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Constant Ear Popping

For the past couple of years, I've had a constant popping/crackling in my ears.  I hear it when I swallow, yawn, etc.  I went to the ENT and he did a tympanometry test that came back normal, but said the he could hear the crackling when he listened in my ears.  There may be a problem with my Eustacian tube or, better yet, the muscles behind it.  He said there isn't much to do but maybe try an antihistamine which hasn't worked.  Even though its not life-threatening, its very frustrating to live with this!  Is there anything else, at all, to do to get rid of this noise?
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Avatar universal
My ent diagnosed me with acid reflux, gave me a script and all better...years of ear pressure gone.  if I don't watch my diet now, comes back as a side effect of acid reflux...I don't get the expected heart burn, I get the ear pain.  Check it out and do a search for acid reflux and ear pain, you'll be surprised!
Helpful - 1
657020 tn?1238037518
Try local honey for ear popping-
I have had chronic sinusitis for 4 years this month. I have also had awful allergies for 8 years. I never used to have a problem with my ears until I became very sick in Aug of 2008. I have had popping and crackling in both ears, but mostly my right ear since. I hear it every time I swallow and every time I open my mouth. It is, to say the least, very annoying. My dr said I had blood in my right ear due to my allergies. My sinusitis has worsened due to too many antibiotics for what I believe to be a fungal infection.
The point of my post is that the ear problems have decreased to a large extent in the past 2 days. The only thing I have done differently is that I started using LOCAL HONEY again. I also take Claritin D, but I know this isn't the reason for the improvement with my ears. I found out about local honey a couple of years go. I recently moved and had been unable to find it in my new area. In addition to the ear popping, I have been suffering with awful eye pain as well. Local honey will also relieve eye pain due to allergies. The honey is made by the bees using the same outdoor plants you may be allergic to. In that sense, it acts as a vaccine so to speak. You can find it at health food stores or your local Farmers' Market.
Anyone with sinus or ear issues due to allergies, TRY THIS! It really works :)
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Avatar universal
How much do you eat each day?
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Avatar universal
This is a third post in a row for me.  As noted above I've been struggling with ear popping since I had a prolonged episode of serous otitis media 5 months ago.  The popping abates when walking only to return as soon as I sit or lie down.  Although valsalva seems to help, it rarely does so when sitting or lying.  I just discovered tonight that SWALLOWING WHILE PINCHING MY NOSE CLOSED, called the Toynbee maneuver, will more consistently clear the popping when sitting or lying for at least a few minutes.  This does the opposite of the the Valsalva maneuver.  It's not 100% reliable, but it does have some positive effect.  I don't understand why walking is so beneficial, although short-lived after the walk is completed, while sitting aggravates the popping.  I'm going back to my ENT in 2 days.
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1 Comments
I tried pushing out my middle ear by forcing pressure. Why did the room start spinning? Also the room spins when sitting down or standing up. Any ideas?
