I had all 4 wisdom tooth removed 4 weeks. The bottow two were in the gums so it was difficult to get them out. After the surgery, i had dry socket and couple of weeks later the pain subisded in the jaw and the socket is almost healed up according to the dentist. However, a week ago i have been getting pain in my ear. It seems as if the ear is beating similar to heart beats. This happens especially when i go to bed or if i have support on my head like when im laying down on my couch. i went to ent and tmj specialist and they both told me nothing is wrong and my dentist told me there is no nerve damage and he took panoramic x-rays which shows everything is fine.

Right now, I am very worried because i dont know what is causing the ear beating when i go to bed. I am thinking it might be because of the wisdom tooth extraction however, i am new to medical world and dont know this for sure. can anyone tell me based on what i mentioned what could be causing the ear beating? Do i need to be concerned about this and see someone or should i just wait and see if it heals up from the surgery? I am very confused and anxious about this so any help would be very appreciated.

Thx

Neo

Hi! I have had the same problem for the last 2 years. Usually only when I lay down at night on either side I hear the beating in my head that is synchronise with my heartbeat.

I went to a couple ENT doctors and it was diagnosed as "pulsatile tinnitus". You can go to the website for the American Tinnitus Association and it will give you an explanation.

I don't know what caused it in my case but I feel the same way you do. It is very concerning when you don't get answers from the specialists. My take on it is that it is usually not a serious condition and the ENT's probably don't know or care a lot about it because treating you for this won't be a money maker for them. I'm sorry if that sounds negative but I am really disappointed that I saw 2 ENT's in a major teaching hospital in Chicago and was treated so poorly. But they sure were quick to send me their $200 and $300 bill for the 10 minute office visit with no answers for me.

One side note, I have had some oral surgery done in the past but that was about 15 years ago. Maybe the dental work is a connection.

Good luck and try to stay positive. Stress and alcohol seem to worsen the problem for me.

My pulsatile tinnitus started about 5 years ago. I am told by 2 doctors that I have it in both ears, but I only hear it in my right ear. I agree that doctors seem not to care about tinnitus, especially when you hear those horrible words "you have to just live with it". I find that easier said than done.

I found myself getting really depressed and I started having problems getting deep breaths. My GP said I was having anxiety attacks (panic attacks) & severe depression over my condition. I was prescribed 2 meds that changed my life for the better. I have been taking effexor xr (anti-depression capsule) and clonazepam (anti-anxiety tablet) for around 5 years now. I take the min dose of each of them. They have eliminated my pulsatile tinnitus for 80 to 90% of every day.

I take the effexor in the am, & 1/2 tablet of clonazepam at breakfast time. At bedtime, I take the other 1/2 tablet of clonazepam, which helps me have a great sleep. When I wake up in the morning, I do not feel drugged or groggy.