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Strange Tongue/Jaw/Ear Issues
Not sure exactly what started this whole thing off, but last July (2012) I had an intense sore throat left side only with a minor ear ache. Enough that it had me worried about the "C". Went to prompt care a few days later to be told I probably had a virus and they could see nothing in my ear or throat. They did a strep test - negative. Suggested I might try OTC allergy or even acid reflux meds. Imagine my relief. Well, I got no relief. I scheduled an appt for a physical. Three weeks later still having problems...GP says he sees nothing. I note that I do have a slightly enlarged but non-tender lymph node. Still biggest complaint (besides fear) is throat and minor ear pain...all left sided. He suggests more acid reducers. I do that, have a deep filling done and suddenly the pain is constant and terrible and now includes my tongue...which is by far the worst and scariest. So far, this is still going on. I have seen three dentists, an oral surgeon, two ent's and a neurologist besides my gp and the prompt care doctor I started with. I have had a brain mri, a neck ultrasound, and a neck CT scan. All unremarkable other than noting several "benign appearing" scattered lymph nodes on the ultrasound and something to the same extent noted on the CT..."no frank adenopathy." I am at my wits end. the ear pain and the tongue pain are treacherous...the throat rarely bothers me. The neuro diagnosed me with trigeminal neuralgia and put me on neurontin...which barely helps (if at all). And of course, the fear remains even though one would think all the doctors and scans should make me less scared - the fact that the pain persists keeps my fear going. Not to mention the terrible things I can find on the Internet. Anyone have anything similar? I find the trigeminal neuralgia hard to swallow because the tongue and ear are my biggest complaints and that doesn't seem to fit? Thanks for any help/advice you can offer.
Hi everyone, i bope this thread is still going on because im experiencing similar things. This year has been extremely rough for me. In february, i had a stomach virus, then a sinus infection, followed by three "female infections". I was on a slew of antibiotics/fungals. I had a bad drug interaction with alcohol and metronidozale, and suffered horrendous vomiting, racing heart and my arms went completely numb. I mention this, because i feel like everything else has gone wrong from there. In april I was hospitalizeddue to stomach pain, heart palpitations and intense flushing with the feeling of needing to vomit but never doing so. I was out of work for a month, having an endoscopy and gastric emptying test done. They found acid reflux in lower third of my esophagus and gastroparesis (paralyzed stomach, namely vargus nerve dysfunction).
I was on the road to recovery when i saw my dentist in May, and had complained of having a weird gunky feeling in my throat, they saw nothing and did a cleaning. Feeling persisted. I saw my pcp, who saw thrush and had me on nystatin followed by diflucan. During this time the LEFT side of my tongue went numb or felt like i had burned or bit it, but did not. It moved to the right side, and since both sides have been numb. I have noted also my throat consistantly feels like there is a lump or tightness. My lymphs feel swollen. And this has progressed to bizarre sensations in my ears of a warm tingling. Ive seen two ent docs. First guy put me on more prilosec. I take prilosec and zantac daily for a.r. He then tried amoxicillin for ten days and i noted my lymphs went down, when i told him this he said it could just be a placebo effect. Then had me going on neurontin which helped minimally and he was gradually increasing my dosage. He did a scope and saw nothing crazy. I do have tonsil stones. He says my nose and ears look fine. I eventually see a new ENT who did more thorough tests, but says next stop is neurologist. I havent had a blood test, swab, xray, ct scan nor mri. My first ent was encouraging a ph probe, to see acid reflux prevalence. As well as possibly taking my tonsils "and see what happens". Both sides of my tongue feel swollen and numb and i accidentally bite it often. I am taking b12, potassium, a.r. meds, probiotics, gummi vitamins. I question if they are right with the nerves, due to my recent issue with the gastric nerve. I am a smoker, been trying to quit for quite some time. I know long term infection can cause nerve damage, and one of my meds that i had been on and off cipro, can also fry nerves. In addition, prior to all this, i was a medical marijuana patient, never had an issue and only helped. Now, if i do try to smoke, I have intense jaw rigidity, throat symptoms get worse, and i convulse or shake. It also caused loss of hearing a double vision. I have been non smoking for months now as a result.
Overall, my medical problems have included: endometriosis,kidney stones, gastroparesis, a.r., tmj (clicky jaw my entire life), low blood pressure, which they claim is normal for my weight etc.
My meds have included: diflucan, cipro, nystatin, bentyl, zofran, amoxicillin, neurontin, prilosec, zantac, reglan, metronidozal, possibly more. Cant remember.
My symptoms since everything went awry have included: weight loss (mostly due to gastroparesis), appetite loss, racey heart, pulsating tinnitis, eae pressures, swollen lymphs, sticky saliva, dehydration issues, tongue numbess/swollen, sore/tight/lump feeling in the throat.
Prior to all this I was otherwise healthy, just endometriosis pain and treatment with the med. marijuana. I had a good handle on everything. Then all hit the fan. I have also recently had a cold, post nasal drip, cough etc. Havent seen a doc for it, as i got a new job wbich requires me to be there full time the first month during doc hours. But i was brough to tears yesterday at my inability to focus during training due to these intense changes and fear for my health.
