KJJ

Hello everyone.

I induced some facial palsy on my left side, likely because of an irritated parotid gland. The palsy triggered some TMJ problems, revealed after a particularly painful ER visit.

After receiving a load of muscle relaxants and a dental mouthpiece, I noticed that my left ear was loose. The top of the ear was loose, and I had a sore, cramped muscle running along the tragus near the TMJ joint.

On Thursday, I pushed this ear forward, and the muscle moved upward, clamping it down.

However, now the ear is too tight! At worst it is nearly completely rigid and sticking out from the body, tightening even the eardrum. At best it is flexible at the top of the ear, becoming more rigid as one moves along the outside of the helix towards the earlobe.

I'm pretty uncomfortable, and I'm trying to figure out how to get the ear back into position. At the moment it seems moist heat aggravates the tightness, while a cold pack relieves it. I worry my TMJ problems are interfering with the ear muscles, and vice versa.

The ear seems to be the worst part of my afflictions. This particular ear has also had eustachian dysfunction, and requires conscious effort to drain. When drained and exposed to my breathing, my toes start cramping down or upwards from some kind of referred nerve action. This is quite stressful.

I don't know whether it was induced by the palsy, the muscle relaxants, or the bad TMJ. Has anyone had experience with this? How do I loosen up the (involuntary?) muscle that keeps the ear attached?

Thanks.

-Kevin