I finally went to an ENT for a problem ear. Found out part of my ear pain is due to having NO ear wax.. probably a side effect of taking to many drying medications. LOL. I thought I would end up with tubes in my ears - but the doc fixed me up without going to that. I have had a painful ear that feels like it has fluid in it off and on for 20 years. (allergies etc)

Anyway.... they did a standard hearing test when I got there. I have RSD in my left shoulder, up my neck, and along my jaw. I didn't think it affected my hearing, or the ear on that side. That is not the side I was having ear problems with.. that is the right ear.

OH MAN!!! did that hearing test hurt! It must have been the vibration, or just where the earphones were hitting my skin. Don't know. I was almost hysterical by the time it was done, wanting to tear the earphones off my head. I told them do NOT go by anything in the last half of that test... it would not be accurate! AGONY!

He wanted MRI of my ear and sinus area. I refused. MRI's are just to painful for me since RSD due to the vibrations. So, then he said CAT scan was ok... which was painless. MRI vibration is just awful now. I hope I never have to have another one.

Good luck with your tests. Hopefully your results will be as good as mine. A few different meds, but finally one worked, no more ear problems after ALL these years. Whew!

Jules

Jules, Thanks for sharing your experience. I also take meds that are very drying to me but they haven't affected my ears. My ear canals are very moist...one of the many things that my Drs looked into, when I started having these problems.

My ENT has done a pressure test on my ears every 2 weeks, to see if there is any change in them....not an ounce of change. He also at one point punctured my eardrum and cleaned out all of the fluid that was built up. He let it heal back up and did another pressure test...no change but the eardrum went back to the same way it was prior to him puncturing it ( it's concaved rather than straight up and down).

All of my Drs are convinced that if things continue as they are now, that I'll be completely deaf within a year. That's why they're running every type of tests that they can think of, to try and get a dx, so they can hopefully treat and at least stop the progression of the loss.

Thanks again everyone for sharing your experiences and taking the time to respond to my post.

cjay

Much gentle ((HUS'S Cjay)))) I hope they find a solution for you. Love, thoughts and prayers going out to you!! Love, Desi