Experiencing pain in ear and getting headache around left ear. What could be the problem?

Brief Answer: COME and ETDs need management Detailed Answer: Hello XXXX! I read your query and I believe its recurrence of chronic otitis media with effusion and Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. The retracted and dull membranes approve it. And you Ent suspicion is right . Eustachian tube connects throat with the middle ear and all that thumping sound and gristle moving is because of Dysequilibrium. Aural fullness, difficulty popping ears, intermittent sharp ear pain, hearing loss, tinnitus are also because of this trouble and it is superseeded by history of allergies and previous bilateral myringotomies. Now there could be some possibilities of this trigger 1) recent upper respiratory tract infection leads to recurrence of otitis media with Eustachian tube dysfunction. 2) Allergic rhnitis / nasal allergies trigger them too 3) Environmental factors like passive smoke is also a trigger. 4) At your age of 57 the most cauative reason could be the immune status , immunocompromise leads to troubles like this. 5) Gastric troubles like GERD / refux is also responsible for otitis media with ETDs. You need tympanocentisis for culture and sensitivity of organisms and complete blood count with Lumbar puncture if meningeal involvement is suspected. A CT & MR scans would be necessary for temporal bone assessment and intra cranial complications of Otitis media. Also an impedence measurements like tympanograms will assess the functions of Eustachian Tube and Middle ear. You will need Myringotomy again or tympanoplasty, mastoidectomy and adenoidectomy depending upon the involvement and resilience to the medications. Before we venture on surgical means to correct the problem, you can try combination of time, autoinsufflation (eg, an Otovent), and oral and nasal steroids (budesonide, mometasone, prednisone, methylprednisolone). If your ENT specialist suspects bacterial infection antibiotic like amoxicillin should be added. Decongestants (eg, pseudoephedrine, oxymetazoline, phenylephrine) along with nasal and oral antihistamines can be used if oral steroids cannot be used. In addition Proton pump inhibitors would give additional protection from reflux issues if any. Your ENT specialist will know about these drugs. Hope I was of some help. If you any more queries please feel free to ask. Other wise kindly close the discussion and rate the answer as per your experience. I wish you very good luck and take some very good care of yourself. Regards Dr Khan

Brief Answer: Symptomatic treatment with Adjuncts Detailed Answer: Thank you for asking again. Your symptoms are of chronic otitis Media with ETD. I mentioned the treatment in above answer. That helps in most cases. Sinusitis are associated with symptoms like pain over cheek and radiating to frontal region or teeth, increasing with straining or bending down, redness of nose, cheeks, or eyelids, tenderness to pressure over the floor of the frontal sinus immediately above the inner canthus, postnasal discharge, blocked nose, persistent coughing or pharyngeal irritation, facial pain, decresed smelling sensation and so on. Check if you have any of the other symptoms. If present you should ask your doctor to exclude sinusitis. You may start antibiotic therapy. If you wish to, then I would prefer you to use one of the following medications: Amoxicillin-clavulanate Second- or third-generation cephalosporins (eg, cefuroxime, cefpodoxime, cefdinir) Macrolides (ie, clarithromycin) Fluoroquinolones (eg, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin) Clindamycin In addition also use some decongestants like Oral alpha-adrenergic vasoconstrictors (eg, pseudoephedrine, and phenylephrine) for 10-14 days Topical vasoconstrictors (eg, oxymetazoline hydrochloride) for a maximum of 3-5 days Mean while use of Humidification/vaporizer Warm compresses Adequate hydration Smoking cessation Balanced nutrition Nonnarcotic analgesia will help fasten the recovery and relieve the symptoms. Hope i answered your query. If you don't have any further questions kindly close the discussion and rate the answer as per your experience. I wish you very good luck and take some very good care of yourself Regards Dr Kahn