For a while now I have been having problems with both ears. I'm still not sure weather they are just inflamed or both infected because the problem has been around for about half a year and there are no signs that the pain and discomfort will subside. Perhaps it would be something that I would typically ignore and being honest, it is not really comparable to the pain of Ankylosing Spondylitis. The reason that I am concerned is because of my love for music. It is one thing that I want to hold onto with both hands for the rest of my life. I want to be a good producer, but I can't do that with dodgy ears.

Been to the doctor 3 times and he keeps prescribing me eardrops that don't work. I'm seriously considering going again but I don't know what he would say. Has anyone had similar experiences? Trying to understand the cause of this irritation..

Thanks for the advice

I'm not sure if my problems are like the ones you have, but I have a lot of problems with mine, I'll try and explain, maybe it's similar in some way.

Mine started 16 years ago, and initially I got a clicking sound similar to the one you get when you equalize pressure after a flight or if you have a large change in altitude. Started on on side, then rapidly came on the other. Took me a long while to realize that my jaw and my ear problems were linked.


"clicking noise" that goes off by itself, but I can also to some degree make it happend; If I relax my jaw by will, they will go off more.

Jaw pain (took longer for that to set in and has gotten worse in the years.)

Feeling of soreness in the ears and the area around the ear. (I once became visibly swollen below and around one ear.)

Clicking sound will at times be painful too, but mostly is just an annoyance I dont notice anymore apart from when its worse than usual.

Jaw more painful and sore = ears the same, and the other way round. Clearly linked.

Jaw has developed cracking noises after all these years, a lot more the last 2 when the spine pains set in. They crack if I open too much, if I strain the muscles, and lately also when I open my mouth, if I have been quiet for a while. (Luckily I rarely are :p) If I do not provoke the cracking now and then by stretching my jaw muscles, the jaws become painful.

When the ears go real bad, it sometimes affect my balance. It took me ages to realise this, I was told it was anxiety. I knew it was possible to get a virus on your balance nerve, and that makes you unable to stand, I just never had thought that an inflammation could do something inbetween normal and balance cut. These episodes are unpleasant, but knowing what they are, it's a lot better to deal with. Actually affecting balance AND coordination is a better description.

Feeling of "fulness" in the ear

I get better for prolonged periods of time. (Should be good to know)

I've tested for sinusitis, and it's not that, but it has in time spread to affecting my sinuses. Just plain feels like inflammation there too.

I sleep with a teeth guard to spare my teeth, as I grind my teeth a lot in sleep. That makes my jaw feel better too. Dentist makes them.

And the good news part:

Even after 16 years of this, and even though it affects balance in periods, it has NOT done permanent damage to balance or hearing. I get regular hearing tests at work and mine's perfect. I cant say I think the same is the case for my jaw joints, but meh; I can live with that just fine

Not sure if that helps or is similar at all, but I hope it could answer some questions Seb?

Hi Seb,

I have ongoing problem with my ear - infections - fluid in the inner ear - they itch so bad - very dry - inverted ear drum - etc., and the doctors wonder why I don't complain, because they are very red, when they check them.

I've had ear problems since a young child. I don't know if my auditory processing disorder, and low normal hearing is the result of my ear infections.

Like most doctors, the last ENT said yep - you have ear infection - yes like to put you on anti-biotics - sorry can't because of your many allergies. No further investigation - but getting further with investigation into Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia. Looking into Parathyroid and Pituitary problems (M.E.N.s problems), both have a link to ear problems.

Hugs
Gerri & Makaylah (service dog)

First off is it a hearing problem, or a pain problem? If you even vaguely think it might be a hearing problem, then you don't need your doctor - you can find an audiologist and get your hearing tested properly. That will either show up problems, or reassure you that is OK.

If its pain, or discharge then you do need a doctor. If your doctor hasn't been able to treat it properly, then you might need to ask to be referred to an ENT specialist.

If it is pain, then is it right within the ear canal, or is it in the ear cartilage? If its the ear cartilage, then it could be AS related - I have heard that ear cartilage can get inflammed in the same way as enthesitis in joints. If thats the case, then you need to be working with the rheumatologist to get inflammation under control.

But first off, if you are worried about losing hearing, then the easiest step would be to get a hearing test (and you don't need a doctor for that). You may find you are worrying unnecessarily.

as others have suggested:

have you been to a specialist or was it your GP that gave you the drops.

seeing an ENT and having a hearing test seem to be the two things you need to do.

when i developed pulsating tinnitus (turned out to be the edema (fluid retention) from the vioxx i was on) i saw an ENT and one of the things he did was a hearing test.

test first. as cemc said, see what the tests say first before you worry too much. pain and other symptoms don't necessarily equate to hearing loss. but do get it checked out by a specialist if you haven't done so already.