Headache and Ear Ringing

[Mr_Monk]

1 Year ago I woke up one morning with my ear ringing and my head hurting.  I have been to a Chiropractor with no luck.  Weeks later i went to a regular doctor and was treated for sinus infection, then back a week later for ear infection and the infection went away but head and ringing is still there, in the following weeks no symptoms changed.  I then was sent to get a CT and that came back clean so they sent me to get a MRI done and still no luck.  I also tried a Atlas doctor, another chiropractor, ENT doctor, Nurologist, Physical Theripist and all with no luck.  Ive tried not drinking pop for 4 weeks and watching what i eat yet nothing changed.  I am 28 and have never been drunk nor do i smoke and never have.  My ear still rings and my head hurts.  I want to say its not a migrane because it feels different.  It almost feels more like a injury than a headache.  Its on the very top of my head...just to the right.....and about 2 inches down.  Before this I have NEVER EVER had headache troubles..  I could go years with only a simple headace that tylenol would fix.  I am now on Cymbalta and it takes the edge off so i can at least go to work.  Its now a year later and I still have the same troubles and no change.  I have tried all the medicins in the book.  More than i can even name here.  Nothing helped and I think the only reason cymbalta helps is because i sleep a little better and have more energy to push the headache and ringing away.  Ideas anyone?  

[Dee909]

TMJ and ringing in the ears can occur together, along with killer headaches. I thought my sinus was the cause of my pain, but the ENT I saw pushed his index fingers into the roof of my mouth, and when I hit the roof in extreme pain he said that was a dead give away it was TMJ.
He said he has seen many patients who thought they had sinus problems and it's quite common to confuse the two.

Link here:

http://www.michigan-headache-tmj-doctor.com/tinnitus_tmj.html

I realize the first post is from 2008 but hopefully this will help someone out there.

[Mayramm11]

Hello it sound more like B12 deficiency. Are you anemic? I get this ringing of the ears and headaches and nausea and fatigue, when my levels of B12 are low. I have pernicious anemia. Why don't you ask your doctor to check this. Is important because if you are B12 deficient, either you not taking it in from the diet (problems in the lining of the stomach, or other reason), the neurological problems can lead to lost of balance or death if you are not producing red a good amount of red cell. Just check it does not hurt.

[migraine_mama]

I have been going through similar issues and completely understand your pain.  Recently I started acupuncture for the first time.  After my 3rd session, my headaches went away completely and my ear ringing (a plugged up feeling) subsided.  Unfortunately, I couldn't afford the acu anymore and now the symptoms returned.  I had a brain scan (MRI) and the neurologist discovered three UBO unidentified bright objects but were found to be benign.  It is frustrating.  Maltimax (migraine oral melts) did the work to get rid of the pain and ear issues only for the pain and ear problems to return once the meds wore off.  I hope some of this helps.  I am doing better but now it has been discovered I have two herniated disks in my neck.  It just doesn't seem to end.  I am falling apart.  I guess the saying " the sqeaky wheel gets the grease" is true.  Keep on telling your doctor everything that is happening and keep a pain journal. It has helped me and now the doctors seem to take this more serious to find a cause and a treatment.  

[selmaS]

HI......U found a great place for info and support here on medhelp.

U say u had an MRI....did u request a copy of the disk and the report?...if not, call the location of the testing and request one. It is a good pratice to request copies of all testing, so if/when u r referred to another dr u have all u need to take already!

Also it is easier to ask ?'s when u have all the info, not relying on memory.

was ur MRI w/wo contrast?...of the brain?.....cervical,thoracic or lumbar spine?

I can relate to ur frustration...I had similar issues growing up and was sent to all kinds of drs and threapists....no  one could figure out what was wrong....I was finally dx'd this past Feb. '08...and have yet to get to the right dr for treatment!!.....keep copies, and if the dr is not working with u, find a new one....I would get so disgusted I stopped going for yrs at a time, then go back when I couldn't stand it ne more....and it just was a viscious cycle.I changed drs also, and did not have copies and some things I do not believe were sent from the previous dr.

I was to see a rheumitoid dr, he was the one to finally give my dx...however it was a neuro issue and he could not treat me.

Good luck
Godspeed
"selma"

[SandyLB]

At least I feel like I am not alone! For the last 4 weeks I have had a headache that is very different from a sinus headache or a migraine. And the ear ringing is so distracting. They have tried a shot of tribadol, relpax for migraines, mucinex for fluid behind the ears, sudafed, and most recently antibiotics for possible virus. They just did an MRI and are sending me to a Neurologist. I am so frustrated and confused about who to even see for this. I am going to try the yoga exercises and hope to share some good news.

[hava]

Your headache will go away with the exercises I suggested on July 14, 2008 on this thread. Try it seriously for 11 days, just to feel the benefit and then continue until the health is back to normal.You can do it yourself everyday, without the need for classes.