Avatar universal
Let me emphasize that walking briskly, along with a few valsalva maneuvers will clear my ear popping for as long as I continue to walk.  When I do the valsalva, inflating the middle ear, I leave it in the inflated ate for a couple of minutes, giving time for the air to rise above the fluid.  Then when it deflates the fluid is pushed out. A few of those, and the popping stops.  Well, today, all I had to do was start walking, no valsalva, and the popping would stop for as long as I walked.  That's an improvement.  Still, a few minutes after I sit down, it starts popping.  Wow, is this odd.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I've had near constant popping on swallowing in my right ear for several months after a prolonged, probably viral middle ear infection.  It's been driving me totally nuts, unable to sleep most nights. I can stop it for a few minutes by valsalva maneuver, inflating the middle, holding it that way for a minute, then deflating.  This is supposed to push fluid out.  The popping does have wet sound to it.  Sitting or lying, regardless of position, makes it worse.  If I walk, valsalva a few times, it will usually disappear for as long as I stay on my feet, moving.  Once I sit, the popping resumes in a minute or two.  It's been 5 months since the ear infection started.  That took a few months to clear, but was replaced by the popping.  I started to think the popping was getting better, but I've just become more adept at clearing it temporarily.  Nothing works consistently but walking with valsalva.  I am a persistent SOB, so I keep trying things.  Sinus rinses, Earadicator (a remedy a lady developed that is primarily a nasal rinse with decongestant added), high dose steroids, decongestants, antihistamines, camomile tea with local honey, Otovent, Eardoc (vibrator), steam vaporizer.  None have done much for me.  It's as if my middle ear is producing fluid and although it largely drains (fluid behind my ear drums cleared long ago) a bit of it remains at the end of the eustachian tube and causes the popping with the slightest swallow or movement of tongue against the back of my throat.  The valsalva works by forcing air into the middle ear which rises above the fluid and forces it out.  But nothing I do but walking seems to keep it from returning within minutes.  Very frustrating.  My ENT so far says to just continue the nasal steroids, valsalva.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have had constant popping for about a year.  Everytime I yawned, sang, swallowed, I had my ears popped.  It ruined my life, at work, in stressful situations, or even just talking to friends.  I tried everything olive oil, sinus surgery: acupuncture, but nothing work. UNTIL my ENT suggested to but PET tubes in my ear.  It has been over 3 months with not a singe pop.  Finally, I can go ahead with my life knowing that a pop will not occur in this conversation, or in any conversation in the future.
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1 Comments
I am glad it worked for you,my ears did not pop before the ear tubes were in,but after they were taken out I have poping in my left ear!
Avatar universal
I can live with this but am shocked that there is no answer, OMG! This started for me in Aug 2015 after a flight, in a storm, from Charlotte NC to DC. I got off of the plane and sat down in the first available seat in the terminal. Both ear drums (?) felt like they were being sucked together into the center of my head and were about to snap. It was bazaar. I could barely hear the activity around me. I kept swallowing and after an hour or so it got somewhat better but never normal.  Six days later, I was in the emergency room with vertigo. I was prescribed a nasal spray, "Fluticasone Propionate". It kind of helps, temporarily. Based on all of the posts, seems there's no point in going to an  ENT. That was my next move. Oh well.
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16381503 tn?1447462786
HELLO EVERY1, I READ ALL OF THE POSTS, AND I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS ALSO, I HAVE SINUSITIS, FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS, AND BOTH MY EARS POPS ALSO. MY DOCTORS GAVE ME ALL KIND OF MEDS, NOTHING WORKS, I DISCOVER, EVERY TIME I LEAVE THE STATE OF VA, TO GO TO DELAWARE, MY POPPING STOPS, MY NOSE CLEARS UP, AND WHEN I COME BACK TO VA, IT ALL STARTS UP AGAIN. SO I TRAVEL TO DELAWARE ABOUT 3 TIMES A MONTH, EVERYTHING CLEARS UP. I COME BACK TO VA IN THIS DIRTY AIR WE BREATHE, HAS A LOT TO DO WITH MY SINUS AND POPPING EARS. I PROMISE I AM TELLING THE TRUTH, I WIS I CAN AFFORD TO MOVE TO DELAWARE, BUT I CAN'T, SO I GO AS MUCH AS I CAN JUST TO GET RELIEF. I'M SITTING IN MY HOME RIGHT NOW LISTENING TO MY POPPING EARS. DRIVING ME CRAZY. I WILL BE GOING TO DELAWARE NEXT WEEK FOR 2 DAYS, IT'S IN THE AIR WE BREATHE, THE AIR IS DIFFERENT IN SOME STATES. THINK ABOUT IT. IT'S  THE POLLUTION,IN OUR AIR. THAT CAUSES SINUS PROBLEM IN SOME PEOPLE LIKE ME,JUST THINK ABOUT IT. AND SEE IF IT MAKES SENSE TO YOU.
