Pulsing Medical Mystery

Hello

My PT started with just fullness in my left ear at the end of my pregnancy. It turned into a pulse with in months and became louder and constant 24/7.

I first saw my local doctor who said my ear looks clear and refered me to an ENT. There I had my 1 st MRI. I was told it came back normal and you will have to live with it. I waited a couple months and couldn't take it anymore. I found that if I turned my head to the left or pressed on the artery the noise would stop.

I found an otolaryngologist who took me seriously, I had a CT and another MRA/MRI. The only thing they saw was my bone was thinning near the sigmoid sinus but no diverticulum in the vein. They said maybe I have intercranial hypertension and started me on diamox and sent me onto a neuro ophthalmologist and a neurologist.

The eye doctor told me my optic nerves look good with no swelling. I followed up with the neurologist who told me I could stop the medication he didn't believe I had the IH since I don't have visual problems or optic nerve swelling. He ordered a CT of my neck and head with contrast.

A month later I returned to find my results were Normal. By this point I now have headaches daily on the left side of my head from the back to the temple along with neck and shoulder pain. He prescribed me propranolol for my headaches and thinks it may be carotidynia. I will follow up in 2 months with him.

I'm not sure I fit the symptoms of this and I am now stuck. Any advice or support would be great!

 

This sounds very similar to mine (symptoms and test results), except I've never been pregnant. I found that tipping my head and shoulders over the arm of my couch (with my arms dangling to get a nice stretch in the shoulders) makes the noise go away for about 10 minutes. Also, the muscles on the side of my neck where the PT is used to feel soft, very unlike my unaffected side. I'm sure this is any help to you since I don't have an answer for my PT, but if I find one, I'll keep you in mind and let you know. Wishing you the best.

 

My symptoms are similar, but as a guy I have never been pregnant.

I can stop my T temporarily or change the tone by pressing on my neck or sometimes even my face. When I look up it goes up and when I look way down (chin on chest) it almost goes away. I joke that I can play a tune only I can hear by just pressing around areas on my head and neck. My ears and everything come back clear, and my hearing is perfect. Interestingly muscle relaxers (Robaxin) bring it down quite a bit, and heavy alcohol can almost eliminate it completely. Caffeine and stimulants spike it.

In my case they are treating it as TMJ. The theory is that bad orthodontics and night clinching drove my jaw up into close where the ear is. This is verified by a CT scan. My treatment is bite plates at night, continuation of muscle relaxers, and physical therapy (basically head and neck massages). If this helps, and my T is relieved by the bite plates, they are talking about new otho to reset my mouth, but I won't know this for several months. About 10 days into treatment I *think* there is improvement, but I have good hours and bad hours. But that is an improvement when it first hit, when I had nothing but bad hours.

This all being said, I am also looking at other causes (allergies, etc.) while I do this therapy since the TMJ is just a theory...but so far I think it is the right track.

Good luck!