I have been experiencing ear pain in my right ear and popping and crackling in both ears. I went to the emergency room twice and they put me on antibiotics and pain medication. The reason for that was because when the dr looked into my ears they did not see an infection. After 3 days and my symptoms were still the same I went back to the emergency room, only to be told the same thing but given stronger antibiotics. I then made an appointment with an ENT specialist who examined me and stated my ears were fine, checked my throat and did some test and that was fine. Then checked my nose and stated it was purple in the inside and very inflammed. He put me on Azelastine Nasal Spray and stated he thinks my inflammation is more viral than bacterial but I can finish the antibiotic. He stated a virus usually passes from the body in about two weeks, then the ear discomfort show gradually fade away. I then told him I am hearing a low ring in my ear and he stated it will subside. Have anyone ever experienced this? Please helpIm so scared from reading all this horrible stuff I see online.
i also have popping/crackling in both ears following an illness... have had it for 8 weeks now. went to ENT and they looked via scope and said all was fine... told me to take zyrtec and nasal spray, i find neither are helping.
After an ear infection, when the ear starts crackling that means that the fluid left over from the infection inside the middle ear is slowly draining out on its own with air slowly refilling the middle ear space.
This may be a very long process, over several weeks - but the more crackling the better! over time the ear and hearing should return to normal
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Oh don't be scared. I hope this is just acute for you and not chronic like for me. Fingers crossed for you! If it's chronic you just have to cope....what else can you/I do???
I'm not sure if it's chronic or acute. It just started Dec. 23, 2014, and it's now Jan. 2 and the sound of popping and low ringing in the ear has not eased up, although the sound had only been they're 3 days now and reading these forums scare me so badly!!
It's been 8 weeks and you still have no relief! That is crazy! I don't think I can deal!! Your doctor should have done something to help you, can't they pop your ears with a machine or something.
As I said...don't be scarred.....had it for 14years.
i am not blocked... my ears pop on their own everytime i swallow... that is my issue... its bothersome due to the annoying noise etc...
That is very good to know, because the nose in my ears is what really bothers me. I have never had a problem with my ears ever, and from what the e.n.t. doctor told me, he stated my ears are fine, but my nostrils are inflamed and very congested which is the cause of the fullness and issues with my ears. He stated you will be surprised at the things that can go on with the body that causes ear problems but had nothing to do with your ears. He stated the nasal spray he gave me which is azelastine will help with the inflammation in my nostrils and clear the congestion. I was given antibiotics by the er dr. And still have a few days of that. But from my understanding for everything to clear it can take a while, so all I can do is pray and continue to take the meds. I'm sure one it clears the nose and ask will go back to normal.
That is what bothers me as well, I also hear a low ringing sound. I've never even had these issues before and I just pay out goes away soon. It's been 12 days for me so far! I never knew inflammation of the nose and congestion from a virus infection can cause such chaos with your ears. It's scary!!
Have you had any relief yet?
no i have not... still same.
do you hear popping/crackling everytime you swallow?
is there any pressure when you swallow against your ear drum that you can feel?
Mine does not happen every time I swallow. It's more like every now and then or if I inhale deep almost like a yawn. My eardrum does not have any pressure feeling to it at all. And what I find weird about that is the e.n.t. Dr stated I have no infection but my ears are fine. But my nose was purple inside and very inflamed, that is where it's all coming from. That's why he gave met nasal spray.
The Eustachian tube is a narrow tube which links the back of the nose and the middle ear. It is normally closed but opens when we swallow, yawn or chew. It has three main functions: it protects the middle ear from pathogens; it allows air to flow into the middle ear, which can help to keep the air pressure equal on either side of the ear drum, enabling the ear drum to work and vibrate properly; and it has a drainage function, clearing secretions away from the middle ear.
Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) in adults can occur when the Eustachian tube is swollen or cannot open properly. It can cause muffled hearing, pain, a feeling of fullness in the ear, tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ear), or problems with balance. ETD typically happens after a cold, or a nose, sinus, ear or throat infection. Symptoms are often mild and generally do not last beyond a few days. Simple actions such as swallowing, yawning, chewing or blowing against a closed mouth and nose may stop the symptoms. However, symptoms sometimes last several weeks or more, in which case treatment may be considered. In the long-term, ETD has been linked with damage to the middle-ear and the eardrum and it may lead to infection of the middle ear, glue ear, or retraction of the eardrum. Currently there are no comprehensive guidelines for the treatment of ETD in adults and no up-to-date systematic reviews.The purpose of this project was to undertake a systematic review to assess the benefits and safety of different treatments options for ETD in adults.Findings
The project aimed to assess interventions for the treatment of Eustachian tube dysfunction in adults. However, insufficient data required a protocol amendment to allow the inclusion of controlled studies with mixed adult/child populations. 19 studies reporting data on the following types of interventions were found: pharmacological therapies, mechanical devices and surgery (including laser tuboplasty, balloon dilatation, myringotomy without grommets, transtubal steroids and laser coagulation). No evidence was found for several other therapies. Outcomes assessed included symptom improvement, middle ear function and hearing.
All except two included studies had a high risk of bias. The single low risk of bias RCT showed no effect of nasal steroids. Other studies showed improvements in middle ear function for mechanical devices, antihistamine/ephedrine and nasal decongestant but they had significant methodological weaknesses including insufficient length of follow-up. None of the surgical studies were adequately controlled and many reported high levels of co-intervention. Therefore observed benefits for tuboplasty and balloon dilatation in symptoms, middle ear function or hearing could not be reliably attributed to the interventions assessed.
Eustachian tube dysfunction is a poorly defined condition. This was reflected in variations in the patient populations of the included studies. Consensus on diagnostic criteria for Eustachian tube dysfunction is required to inform inclusion criteria of future trials. However, due to the limited and poor quality evidence it is inappropriate to make conclusions on the effectiveness of any intervention; the evidence base is insufficient to guide recommendations for a trial of any particular intervention.
I'm in same situation. Had cold the week of Christmas, which is only now (January 7) seeming to completely resolve. Live in U.S. Saw ENT guy yesterday. No sign of infection. The eustacian tube dysfunction should resolve on its own. Mine is much better and has improved to the point where it's close to being gone (I'm writing this January 7). He suggested doubling up on the Flonase -- two shots in each nostril morning and night. Also, rinsing sinuses with saline solution. And over-the-counter decongestants are fine. Unclear if this is a cold or flu or what. There's been a lot of sickness on this side of the pond since Dec. 22.
Hopefully mine will clear sin as well. I can still feel a little pain every now and then but I hear well. Hope it all goes away soon.
You might also try an over-the-counter nasal spray called NasalCrom. I have found it very helpful in opening the eustachians. One spray in each nostril, I believe every four hours. Sometimes it takes an hour or more to work, but it has virtually never failed to open my eustachians. I often view what some would consider a cold as really an acute allergic response. Unless you have fever and such, even if you have nasal discharge, I think this is an allergic response. I'm on Flonase year-round, and this is usually sufficient to subdue the beast. But sometimes you have to go to the whip -- in this instance, NasalCrom.
Try the over-the-counter nasal spray called NasalCrom. It will open the eustachians. One shot in each nostril. Sometimes it takes an hour or more, but it has virtually never failed to open the eustachians. It's my belief that eustachian tube dysfunction is an acute allergic reaction. Indeed, most so-called colds are actually allergic reactions, some more severe than others. But try NasalCrom, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
Hi lylas21 experienceing exactly what you experienced year ago tiny noise in ear no pain frist day noise was loud doc give me amoxicillin 500mg no loud left just tiny noise in quite room else can't hear it Doctor said inner ear infection fluid bubble that was 6 days ago went today she said still fluid behind ear like you said some really scary suff online your story matched what am going threw did you ever get cured please do reply back.thanks
I had popping/drumming noises in my left ear for 5 months, every time I bumped or yawned it would set it off and it would last for hours. Click, click, click... click click... click click click and so on. I also had pressure in my ear and pain in my head. My tinnitus was so extreme I ended up depressed and very unhappy. I went to an ENT specialist and he inserted a camera up my nose and my sinuses were inflamed so this was causing fluid to build up behind my ear drum plus this was causing a blockage in my eustachian tube so my ear would pop every second for 6, 7, 8 hours a day. I was given some drops to put in my nose (flixonase drops) I'm also on antibiotics to clear the infection. I've never seen so much s**t come out of my nose... yellow, green sticky gunk, 20 toilet rolls and 3 weeks later i feel free, no more deafness or pressure in my head and the popping noise in my ear has gone plus my tinnitus is none existent. Go see an ENT specialist before you damage your hearing. I've lost 10% in my left ear due to leaving it so long before I got checked out.