I should add Im 25, 94 lbs (still trying to fix weight), 5'5, low blood pressure. My recent blood work during my gastro issues showed nothing put of the ordinary. No thyroid issue, no defiecencies. My endoscopy and other scopes saw no masses. And my ents only say my throat looks irritated.
Sorry for the long story, but i feel it helps to have all the facts, and i hate to complain, but as i havent been feeling at all like myself and worried about something serious, ive been at wits end. I want so much to do well at my new job and not be concerned about my well being. It has made me anxious and sad. Then i found this thread and wanted to know if there was any suggestionsor advice??? Should i see a neurologist? Should i get a ph probe? I dont want a tonsillectomy... Should i go alternative?
I was on the road to recovery when i saw my dentist in May, and had complained of having a weird gunky feeling in my throat, they saw nothing and did a cleaning. Feeling persisted. I saw my pcp, who saw thrush and had me on nystatin followed by diflucan. During this time the LEFT side of my tongue went numb or felt like i had burned or bit it, but did not. It moved to the right side, and since both sides have been numb. I have noted also my throat consistantly feels like there is a lump or tightness. My lymphs feel swollen. And this has progressed to bizarre sensations in my ears of a warm tingling. Ive seen two ent docs. First guy put me on more prilosec. I take prilosec and zantac daily for a.r. He then tried amoxicillin for ten days and i noted my lymphs went down, when i told him this he said it could just be a placebo effect. Then had me going on neurontin which helped minimally and he was gradually increasing my dosage. He did a scope and saw nothing crazy. I do have tonsil stones. He says my nose and ears look fine. I eventually see a new ENT who did more thorough tests, but says next stop is neurologist. I havent had a blood test, swab, xray, ct scan nor mri. My first ent was encouraging a ph probe, to see acid reflux prevalence. As well as possibly taking my tonsils "and see what happens". Both sides of my tongue feel swollen and numb and i accidentally bite it often. I am taking b12, potassium, a.r. meds, probiotics, gummi vitamins. I question if they are right with the nerves, due to my recent issue with the gastric nerve. I am a smoker, been trying to quit for quite some time. I know long term infection can cause nerve damage, and one of my meds that i had been on and off cipro, can also fry nerves. In addition, prior to all this, i was a medical marijuana patient, never had an issue and only helped. Now, if i do try to smoke, I have intense jaw rigidity, throat symptoms get worse, and i convulse or shake. It also caused loss of hearing a double vision. I have been non smoking for months now as a result.
Overall, my medical problems have included: endometriosis,kidney stones, gastroparesis, a.r., tmj (clicky jaw my entire life), low blood pressure, which they claim is normal for my weight etc.
My meds have included: diflucan, cipro, nystatin, bentyl, zofran, amoxicillin, neurontin, prilosec, zantac, reglan, metronidozal, possibly more. Cant remember.
My symptoms since everything went awry have included: weight loss (mostly due to gastroparesis), appetite loss, racey heart, pulsating tinnitis, eae pressures, swollen lymphs, sticky saliva, dehydration issues, tongue numbess/swollen, sore/tight/lump feeling in the throat.
Prior to all this I was otherwise healthy, just endometriosis pain and treatment with the med. marijuana. I had a good handle on everything. Then all hit the fan. I have also recently had a cold, post nasal drip, cough etc. Havent seen a doc for it, as i got a new job wbich requires me to be there full time the first month during doc hours. But i was brough to tears yesterday at my inability to focus during training due to these intense changes and fear for my health.
I should add Im 25, 94 lbs (still trying to fix weight), 5'5, low blood pressure. My recent blood work during my gastro issues showed nothing put of the ordinary. No thyroid issue, no defiecencies. My endoscopy and other scopes saw no masses. And my ents only say my throat looks irritated.
Sorry for the long story, but i feel it helps to have all the facts, and i hate to complain, but as i havent been feeling at all like myself and worried about something serious, ive been at wits end. I want so much to do well at my new job and not be concerned about my well being. It has made me anxious and sad. Then i found this thread and wanted to know if there was any suggestionsor advice??? Should i see a neurologist? Should i get a ph probe? I dont want a tonsillectomy... Should i go alternative?
I have a similar thing....it's a dental strip sewed in after wisdom tooth dental surgery that came loose and is poking from my mandible into my tonsil. Part of it is lodged on the floor of my mouth you could see it poking out under my tongue and its tearing my tonsil pillar. No drs will remove it I've been 8 mos. face down almost unable to move. It sux. ENT said they don't do anything under the tongue and refused to even look..they look up my nose and went down my throat that way. Mine is under the mucus membrane so they don't see anything. At one time a corner was showing and I tried yanking it out. Oral surgeon won't touch it either. Doesn't seem fair. I keep getting patient turfed and dumped while I suffer. Have been diagnosed w/ the most ridiculous things...as if the Drs. don't even listen to what it is. 3 of us have seen it but the Dr's have actually tried telling me it may be gas and to take Prilosec. ..or perhaps it's anxiety. Really????!! Very frustrating.