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Avatar universal
I seriously think more research needs to be done to solve people's ear popping issues. It beats me as to how in this day and age with the technology available doctors can't solve our ear popping problems. This isn't some mysterious disease, there just seems to be a solution to the cause of the popping.
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1 Comments
Once the cause is found, there should be a suitable treatment.
Avatar universal
Does anybody feel they just have air trapped inside the ear/jaw/ throat area Even though you know there's nothing wrong with the ear? All tests of mine have come out normal, even got a tube put in which didn't help..
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Avatar universal
Wanted to add to my original post. Anyone know if people with chronic ear popping should use nasal irrigation? nasal rinses?

My doctor suggested me to use it for my allergies, but since I have this chronic ear issue I don't think thats a good idea. Any experiences or thoughts?
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Avatar universal
I've had chronic ear popping for years. It started after I got a middle ear infection when I was a kid. It never went away. The good thing is I don't think it is life threatening, as I probably had it since I was 7 or 8 (when I got the ear infection) and now I am 36. Went to doctors over the years and one said eustachian tube dysfunction. ENT specialist looked at it and checked my hearing and said no harm done to anything so don't worry about it. I've lived with this constant ear popping for so long that I'm just used to it. Doesn't really bother my quality of life. Yes it happens everytime i swallow, yawn. I can even make it pop by pushing air from the back of my throat. and I feel the air going in to the middle ear. Its a bit weird but doesnt appear to do any harm. Anyhow docs don't really suggest doing anything about it so I'm fine living with it.

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Avatar universal
I've had this for 4 years.... Been through 6 ents
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Avatar universal
Based on what I've read from the comments, this problem is caused from multiple ear infections. Is there anything that can cause it?! I've never had an ear infection! Been dealing with this in BOTH ears for 2 years now. Needless to say, it's extremely annoying. My husband gets aggravated because I'm constantly asking him to repeat everything he says.
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Avatar universal
Lol, 8 year old thread.

I have the same popping, dizzying sensation for 3 years now. No doctor could've helped so far. I'm afraid this is here to stay.
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Avatar universal
Well, I will add myself to the growing list of never ending ear popping. First off, I can hear, so at least that is good. I know the exact day this started, I had a 3 hour flight and my ears never stopped popping, every time I swallow or yawn. It has not gone away. Have had a hearing and balance test, have gone to an ear specialist, have tried decongestants, flonase, mucinex (disgusting stuff), all to no avail. My cheeks also hurt as a result of this and sometimes my teeth do as well. I also get dizzy a bit more. I used to have TMJ issues like 20 years ago but I do not have the jaw clicking or grinding or those issues so I do not think its due to that but obviously its hard to know for 100% certainty as its all in the same area. So, its been 3 months and a week and counting. My ENT doctor recommended a tube in my ear but it seemed that this course would offer no relief as my ear pressure was fine so it seemed unnecessary (and reinforced by a few comments here in this thread). So, hoping this gets better some day but not having a lot of faith reading this thread right now.
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Avatar universal
My left ear problem happened early in my life with liquid rushing out; causing a hospital visit, and weeks sleeping under a humidifier with Epson Salts, perhaps years from time to time I can't recall, but the problem ended. It has now returned without the liquid amen, but the sudden on and off deafness is unbearable. With decades of stress and injuries I fear that I could develop a brain tumor. My plan is to simplify my investments, and return to the humidifier.
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Avatar universal
Hi all: to anyone reading this in 2015 or later, there is now a Facebook group for people struggling with similar issues. Please join and share your stories of success (or lack thereof!)  It's called "EAR POPPING CLICKING EUSTACHIAN TUBE SUPPORT GROUP."  Best of luck.
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Avatar universal
I tried both at the same time and it did not help me but I have constant popping everytime I swallow among many other ear issues. every person is different. I would give it a try but unfortunatley it didnt work for me. I was given a low dose of steroids I think though for only a week. I read that the recommended dose is supposed to be higher than what I was given. Maybe I wouldnt be still dizzy 24/7 literally and have ear popping if I was given a higher dose. Dunno.
