[Coop42]

My right ear has been really plugged up for about a week or so, and it's been ringing as well. I thought it was just a cold but it's been lingering on. It's on the side that I had surgery on many years ago, and I've had problems with pain in that ear in the past.
My question is, has anyone had a problem with a plugged up, ringing ear because of TOS, or do you think it's more of a sinus thing? I've been doing a lot of self-massage on my neck, so I was wondering if maybe irritated, angry nerves could cause that?

[radtech]

Originally Posted by Coop42

My right ear has been really plugged up for about a week or so, and it's been ringing as well. I thought it was just a cold but it's been lingering on. It's on the side that I had surgery on many years ago, and I've had problems with pain in that ear in the past.
My question is, has anyone had a problem with a plugged up, ringing ear because of TOS, or do you think it's more of a sinus thing? I've been doing a lot of self-massage on my neck, so I was wondering if maybe irritated, angry nerves could cause that?

I get ringing in my ears, that I only get when my tos symptoms flare up.

[Coop42]

Originally Posted by radtech

I get ringing in my ears, that I only get when my tos symptoms flare up.

Thanks. They are still ringing a lot but not quite is plugged up. I've been taking Sudafed everyday to see if that helps.

[DiMarie]

Hi coop, try laying with that ear and side on a heating pad. I've had ringing so long, I mostly don't notice it anymore. I have diminished hearing in that ear too. Neuro said TOS related. Spasms.....

[Coop42]

That ear got better for a little bit but this morning it's totally plugged up again and it's ringing like crazy. I'm pretty sure it's TOS related.

[Coop42]

Ear problems are back. I'll bet I only have about 50% of my hearing right now. Both ears are bad and ringing like crazy!

[chroma]

Over time I learned that my ringing was due to muscle spasms in the jaw. I have to get my jaw to relax to get rid of them. I mostly do that through the "muscle relaxation meditation" that I have described before. After that, I stretch the jaw.

Some people also use their fingers to reach inside the mouth and massage out tension and trigger areas/points in various jaw muscles. You can can also massage some of them on the outside.

I also prevent the tightness from happening in the first place to a large extent by using The Quieting Reflex by Charles Stroebel.

Back when I was starting to get this under control, but not quite there, increased tinnitus acted as a warning that my jaw was tightening up, which I would then address. This would happen a few times a day. Now it's down to a few times a month.

And yes, sometimes my ear would feel full.

I still have a basic level of tinnitus that started 15 - 20 years ago. Like @DiMarie, I mostly ignore it. But when muscle spasms, TMJD and TOS started coming on strong a few years ago, my tinnitus cranked up hard.

I don't know if jaw tightness applies to your situation or not, but it's something to consider, and no one has mentioned it in this thread yet.

[Coop42]

Jaw tightness could be a problem. I notice that when I do self-massage on my neck the ringing gets worse for a few days. I figure it must irritate the nerves but over the long term I think that it's helpful.

[Eight]

Have you tried ear candling? It's strange, but really does help.

[Coop42]

Originally Posted by Eight

Have you tried ear candling? It's strange, but really does help.

No, I haven't but it might be something to try.