I have recently seen a dentist and an ENT doctor. There is no problem with my temporomandibular joint. The ENT doctor said that if my tonsils are taken away, the "facial" pain may not disappear. I am waiting for an appointment with a neurologist. I have cervical dystonia. But I think that the one-sided pain results from some kind of infection. I may have anemia. My gums and other mucous membranes are pale. The red cells are small and pale. The hemoglobin and red cell count are, however, OK.
The pain has been rarer in the summer. The last antibiotic in April and the subsequent warm summer helped much.
The pain has been rarer in the summer. The last antibiotic in April and the subsequent warm summer helped much.
Don't do the tonsillectomy. You have no idea what an adult recovery is like. It's like have surgery every day for at least 3 weeks with no anesthesia ... I did and will never forget it. Nothing was wrong with my tonsils either. It was a muscle under the chin.
Your digastric muscle is your problem. Wish I had known it was mine years ago.
Do the following exercises as described and recommended at least 3 times a day. You'll soon see your problem go away.
STRETCH YOUR THROAT, THE MUSCLES UNDER YOUR CHIN AND THE FRONT OF YOUR NECK (anterior cervicals, suprahyoid, infrahyoid, digastric, platysma): In a seated position, lean slightly forward and stick your chin out (protrude your jaw), checking the position of your TMJ (temperomandibular joint) as above. Point your chin up toward the ceiling, tilting your head backward. Focus on pointing your chin up and be sure you are leaning forward to keep your head from falling back. It should just tilt at the base of your skull. Stretch for a few seconds, then lower your chin to relax the muscles. Repeat 10 times. To assist the stretch, go as far as you can using the power of your muscles, then press upward on your chin with the fingers of both hands. Exhale through your nose as you assist for two seconds. Relax and repeat 10 times.
Your digastric muscle is your problem. Wish I had known it was mine years ago.
Do the following exercises as described and recommended at least 3 times a day. You'll soon see your problem go away.
STRETCH YOUR THROAT, THE MUSCLES UNDER YOUR CHIN AND THE FRONT OF YOUR NECK (anterior cervicals, suprahyoid, infrahyoid, digastric, platysma): In a seated position, lean slightly forward and stick your chin out (protrude your jaw), checking the position of your TMJ (temperomandibular joint) as above. Point your chin up toward the ceiling, tilting your head backward. Focus on pointing your chin up and be sure you are leaning forward to keep your head from falling back. It should just tilt at the base of your skull. Stretch for a few seconds, then lower your chin to relax the muscles. Repeat 10 times. To assist the stretch, go as far as you can using the power of your muscles, then press upward on your chin with the fingers of both hands. Exhale through your nose as you assist for two seconds. Relax and repeat 10 times.
Don't do the tonsillectomy. You have no idea what an adult recovery is like. It's like have surgery every day for at least 3 weeks with no anesthesia ... I did and will never forget it. Nothing was wrong with my tonsils either. It was a muscle under the chin.
Your digastric muscle is your problem. Wish I had known it was mine years ago.
Do the following exercises as described and recommended at least 3 times a day. You'll soon see your problem go away.
STRETCH YOUR THROAT, THE MUSCLES UNDER YOUR CHIN AND THE FRONT OF YOUR NECK (anterior cervicals, suprahyoid, infrahyoid, digastric, platysma): In a seated position, lean slightly forward and stick your chin out (protrude your jaw), checking the position of your TMJ (temperomandibular joint) as above. Point your chin up toward the ceiling, tilting your head backward. Focus on pointing your chin up and be sure you are leaning forward to keep your head from falling back. It should just tilt at the base of your skull. Stretch for a few seconds, then lower your chin to relax the muscles. Repeat 10 times. To assist the stretch, go as far as you can using the power of your muscles, then press upward on your chin with the fingers of both hands. Exhale through your nose as you assist for two seconds. Relax and repeat 10 times.
Your digastric muscle is your problem. Wish I had known it was mine years ago.
Do the following exercises as described and recommended at least 3 times a day. You'll soon see your problem go away.
STRETCH YOUR THROAT, THE MUSCLES UNDER YOUR CHIN AND THE FRONT OF YOUR NECK (anterior cervicals, suprahyoid, infrahyoid, digastric, platysma): In a seated position, lean slightly forward and stick your chin out (protrude your jaw), checking the position of your TMJ (temperomandibular joint) as above. Point your chin up toward the ceiling, tilting your head backward. Focus on pointing your chin up and be sure you are leaning forward to keep your head from falling back. It should just tilt at the base of your skull. Stretch for a few seconds, then lower your chin to relax the muscles. Repeat 10 times. To assist the stretch, go as far as you can using the power of your muscles, then press upward on your chin with the fingers of both hands. Exhale through your nose as you assist for two seconds. Relax and repeat 10 times.
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