Has Anyone Ever Valsalva'd Their ETD (or Related Conditions) Away?

@Yashin Many thanks for all of this information. This is really useful.
It makes sense now that the Hyperacusis-like symptoms come from TTTS and not the other way around.
And no I have not shelled out big money for WNGs, although I haven't yet ruled it out as the audiologist who examined me (and who seemed like a decent and honest person) told me that almost everyone that used these WNGs saw significant improvement in their symptoms.
The problem with doing things off my own bat, is that I'm still not certain as to what kind of (pink/brown/white) noise is best for me and at what level and intensity, for how long, etc -
I have read so many different and sometimes contradictory accounts of what is best and most effective.
Also what headphones or earphones to use.
The attraction of buying those WNGs is that it's a potential pre-packaged 'solution'.
It's expensive yes, but if I can get a significant improvement in my symptoms, I'll pay, even if it's expensive.
So I will hold off for now on buying these WNGs (Widex, I think was the brand name) and perhaps the ultra high strength B12 tablets I've just bought will help improve things in the interim!

 

Etd cause ear pain?

 

Yes, anything which causes negative ear pressure is going to cause pain.
But negative ear pressure (which I have in one ear ) is associated with a number of ear conditions, not just ETD.
My last ear specialist seemed to think I had ETD (as well as Hypseracusis) however my symptoms seem to point more towards TTTS rather than ETD.
It's very bad in the last few days in particular as I've had a bad head cold and that's really set off both ears, particularly my left one, a lot of pain, more pressure and blocking/clicking than normal. :/

 

What woukd be the difference to notice between ETD and TTTS pain?
How long have you been feeling this symptom?
I can't stand this pain. Hope it eradicates soon.

 

My doctor suggested I do the Valsalva maneuver when I had mild T to help cure it. I didn't think it would help since I got it from a head injury. He told me it couldn't hurt to try and that there's zero side affects. Yeah, pretty sure that's what officially gave me ETD and the pressurization issues with my ears now. Even though I asked at the time if it was bad. I then did research and realized the guy was a jerk. Also, the advice to sleep on hot packs which popped my injured jaw out of place. All bad combos together. Leading to the severe T that spiraled me out and ears that can't adjust at all.

 

I'm not an expert by any means, but my audiometry results don't really indicate ETD, they point moreso towards TTTS.
The pain I have has subsided significantly in the last week or so since I started taking more supplements, Zinc, B12, Mg, NAC, and the one that I think has had the most effect on the pain is Curcumin(full spectrum).
I used the one from Solgar, it's expensive, but so far it has helped with the pain and is a more natural option than painkillers.
@dingaling and @Yashin were both very helpful and provided me with some really useful feedback and information.
I'm now playing with the possibility of buying one of the Widex Dream hearing aids which may also help with Tinnitus/Hyperacusis.
Apparently I qualify for a grant of 500 euro per ear, which is good news.
I'm currently reading online reviews to see if this is really something which could help someone like me with TTTS & Hyperacusis, before parting with my hard-earned.

 

@Irish have you looked into TMJ or TMD as the cause? I'm working through the process myself, but in my case, I developed ETD to the point where both filled with fluid from swelling after severe TMJ.

Just a thought.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I haven't looked into this, although I was with an osteopath a couple of years ago and asked him about my ear problems and following his examination of me, he did not seem to think anything was untoward in the alignment of my bones (including the vertebrae and jaw) so I haven't given it much thought since.

 

I have a similar issue than your. I have a ear fullness sensation since october 2016, and it never disappeared.

Many ENTs I saw claims it was ETD. I did a lot and lot of treatment, I even did durin 2 months a rehabilitation of the Eustachian tubes, nothing worked.

Now, I don't think that my problem is ETD, it may be something totally different, like TTS.

I think that ENT diagnostic ETD just because it is a recurrent cause of ear fullness.


And like you, I have normal tympanograms.


When this feeling appeared, I was not having tinnitus yet. Tinnitus appeared 8 months later, while I was not in contact with any loud sounds.

However, I remember that this ear fullness appeared at a period where I was killing my ears with earbuds.

Just a question : why are considering buying hearing aids ? Your hearing is still within normal range (0-25dbhl), or at worse you have mild hearing loss (4khz in one ear), but it should not cause you any problems, no ?

 

I still have pain... 8 months after the acoustic trauma...
And some type of ear pressure as well... So frustrated...

 

Sometimes my left ear(afected one) it pops by itself...
Went to the Ent he said that my ET was open so it was fine.

 

My doctor, when I had the ear infection, recommended to me that I use the valsalva maneuver a few times a day to help clear middle ear fluid.

 

Hey @Felix Dujardin, they are kind of improvised hearing aids, and are not used to help your hearing in this case, but to play certain tones of (usually white) noise. The theory is that this helps to retrain or recalibrate the brain to not react in the way it does to certain frequencies and with regular usage the delicate little muscles in the ear learn to relax again and so the TTTS starts to lessen and as a result the H also becomes less prominent.
Whether it can provide a complete cure is up for debate but from what I've read and heard, most people who use these devices do see a significant improvement in their symptoms over time.

 

Do you still think it was the valsalva maneuver that caused your tinnitus?

 

There are three suspects - the sonic toothbrush coming into contact with the opening of my ear canal (but this is like an inch away from the place where it would normally be used..., then again right after the incident, I developed ear fullness), valsalva maneuver, and the tests performed by an audiologist on the day when I got T. None of those tests involved any loud sounds. I am not sure what to think...

 

Well I hope not. I've been doing it a lot today because my ears are having troubles equalizing and I've been flying. I feel like I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't.

 

I remember doing it forcefully at times. Try to be as gentle, as possible...