Ear thumping after hiccup/internal burp... lasts days....

[Crystalynne]

Guys, I need some help...

For the past 2 months, I've had a reoccuring thumping noise in my left ear that is set off by a hiccup or an internal 'burp'.  If its too hard, it sets my left ear off, thumping intermeddently over and over again for hours.

The 'thumping' sounds like a heartbeat, but it DOES NOT go along with the rythum of my heartbeat.  Its a muted sound, much like when you are clearing your ears to relieve pressure.  

Prior episodes would last all day, then go away when I slept.  The last two episodes however, have lasted 2 days now and would go away when I slept.

My doctor gave me a muscle relaxer injection because he believed it was TMJ, which it obviously wasn't.

I have an appointment to go see an EMT at the end of the month but until then this is driving me nuts.  Does anyone have -ANY- idea as to what this might be, and how to stop the thumping?  It driving me crazy, I just want to rip my ear off...

[zoebts2]

i just had a hiccup fit and now my left ear is thumping every ten seconds anyone know what’s going on?? will it go away on its own

[moorebilljess]

What ever happended with you ear thumping? I hope its gone- mine started a few weeks ago on and off and always after a hiccup or internal burp- I went to ENT and GP with no answers.

[llane]

I have the same problem. Also in my left ear. No pain. Heartbeat/thumping sensation that only lasts a few seconds. Randomly or after a yawn or internal burp. I went to the doctor, and he thought it was an ear infection and gave me an antibiotic. The antibiotic didn't Does anyone have solutions or diagnosis? I've researched a lot and I've found a lot on pulsae tinnitus. I'm not sure if that's what is what it is. Let me know if anyone has updates.  

[Strongjaw]

I experienced this exact problem severely. A burp or hiccup would set off a horrible thumping in my left ear. I went to an ENT and they scared me by saying if it persists the only way to stop it might be to cut a nerve inside my ear. I did not want to go through that. I did my own research and discovered tensor tympani syndrome. I learned that the ears are directly connected to the jaw. I have an underbite which causes me to overuse my jaw when chewing. I went on a liquid diet for a few days and stopped chewing anything. The thumping stopped. I slowly began eating solid foods again - soft ones first - and then I was back to my normal eating habits. I will occasionally have the thumping in my ear, but it does not last as long as it used to. And now I know I just need to lay back on the chewing for a bit. So maybe try that and see if it's connected to your jaw as it was for me.

[Adcvbr]

I am experience the same problem in my left ear. I am going mad... it has been happening for a good while and have seen some Ear doctors and no diagnosis...

Did anybody get a diagnosis? Could you share it with me or give me any adivice?

Many thanks

[Zippa80]

Did anyone get better?

[KaySofy23]

Crystalynne  I am having this same issue. When you went to the EMT, what did they say the problem was?

[buzz1964]

I have a similar thumping in my right ear.  My ENT diagnosed it as a form of tennitis (I'm not in complete agreement).  He also suggested that I stay off all caffeine, as caffeine can cause the small muscle behind the ear drum to spasm.  Staying off caffeine HAS helped.  I rarely have had this problem since I started to avoid caffeine.

[shom41]

I believe it has something to do with the vagus nerve and the tensor in the ear which is innervated by the vagal afferents.  Try low dose clonazepam.

[MLP1972]

I suffer with the same symptoms that you are all experiencing too! It has been driving me crazy for about 6 weeks.
Nancy wrote about her eyes twitching, mine also do this, and I have discovered through research that low magnesium levels contribute to eye twitches as well as menstrual headaches, which I also experience. I found this article on the net and thought I would share it with you. Fingers crossed it is as simple as this. Good luck everyone.
http://www.fauquierent.net/earclicking.htm

[Bosse160]

I have the same thing when I burp or internally I get the thumping a few times too.  I went to a ENT and he said my ears are normal and did a ultra sound and everything and said it could be a muscle spasm or wisdom teeth, I also went to the dentist and he is puzzled too.  I have wisdom teeth that never came down so it might be that.  I am going to a Oral surgeon to check out my head he will do a Xray and stuff.  I am hoping I get a cure and not wind up back at the ENT

[scupp23]

The same thing has been happening to me except it only lasts for a few seconds several times throughout the day and it is also only in my left ear. It happens right after a hiccup or internal burp which happens often. It's really bothersome so if you've found out what it was please let me know.

[hmix]

please update this.

i have a similar thing going on that just started. it is also in my left ear only too. when i burp i hear a small thump or thud. i set up an appointment with my doctor, but the thumping had stopped after a few days. i went anyways, and my doctor just checked for an ear infection that was not there. it has been 3 days since my visit, about 5 days since it last happened, and now it is back. i am fearful that it could become a worsening condition, if you could tell me if you ever had it correctly diagnosed.

[alex015]

Hi, what came out of ur ear thumping? My gf has the EXACT same symptoms after fainting and hitting her head. Any tips or advice?

[quirk33]

The exact same thing happens to me when I have that burp/hiccup, in the same ear too. It only lasts a second though. Tell me what you find if you go to the doctor.

[Nancy T]

That's weird... I had something perhaps slightly similar happen recently, except it didn't last long. When straining hard with my left arm to open a really stuck plastic-bottle lid, I would get a momentary thumping in my right ear.

It is weird how some kind of stimulation can set off muscle twitches. These days, whenever I close my eyes hard, my left eyelid and the area above it twitch really hard for a few seconds.

One time, for a few weeks or so, whenever I'd run my hand over my face (like when you're tired), it would start to twitch above my left eye, followed in a couple seconds by twitching under my right eye.

I hope you find some relief from this. The nervous system is just plain bizarre.

Nancy

[Crystalynne]

thanks very much for your help :)

[ENTMD]

No, you're right, the hiccuping/"internal burping" would not result in wax or a foreign body.  That would be a coincidence.  I was only trying to brainstorm some possible explanations...

[Crystalynne]

Thanks very much for your response... would wax/hairs irritating the ear drum be a result of hiccuping/internal burping?  As I mentioned thats what sets it off.

I'm hoping thats the solution rather than having to undergo surgery. :(

[ENTMD]

I think that the most likely explanations are myoclonus of the stapedial tendon or tensor tympani.  These are 2 tiny muscles in the middle ear that can spasm and produce the sounds you describe.  I've also seen people with hairs or wax irritating the ear drum and removal has corrected this.  Seeing the ENT doc is the right way to go.  Good luck!