For the last few months I've had an anoyance best described as water in my left ear. Unfortunately its not that easy. There isnt any water in my ear. It feels like it when I move my jaw back and forth (sideways). Sometimes when I eat, it feels that way. I've found that if I pull my ear lobe out a ways, the feeling and sound goes away for a short period. I've also found that when I go up in altitude, plane or driving in higher elevations it also goes away. I can stand in the shower and direct warm water into that ear and the sound and feeling will go away for a while. No pain or dizziness, its just annoying to have this feeling and sound always there these days. No problem with the right ear. The one time I mentioned it to a doctor, she looked and said there was a little wax buildup but not enough to cause any blockage. Anybody know whats up?
I have a similar thing. I always have noises in my ears..when I swallow...when I move my jaw. Most recently I got a noise in one ear like you described..and it turns out I have fluid building up. This is from a problem with my E tubes. My right side can't open up and drain the fluid..so I get the noises and pressure. Any sort of problem with your tubes can cause noises.
If the noise continues you should go back to your doctor and ask to see a specialist.
It feels like it when I move my jaw back and forth (sideways). Sometimes when I eat, it feels that way. I've found that if I pull my ear lobe out a ways, the feeling and sound goes away for a short period.
makes me think this might be a muscular problem. Do you clench or grind your teeth? Often people who do (and some who don't) develop problems in their ears related to tempero mandibular joint disorder, or, more commonly myofacial pain dysfunction. (TMJD but without jaw joint involvement) Spasm and tension of the muscles in and around the face and neck. It's often a bit of a give away that this could be the cause of the problem when manipulating your jaw causes a change in the ear symptoms. Also, generally, ENT's and docs can't see this problem when they examine your ears and all tests come back clear. Sometimes a problem with tension in the neck alone can cause referred problems in the ears. You have muscles which are involved with opening and closing your eustachian tubes, when these become tense, it can cause the type of symptoms you describe, as fluid can intermittently become trapped in there. I had dreadful ear symptoms, the one u describe, plus a bunch of other stuff, I was diagnosed at a dental hospital, it was all muscular.
The treatment for this is generally to do simple stretching exercises for the jaw and neck. Also, some people, if they do clench or grind their teeth, get a mouthguard from the dentist to wear at night.
Obviously if you have a feeling of fluid build up in your e tubes it's always important to get it checked out by a doc in case it's an ear infection. However it seems you've already done this,
best,
hbep
__________________
hbep
Last edited by hbep; 01-14-2005 at 08:33 AM.
The Following User Says Thank You to hbep For This Useful Post: bfatboy91 (01-28-2012)
I have a similar thing. I always have noises in my ears..when I swallow...when I move my jaw. Most recently I got a noise in one ear like you described..and it turns out I have fluid building up. This is from a problem with my E tubes. My right side can't open up and drain the fluid..so I get the noises and pressure. Any sort of problem with your tubes can cause noises.
If the noise continues you should go back to your doctor and ask to see a specialist.
Hope I've helped in some way.
Kelly
i WONDERED IF YOU TAKE ANY MEDICATION WHEN YOU FEEL THIS WAY- DECONGESTENTS- NOSE SPRAYS?
THE ANSWER (For Me) like water in the ear but isn't??
Did some searching and came across a response to this issue about the possibility that this is actually inflammation of the jaw muscle.... I know sounded ridiculous at first... "THis is IN my ear!" This post I read explained that the jaw muscle is millimeters away from the ear canal and that eating a lot of hard things as well as drinking coffee, may add to inflammation.
I started to massage the muscle in front and behind my ear with my index and middle fingers... The problem seemed to go away AND my hearing seemed to improve. I remember now that this bascically started after I got two cavities filled in my left upper jaw. It has left me favoring the right jaw. I believe this may have led somehow to my left jaw muscle becoming involved with my ear.
Anyway, this is quite alarming, I hope it works for you. Definitely give it a try. At the same time there is a possibility that this may be a bacteriological infection that DOES require anti-biotics so be aware of this.
Seth
Last edited by sethgman; 05-14-2007 at 06:28 AM.
Reason: My post, left out caveat
feels like water in the ear but isn't?? 
THE ANSWER (For Me) like water in the ear but isn't?? 
