I forgot to say, my condition is called palatomyoclonus. I was actually diagnosed with it, but I got side tracked with depression treatment that failed. I gave it up on trying to find a cure because I couldn't find any information. Now I can't stop finding information. Its basically, the clonus that MS sufferers have but in the ear. Its caused by disruptions in the central nervous system.

I am on Gabapentin (Neurontin) to relieve me of the jaw clenching and other muscle tension problems I am having. It is a very easy drug to take. No real side effects.
It is an adjunct anti-epileptic. It effects GABA in a positive way.

Has anybody done a "good" look at your neck? The vertebral artery is known to cause problems with the eighth cranial nerve that connects to the ear. One of the articles refers to 0.3 millimeter slices needed for the MRI to image the problem.

Do a google for "cranial nerves, vertebra" You will find some good information.

I have a problem with inflammation in the brain stem causing problems. For me, it effects the autonomic nervous system and causes me to stop breathing.

Maybe you have a problem in the neck too.

Good luck with this problem.

Yes, I have this after 9 years from Tramatic Brain Injury. But it has subsided a bit through the years. It hurts to even type on this keyboard at times, can't chew food without it drivin me crazy, forget talking

Silence hurts, noise hurts, sometimes pain killers make it worse. BUT, I am fortunate that mine has declined over the years. Could be that I changed my diet completely........ALL Organic, all raw foods that I process myself.

Was it the time, or the diet change? who knows...but I will take the improvement! I can say that last week I was TOTALLY STUPID & ate 6 Krispy Creme doughnuts & ALL problems came back for 2 days straight???

I do hope & pray for you that you will get the relief that you need!

Have you ever done any research on Hyperacusis? I have a very similar problem with sound sensitivity brain injury. There is some treatment for it that apparently has an 80-90% success rate. I'm actually about to begin treatment myself.

Check out **

Link got edited out. *edit*

Not sure if it will help you, but tinnitus and 'fullness' in the ears are both symptoms of hyperacusis.

Hey, thanks for the response jayhybrid. Yeah, I don't think its hyperacusis. That's an over-sensitivity to sounds. I mistook fullness for tightness. And, the perceived sounds (snapping) is muscle/tendon movements rather than tinnitus (ringing). It's probable that I'm suffering from chronic tension headaches along with Major Depression and Anxiety. It's really tough trying to articulate symptoms that are so vague. But, I think I'm finally on the right track. Thanks again! Take care.

I'm so happy I found this thread.

I was involved in a high speed car accident a couple years back. Since I came to, I've had ringing in my ears, a full feeling that leads to intermittent deafness that can last from a few seconds to a few days (luckily, so far, it's only hit one ear at a time) and worst of all I get these stabbing pains several times an hour. It's like being stabbed in the ear by an ice pick. When I told my neurologist, he shrugged and dismissed my complaint with "that's unusual." Clearly he thought I was making it up.

From reading these posts, I can see that my problem could have a number of causes. First off, there's my diffuse axonal brain injury. Secondly, there's my severe whiplash. Finally, the accident damaged my jaw (TMJ) and causes me to clench in pain.

While I'm not pleased that any of you are suffering, I'm somewhat comforted that I'm not alone - or crazy.

Cheers

Criminy! I've been wondering what that crackling in my left ear was all about! I'm finally having my thorough neurological checkup starting this Thursday, about 42 years late.... I'll ask about that, too. You can read my history in other posts....

I really hope that this health care reform passes, because there are an awful lot of us out there who really need it. BTW, Prozac really helped my deep depression when I first went on it in 1986 when it came out, but over time it stopped doing anything. Now I take Cymbalta, which does okay with the arthritis/nerve pain, but isn't spectacular. The original descriptions of "typical depressions" was that they last from a few weeks to about 6-8 months, and "usually resolve on their own." Our drug arsenal as well as our culture are not equipped to deal with depression that goes on and on and on. I've found that it helps to communicate that you are scientifically literate in some way--that way the doctor will "respect" you--at least as much as they can in these days when medical "heroes" are portrayed like the damaged, egocentric doctors in "House."

Is the palatomyoclonus the ear plugging?

gershonb

Update:


The cracking noise in my ear to due to muscular problems (leaden paralysis). It's the muscles rather than the auditory nerve (tinnitus). I've got atypical depression (fatigue, constant drowsiness, overeating, irritability) and I am responding to an MAOI called moclobemide, but only partially. I am trying to get parnate or nardil or selegiline next week.