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Suggest Treatment For Eustachian Tube Dysfunction In A Person With Sciatica
Question: I have a problem with my Eustachian tubes. I am normally able to clear them by humming and blowing backwards into them. When I can do this I am fine. But after a cold at times I cannot do this and my ears develop the feeling that they need to pop. I live at an altitude of 175m and driving down to 50m into town blocks them. I absolutely loathe this feeling. Recently I have been stuck with this in my house even before any descent. I would prefer any kind of pain. I suffer from sciatica and can live with this easily. But when my ears need to pop I become absolutely desperate. I have no control over it and nothing seems to work. I have been referred by my GP to Lets Talk for the stress. This symptom destroys my life. I can take pleasure in nothing and become traumatised, at times quivering and utterly housebound. I am on a 3 month waiting list for support for my stress after my initial assessment. I know some people have this symptom far worse than me but seem to cope with it. I have no idea why this feeling is the focus of all my fears, my utter Achilles heel.
Brief Answer:
Eustachian tube dysfunction
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns
I am sorry to hear that your ear probelms are impacting your life so severely. I have had numerous patients with similar problems and I would recommend trying a nasal spray to help reduce the ear pressure. The Eustachian tube can be blocked by swelling of your nasal and sinus tissues and reducing that swelling can help relieve you of the ear pain/pressure. I recommend first using a nasal steroid like Fluticasone. Use this 2 times daily. You can continue to use this for as long as you need. If that does not work try a nasal decongestant nasal spray like oxymetazoline. This can help but can only be used sporadically. Do not use more than 3 days in a row.
In summary
1. Fluticasone nasal spray twice daily
2. Oxymetazoline for up to 3 days
I hope this answers your question. Please contact us again if you have any additional questions
Eustachian tube dysfunction
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns
I am sorry to hear that your ear probelms are impacting your life so severely. I have had numerous patients with similar problems and I would recommend trying a nasal spray to help reduce the ear pressure. The Eustachian tube can be blocked by swelling of your nasal and sinus tissues and reducing that swelling can help relieve you of the ear pain/pressure. I recommend first using a nasal steroid like Fluticasone. Use this 2 times daily. You can continue to use this for as long as you need. If that does not work try a nasal decongestant nasal spray like oxymetazoline. This can help but can only be used sporadically. Do not use more than 3 days in a row.
In summary
1. Fluticasone nasal spray twice daily
2. Oxymetazoline for up to 3 days
I hope this answers your question. Please contact us again if you have any additional questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Dr Schubert,
Thank you for your advice. I am interested in Fluticasone as you say I can take it indefinitely. However I have been assessed as having raised tension in my eyes and have been told I have a 5% chance of developing Glaucoma each year. Should I need to worry about this given that glaucoma is a recognised potential side effect of steroid sprays? I also have a slight cataract in my right eye but this has not worsened in the last 5 years.
Can you explain to me why I can take Fluticasone indefinitely, but not other steroid sprays?
My referral to the Lets Talk team has led them to conclude that I have moderately severe depression and moderate anxiety. But I don't think I have depression as I am normally a very positive person. When my ears are fine I am able to totally enjoy my life. I play a lot of golf, enjoy walking and music and poetry and have great relationships with my partner and parents and children. I just need to learn to deal with my ear problem without totally crumbling. Or better still recover from them.
Do you think the follow up work I do with them can help me given the specific nature of the problem I have.
Today my ears have been better but I know they will deteriorate in the evening...they do every day for some reason and then recover by about 6 am. So at this moment I am fearful of the evening. Last night I was in a terrible state with my left ear blocked. Thankfully, after I'd almost given up hope the Earpopper worked and I was able to find some peace and have a decent night. But my sleep is poor because I tend to spend the night trying to keep my tubes open (if they are). Then during the day eating and drinking causes them to block up so I have lost nearly a stone.
Thank you for your help.
Thank you for your advice. I am interested in Fluticasone as you say I can take it indefinitely. However I have been assessed as having raised tension in my eyes and have been told I have a 5% chance of developing Glaucoma each year. Should I need to worry about this given that glaucoma is a recognised potential side effect of steroid sprays? I also have a slight cataract in my right eye but this has not worsened in the last 5 years.
Can you explain to me why I can take Fluticasone indefinitely, but not other steroid sprays?
My referral to the Lets Talk team has led them to conclude that I have moderately severe depression and moderate anxiety. But I don't think I have depression as I am normally a very positive person. When my ears are fine I am able to totally enjoy my life. I play a lot of golf, enjoy walking and music and poetry and have great relationships with my partner and parents and children. I just need to learn to deal with my ear problem without totally crumbling. Or better still recover from them.
