Thanks for that Lara. It was a late night for me & I didn't think to break it up until this morning, but since I'm new I can't Edit Posts yet. Anyways, if anyone has questions or needs anything cleared up, I can do so here or through PM.

Hello and welcome, happy to see you have come to be with us, it a great place to be. As you can see we have a great number and caring fellow members here, where you have find a supportive and relaxing place. Have fun looking into the different forums. Our shoulders are here for support in many ways.

Please keep us up to date on your condition. Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene

So I was just going over my little intro again & noticed there were a few things that I omitted that may be helpful for you peoples to give me suggestions on what to do. Anywho, here's a quick little list of what I believe are all of the important facts:

Bio
25yo Male; 270lb (I was 330lb back at the start of this year); 6'2"

Major Condition(s)
Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia, causing Chronic Pain in & around the Left Ear & Surgery Site Scar behind that ear. Have had an unsuccesful Micro-Vascular Decompression & semi-succesful surgery where they cut the nerve. Start Date: aprox. 2004-05

Secondary Condition(s)
Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, which is counteracted with Ear Tubes inserted every 6-12 months. Start Date: Birth
Deviated Septum, causing difficulty breathing with my nose & blocking my sinuses from draining properly. Start Date: aprox. 2002-03

Description of Pain
Left Ear - When I start experiencing pain, it usually starts with a sharp stabbing pain or something like being shocked by an electric fence. This can be followed up by more stabs and/or jolts, and/or a dull feeling that's almost like someone is balancing a bowling ball on my ear. In the evening & in bad attacks, the surgery scar behind my ear will feel like it's full of something dense, maybe like what's in a stress ball. Attacks generally last anywhere from a few minutes up to an hour or two in extreme cases.

Known Triggers
Physical exertion, especially lifting weights and running.
Moving my jaw for talking, yawning, and chewing.
Hiccups
Eating crunchy and chewy foods like chips, breads, fried chicken, pizza, etc. Certain spices also can cause pain, such as tabasco and similar spices.
Resting on my left side for more than a few minutes and wearing headphones or headsets.
Wind or fans blowing air across the left side of my head. This is a fairly new trigger (started March this year), and so far only happens later in the day when my ear pain is at its worst.
Loud noises can set my ear off, but again that's usuallywhen I'm already in pain.

How I Relieve Pain
Medication - including Morphine, Extended Release & Immediate Release.
Marijuana, used daily. This helps reduce intensity & frequency of the attacks.
Relaxation - I can't reduce pain during bad attacks, but if I catch a moderate one when it starts, I might be able to stop it.

Hi again Itzagi,

I'm sorry I can't really help you with your conditions but just wanted to let you know that there is a

Occipital Neuralgia and other Cranial Neuralgias Forum
Occipital Neuralgia, Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia, Nervus Intermedius (or Geniculate Neuralgia), and Vegal and Superior Laryngeal Neuralgia

if you've not found that already.

Chronic Pain Forum

Hi Itzagi,

It would be useful for the future - and I hope you stick around, we need more Nerds - if you copy this Bio onto your Profile Page so that others who come long after this Thread has slipped away can instantly see what you deal with. I find it insightful reading detailed Bios, you get the opportunity to really know someone.

Just for information here, one of my conditions is Neuropathic Facial Pain/Paresthesia and Trigeminal Neuralgia Attacks caused by an arterial knot around my Trigeminal Nerve. I was going to have a sleeve fitted in '08, but had a heart attack which damaged my heart so badly I cannot do anaesthetics any more. I take Morphine and Ketamine, and the Topiramate I take for Cluster Headaches dulls the pain somewhat.

Dave.

Thanks for the suggestion, Dave. I just got that done & put in a some info that I forgot to put in, such as info about the pain I experience in my Right ear & some more info on my triggers.

Would also like to thank Lara for that link. That'll make it easier to get a shortcut to there.

Welcome Itzagi.

Just wanted to say "hi" and sorry for you pain. Sounds miserable. I have an undiagnosed nerve pain problem with my left ear, but thankfully it's gotten better as I've aged. Ear pain is terrible, though, so I feel for you.

I hope you can get some help on one of the more targeted forums. I've found people here to be extremely helpful.