HELP! my ear is blocked?

Question

my ear is blocked..big time...every time i swallow...it keeps on popping and i feel it blocked..i have no idea what to do and i am in agony please someone help me!
i have been doctors and they all said it will go away by itself but i dont belive them because its been 3 years!
can somone help!

Answer 1

Go and see a different doctor. The advice is poor.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Normally, each time (or each second or third time) you swallow, your ears make a little click or popping sound. This occurs because a small bubble of air has entered your middle ear, up from the back of your nose. It passes through the Eustachian tube, a membrane-lined tube about the size of a pencil lead that connects the back of the nose with the middle ear. The air in the middle ear is constantly being absorbed by its membranous lining and resupplied through the Eustachian tube. In this manner, air pressure on both sides of the eardrum stays about equal. If and when the air pressure is not equal, the ear feels blocked.

How To Unblock Your Ears
Swallowing activates the muscle that opens the Eustachian tube. You swallow more often when you chew gum or let mints melt in your mouth.

If yawning and swallowing are not effective, unblock your ears as follows:

Step 1: Pinch your nostrils shut.
Step 2: Take a mouthful of air.
Step 3: Using your cheek and throat muscles, force the air into the back of your nose as if you were trying to blow your thumb and fingers off your nostrils.
When you hear a loud pop in your ears, you have succeeded. You may have to repeat this several times.

What About Decongestants And Nose Sprays?

Decongestant tablets and sprays can be purchased without a prescription.this will shrink the membranes and help the ears pop more easily. However, they should be avoided by people with heart disease, high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, thyroid disease, or excessive nervousness. Such people should consult their physicians before using these medicines. Pregnant women should likewise consult their physicians first.


Some causes of ear popping are tinnitus, common colds, nasal allergies such as hay fever,etc; , middle ear infections, Meniere's disease or fluid in the ear from swimming or showering, ; sinus infections; TMJ; or poss sensoneural hearing loss.


So why does my ear sometimes make funny crackling & popping noises?

Earwax or even a piece of hair could be lying on top of the eardrum and when the eardrum vibrates, it may cause funny noises (just like a piece of string on a lightly beating drum). Obviously, treatment is by removal.


Eustachian Tube Dysfunction can also cause crackling/popping noises. Given the eustachian tube is lined with mucosa which is moist, sometimes the surface may become sticky from inflammation such that any movement whether it be an opening motion or sliding would cause crackling/popping noises. Again, treatment in this case is with steroids nasal sprays for a period of about 6 weeks.


So, what would cause the eustachian tube to not open up properly? Well, something could be physically blocking the opening of the eustachian tube in the nose, most notably large adenoids. In rare cases, it could be a tumor. More commonly, the eustachian tube does not open properly due to inflammatory conditions, especially allergies, resulting in the tube becoming inflamed and swollen. That's why when people get a cold or allergies are bad, their ears also becomes affected. This condition is known as Eustachian Tube Dysfunction.

Treatment is based on the underlying condition. If due to large adenoids, adenoidectomy is the treatment. If due to Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, than treatment is with steroid nasal sprays for about 6 weeks +/- Afrin for 3 days. Occasionally, systemic steroids are prescribed. If these sprays don't work, than placement of a tube across the eardrum would immediately resolve the symptoms

Go discuss this with the EENT specialist. Get a second opinion. You might need this surgery. Altho' you have to be careful. My brother had this sinus problem. The EENT apparently drained it into his ear(?). Made a hole; now his ear is infected and he has hearing loss. His nose also smells.

Answer 4

I had the same problem for quite a while. Finally it got so bad I couldn't lay on my side in bed because of the pain in my ears. They kept telling me to use earwax removal drops, but after a certain point they are not able to help. I wound up having a doctor scrape/flush my ears out (took about 2-1/2 hrs and both ears bled). Since then I have been able to maintain the problem with regular cleaning. A nurse practitioner (visits available very affordable at some pharmacies like HEB or CVS) can also tend to this problem.

Answer 5

It's important to say that tinnitus is a symptom and not a disease. Some people will have tinnitus because their Cochlea is damaged. And in a few, it could be caused due to hearing loss. But of course, the most common cause of tinnitus is exposure to loud noises. The noise can be a sudden burst, or it could be a constant banging that hits the ear drum and travels inside.

A good guide you can read about tinnitus and some good natural remedies can be found here: http://tinnitus.toptips.org

Answer 6

I find it hard to believe you've had this problem that long with out the doctors doing anything for you..
I've had a buildup of wax in my ears and was told to put a few drops of slightly warm Olive oil in each ear for a few days but in your case it might take a little longer as it's been so long... You may need your ear syringed Good luck..

Answer 7

Three weeks is to long:
Now you will have to think back about three years .
I believe at that time you had a server throat infection.
now there is a small tube at the back of the throat that leads to ear drum at bottom of this tube is a valve, if it gets badly infected it can close over and air trapped in the with information can cause you to feel deaf
There is one thing you can try , I WANT YOU TO READ THESE WORDS AND UNDERSTAND IT CLEARLY>
TAKE THUMB & FOUTH FINGER CLIP YOUR NOSE TIGHT NOW BLOW WITH MOTH SHUT AT SAME TIME TRIST YOU JOR FROM SIDE TO SIDE,If you hear a pop then it will mean the valve is open.
if you feel pain stop.
In extream cases you may need surgery to clear the two velves.
Find a EAR /Nose /& Throat Doctor.

Answer 8

3 yrs is a long time to have a blocked ear and the pain you are in. You may need your ear syringed i think i would go to your local A&E dept, let them investigate further. Good luck and take care

Answer 9

if the doctor really knew it has been 3 years then he or she wouldd have done something. you could be lying and if your not go back to the doctor and tell him its been 3 years.

Answer 10

Go to the audiologist & check out ur hearing.It may be some outer or middle ear problem which can be trated by ENT.But first better to go to the audiologist.& please dont try blowing as it can perforate your tymapanic membrane.