Do you think the follow up work I do with them can help me given the specific nature of the problem I have.
Today my ears have been better but I know they will deteriorate in the evening...they do every day for some reason and then recover by about 6 am. So at this moment I am fearful of the evening. Last night I was in a terrible state with my left ear blocked. Thankfully, after I'd almost given up hope the Earpopper worked and I was able to find some peace and have a decent night. But my sleep is poor because I tend to spend the night trying to keep my tubes open (if they are). Then during the day eating and drinking causes them to block up so I have lost nearly a stone.
Thank you for your help.
Brief Answer:
caution with fluticasone and glaucoma
Detailed Answer:
Unfortunately there is a warning using the fluticasone with people who have glaucoma. So in people without glaucoma fluticasone can be used indefinitely because it uses such a low dose. But since you have glaucoma I would not recommend its use. Your only option then is to try the decongestant nasal spray and use it only on those days that you are really suffering.
I agree you probably do no have depression but your ear problems are causing some depressive traits that is impacting your life and relationships. Learning to live and cope with the physical challenges we all have is where the class will help. The tools you learn there will be able to help in all sorts of challenges you will have in the future.
Your ear nose and throat doctor may suggest a surgical approach to help reduce ear pressure by placing tubes in your ear that will maintain equal pressure. But the risk is scarring of the ear drum and hearing loss. So discuss this with your doctor when you seem them.
caution with fluticasone and glaucoma
Detailed Answer:
Unfortunately there is a warning using the fluticasone with people who have glaucoma. So in people without glaucoma fluticasone can be used indefinitely because it uses such a low dose. But since you have glaucoma I would not recommend its use. Your only option then is to try the decongestant nasal spray and use it only on those days that you are really suffering.
I agree you probably do no have depression but your ear problems are causing some depressive traits that is impacting your life and relationships. Learning to live and cope with the physical challenges we all have is where the class will help. The tools you learn there will be able to help in all sorts of challenges you will have in the future.
Your ear nose and throat doctor may suggest a surgical approach to help reduce ear pressure by placing tubes in your ear that will maintain equal pressure. But the risk is scarring of the ear drum and hearing loss. So discuss this with your doctor when you seem them.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you. I don't actually have glaucoma, just hypertension in the eyes, I think they told me. So could I take Fluticasone?
I don't think grommets would be an option for me. I suffer from earwax and hate drops and syringing. On one occasion after syringing my ear still felt full of water even though it had drained away. I found this just as traumatic as what I'm going through now, if not worse. I was told my eardrum looked red, presumably damaged by the syringing. It took two weeks to recover. I'm sure having grommets would have a similar feeling for me. It would just add to my trauma. Also I'm sure I'd find the hearing loss really traumatic. I suspect I also suffer from fear of my own voice (phonophobia?) and with any problems with my ears the worst thing for me is that my voice sounds disembodied. At least with the problems I have now the situation can resolve itself at any time when my ears pop, then I feel fine until they block again.
I don't think grommets would be an option for me. I suffer from earwax and hate drops and syringing. On one occasion after syringing my ear still felt full of water even though it had drained away. I found this just as traumatic as what I'm going through now, if not worse. I was told my eardrum looked red, presumably damaged by the syringing. It took two weeks to recover. I'm sure having grommets would have a similar feeling for me. It would just add to my trauma. Also I'm sure I'd find the hearing loss really traumatic. I suspect I also suffer from fear of my own voice (phonophobia?) and with any problems with my ears the worst thing for me is that my voice sounds disembodied. At least with the problems I have now the situation can resolve itself at any time when my ears pop, then I feel fine until they block again.
Brief Answer:
Fluticasone
Detailed Answer:
Since you only have high pressures in your eye I would be cautious about using fluticasone. You could try it for say a month and then see your ophthalmologist to check the pressures. If elevated then stop.
The ear tubes are actually small tubes inserted into the eardrum. They would not be anything that you would even now is in your ear other than it allows for equal pressure between your middle ear and the outside pressure. It by passes the Eustachian tube altogether.
Fluticasone
Detailed Answer:
Since you only have high pressures in your eye I would be cautious about using fluticasone. You could try it for say a month and then see your ophthalmologist to check the pressures. If elevated then stop.
The ear tubes are actually small tubes inserted into the eardrum. They would not be anything that you would even now is in your ear other than it allows for equal pressure between your middle ear and the outside pressure. It by passes the Eustachian tube altogether.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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