscles and jaw muscles can cause ear pain... do you put the TENS electrodes on those trigger points? Check the charts or consult your physical therapist for where to put them (I take my tens and let him put them on me!)

[Boopers]

Wow, I am so sorry you are in such horrid pain! I have had pain like that but never in my ear. I won't give you any suggestions as the ones you have been given are better than any I could think of. I do hope you get to the bottom of it and can get some relief.
I did want to mention to you, I have a dil and her sister had a baby girl three months ago. As soon as she told me her name, I said I absolutely love that name. Her name is Bella Rose. I think that is one of the most beautiful names I have ever heard. I know that doesn't help with your pain, but I had to share.
Take care,
Linda

[Bella_Rose]

Thank you for all of your input- I have to talk to my doc about some of this stuff, but it gives me some hope. I know exactly about all of the tricks- the sock filled with rice (my favorite), heating pads, hot water bottles, hot baths, cold packs and I have even had my husband sit on my head while laying sideways on the couch- I know it sounds weird, but that pressure on my head really helped but only while it was being applied. Thank you all for your input, this gives me some more stuff to research and check into. I actually do have an apt. with a TMJ specialist but I can't get in until dec. 15th- that seems so far away. Again- thank you all for your words of hope and encouragment!

[Soidhonia]

Hello I hope things get better for you soon. Have you tried a nasl decongestant or benadryl for the pain? You should call your pharmacist and see if the pharmacist will tell you what to take. Benadryl is very good for pain, in the face and the ear at times. I take benadryl at night with a nasal decongestant and it helps me sleep and also with arthritis. Take care Soidhonia

others have suggested this... TMJ makes my ear and the front part on my face hurt extremely bad - I used to go to med centers convinced that I had an ear infection. Sometimes when I'm very stressed and have ground my teeth all night long, my ear acutely hurts. Heat helps for me. I hope it gets better soon.

[withit]

As someone who has suffered from excruciating ear pain for many years, I thought I might share how I finally got rid of it.
I don't know if you want all the details of my journey... if you do just let me know. In the meantime I'll just share with you the last stop of my journey: I removed gluten and dairy from my diet. Bingo! I have been following this diet - STRICTLY- since May 2006, and have had ONLY TWO reoccurrences of the old familiar ear pain: once, when I ate something that had gluten in it, and I only found out later. The second time, when I had general anesthesia for a surgical procedure, and god knows what else went into that IV, it probably contained either gluten or dairy cuz I had that old familiar ear pain that lasted 2 days.
Motrin never helped to relieve the pain, even in double doses. But removing the inflammatory foods did the trick!
I am so sorry for your pain; I hope you find relief from this agony soon!