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Avatar universal
Have you heard of TMJ? Temporomandibular Joint Disorder /  temporomandibular disorders (TMD)? I saw an ENT Specialist and he said I have TMJ, Rhinitis and a deviated septum. I think / assume one or all of these are the cause of it.  Your temporomandibular joint is a hinge that connects your jaw to the temporal bones of your skull, which are in front of each ear.  It lets you move your jaw up and down and side to side, so you can talk, chew, and yawn. He told me that the constant popping of this joint is interpreted by our brains as "Ear Pain."  But I'm pretty sure I'm not crazy and this definitely seems like Ear Pain. It feels like the worst airplane ride of my life as far as ear pressure, 24/7. I desperately wish I could just "Pop" my ear like you do after a plane ride....you know that REALLY good pop that's like an explosion of awesomeness, yet painful, that finally clears the pressure and you feel normal again? I so desperately want that to happen and be normal again. It can be caused by Grinding or clenching your teeth (Bruxism, which he said I also have), which puts a lot of pressure on the joint. I started using a night guard ($30 at walmart) but chewed the hell out of it. I think it did help for a while. Need to start using it again to see if it does keep me from having pain because it's so horrible it gives me a headache. I feel like it's almost an OCD I can't control or stop myself from popping it constantly, or maybe I'm not really trying to? I don't know, all I know is it's maddening!!! Anyways, hopefully that was helpful to someone. Definitely see an ENT, ask about TMJ / TMD and Bruxism.
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Avatar universal
Thank you so much, stuffsie, for posting.  I'll try the vinegar.  I believe that my issue has more to do, though, with the fact that my perforation was large (4 mm) and yet still closed in on its own.  I've read that the maturation phase of eardrum healing can take up to 6 months (even a year).  I am more distressed with the crackling/crunching sound in that ear rather than the popping.  No fluid in the middle ear means it pops.  Any kind of fluid behind the drum and it's a deafening crackle/crunch.  I don't ever get sinus infections.  I'll try the vinegar, as you suggested.  Please, if you know anyone with a similar issue, post again as soon as possible.  I assume it's an eardrum issue and not a middle ear bone issue, but I could be wrong.  The crackling/crunching in that damaged (yet healed) ear is deafening and causes me a great deal of anxiety whenever I swallow.

Chris
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Avatar universal
I had a very bad sinus infection a few weeks ago, and after I came out the other side, I had popping in my right ear.  I had never experienced this before.  It did not go along with my heartbeat, got worse in the evening and especially was worse/noticeable when I would lie down to sleep.  I was pretty disheartened when I found this forum and read all the posts about people with this problem who had been to doctors and/or tried various things and still had the problem...some for years!  I just wanted to let you know that after reading one of the posts about putting vinegar in the ear, I thought it wouldn't hurt to try.  I poured apple cider vinegar in my ear and stopped it up with a cotton ball, straightened up and left it for a few minutes, then tilted my head over the sink and let it drain back out.  I noticed the room was spinning after I stood back up, so I went and sat down.  After a few minutes I was fine.  NO POPPING ever since!  I don't know how it worked, but it did!!!  I don''t know if any fluid poured in the ear (peroxide, oil, etc) would have worked the same, or if it was the vinegar specifically.
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Avatar universal
I had the same experience as you a few months ago.  Slap to the head, causing a 4-mm eardrum perforation.  The perforation closed in about two months ago, but I'm now plagued with crackling, clicking and popping every time I swallow.  Two ENT docs thought I was crazy when I explained this to them.  The third, fortunately, agreed with me that it's likely the new tissue simply hasn't regained any real tensile strength yet (more vibrations = more sound).  I hope this is the case and that I'm not plagued with this the rest of my life.  Can you update me on your condition?  -***@****
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1 Comments
Hi friend how ur crackling noise is it gone ? I waw its been four years already
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