Lumbar Puncture ear ache.

[nh_user_367665]

Hello,

Sorry for the long story in advance….

I have had massive pains in my left ear for 3 years. My neurologist who is at his wits end thought a lumbar puncture may relieve what could be a potentially low pressure headache.

After the operation i felt fine but the next day i started getting right ear pain. As you can imagine panic slowly set in. For some reason the day after this it completely disappeared. Unfortunately the next day it hit me hard. Its been 4 weeks since the lumbar puncture and the pain is severe. It seems any pressure on my right ear such as bending my neck etc causes severe pain. In addition it gets very painful listening to any noise and i have to turn down the TV etc.

My neurologist has tried to tell me it is nothing to do with the lumbar puncture..... It started the day after and i cant believe that i can have chronic pain in both my ears from now on. He is arranging a blood patch to be done but unfortunately every time i go into hospital i get sent home (NHS.......). He is very doubtful it will work as he is sure the two aren’t linked. I just think this is a crazy diagnosis. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that it happened the day after!!

I should make it clear that the pain is significantly different. My left ear feels like it has a knife stuck in it for the last 3 years. My right ear after the lumbar feels like a combination of an ear infection and massive pressure on it. However my ears don't get blocked. When i do clear them the right one feels week and that it may burst.

Any advice would be appreciated, i am bed ridden and while i was struggling with my left ear, i am now completely crippled and spend all day in bed for my own good. Surely I don’t have this much bad luck……

Thanks

[anon87974465]

Hi Ross,

I'm Jess and live in the US near Washington DC. I am confused why you would see a neurologist for ear pain, unless there is a nerve trapped in the brain.

Here we go to an ear nose and throat specialists for such things, unless your family doctor is able to treat the issue.

I'm not sure what your diagnosis is but I do have MS and it seems like all of my Dr's want to blame everything on that one condition. If you find yourself being shoved down one path of care get new doctors.

Ear pain can be caused by many things such as allergies, teeth problems, water behind the ears, fungal infections in the ears, sinus problems etc..

My best advice is see the proper specialist. I don't see how a spinal tap is going to diagnose ear pain. It also carries considerable risks to your health i.e. infection, chronic migraines etc...

Best of luck to you!

[nh_user_1132022]

Just had spinal tap and same thing happened to me. I will not go back to another dr ever again. When it was over, I asked the dr if i should sit or lie down and he said ...do whatever you want to.....he was angry cause I wanted other tests and now I am paying the price for his ineptness.

[nh_user_1173200]

Ross, 

I know this was 4 years ago, but did you ever find a solution? I have had the same thing happen. I’m in agonizing pain after spinal tap in my ears. I hope you were able to get better.