Recurring Ear Problems, Suspecting Something Else

Ears, nose and throat
1

This is not urgent, but is bothering me greatly and has been for a long time.

I've been suffering chronic ear problems for years. I'm 19 and I've struggled pretty badly with it as long as I can remember. They get clogged overnight regularly (though usually clear themselves up in the morning.)

I also have psoriasis (or maybe exima?) inside of my ears that definitely doesn't help. I dont have a regular doctor, so I have no one to ask questions to.

They're constantly clogged and I rarely have full hearing power, at least one ear is ALWAYS acting up to some degree. I have learned to avoid cleaning them no matter how cclogged they feel because I've had so many cripplingly painful ear infections that I literally have dreams about it!! However, occassionally, they are just ridiculously moist and I find it very hard not to try to get the moisture out. I will have an insanely swollen, painful, and leaky ear the next day. I woke up at 1:30 am today for this very reason, so I took some nasal decongestants (a pharmacist told me they might help the last time I had ear pain) and an Advil for the pain.

Swallowing, moving my jaw, touching my ear, and cold air all hurt my ear immensely. I can hear throbbing (uugghh) and every time I move my jaw, a horrible bubbly-ish (or msybe like a soft kind of grinding?) noise arises in my ear. There is swelling all down the side of my face, from just below/in frint ig my ear and along the jaw. Ive got a terrible headache in the temple above that ear. Hot shower sometimes alieviates the pain somewhat, but very subtly and very briefly. So much so, I considered it being more of a placebo affect. I've read puting alcohol and vinegar in the ear and then draining it helps, but water gets trapped inside me ear easily and I'm rather hesitant to try. :c

I also suffer from, while I don't know what it is, if its normal, or what causes it, but jaw stiffness that seems mostly unrelated to my ears, but causes me to kind of "crack" my jaw (by jutting it to the side) which SEEMS to relieve some pressure below my ear, and I'm not sure how much it has to do with my jaw, ear, or both. My jaw definitely moves much easier after I do it, and if my ears are feeling a bit off it seems to help with that too. (I never try while i have bad ear pain though, though, as it is rather excruciating.)

Does any of this sound like the problems could be caused by something other than the ear itself? Perhaps a earwax-jaw muscle problem duo working in tandem?

Thank you for reading, please share your thoughts. I definitely have ear problems and clogging problems regardless, but I do wonder if something else is working behind the scenes to make it worse. Have a great day, and I hope you are ear-pain free!

2

Update: I have decided the sound in my ear when I move my jaw sounds like bending stiff leather

3

This sounds (no pun intended) terrible  You must see a doctor.  If you don't have one you should get one.  If you are living away from home you are entitled to see any GP in the area you are currently living.   Look up NHS Choices which may tell you how to get a GP or perhaps try ringing 111 who might advise where to go.  Good luck.

4

I appreciate your advice, I will try to reach a doctor somehow.

5

I too have been suffering from continuous ear infections and from the month of June to January was prescribed 7 courses of antibiotics and various antibiotic ear drops. In January I had a private consultation with an ENT consultant when he diagnosed me with Myofascial pain syndrome. I then had another consultation with an Oral and Maxillfascial specialist when he diagnosed TMJ synovitis and myofascial pain syndrome. I am now waiting for an appointment for a CT scan. I must add that the pain is excruciating at it's worse.  Hope you are sorted out.  

6

Oh dear, that sounds like a terrible ordeal. I wonder if anything similar is happening to me? The pain at its worse is unbearable, crippling to the point that I end up holding my head, unable to will myself to move. However, it rarely reaches this point unless ai alreasy have an ear infection.

I've found that iver the counter nasal decongestants and anti-inflamatories seem to help when I feel pain on its way.