Ear Pain And Inner Ear Pressure Are Almost Impossible To Escape From
Can you imagine having so much inner ear pressure and ear pain that it feels like your head is going to explode? Can you imagine this feeling or congestion with your other Menieres disease symptoms that are also relentlessly going on and on and you cannot escape any of this? And there is no one who can tell you why this is happening to you?
Not only are you experiencing physical pain, you are also under a huge amount of stress, which can also be contributing to your attacks. We get a lot of questions from people suffering from Menieres disease that are about experiencing the sometimes debilitating pain in their left ear and inner ear pressure, or fullness in their ears.
With this article I hope to be able to explain why this could be happening to you. I have included real world examples that will give you an idea of what a sufferer has to live with. And never does each sufferer experience the same intensity of these symptoms: they are all different in some way.
Eustachian Tube Balloon Dilation System
This minimally invasive office based procedure allows our physicians to use a small catheter to insert a small balloon through the patients nose and into the Eustachian tube. Once inflated, the balloon opens up a pathway for mucus and air to flow through the Eustachian tube and restore function. After the tube is dilated, the balloon is then removed.
Sinus Pressure Points On The Hands
The soft tissue between your thumb and index finger may serve as a pressure point for sinus relief. If you cant find the area by touching it, place your hand flat on a table and bring your index finger and thumb together. The point is beneath where the skin rises up highest.
To access the point, open your hand up and use the thumb and index finger of your opposite hand to squeeze the area for a few minutes
Your fingertips may also be able to act as pressure points for sinus relief. To activate any of these points, simply press and momentarily squeeze each the end of each finger.
There are also pressure points along your hands right next to your fingernails. These points are just beside the nail, in the corners where the base joins the skin.
The specific points are as follows:
- Outside corner of the thumbnail
- Outside corner of the index finger
- Outside corner of the middle finger
- Inside corner the ring finger
- Inside and outside corner of the pinky
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Sinus Pressure And Ear Pain: Whats The Connection
March 19, 2020 by drgoldberg
Your sinuses connect your nasal and drainage passages. When these passageways become blocked, its not uncommon to feel pressure or pain in the ears and throat. In this article, we discuss the connection between sinus pressure and ear pain and how the team at ENTFPSS can help you find relief from these painful symptoms.
Besides treating ear pressure and earaches, Dr. Joshua Goldberg and his staff also offer treatments for hearing loss, snoring, Botox, and neck and head surgery. Contact us today at 215-659-8805 to find out more about our services.
Final Thoughts On How To Relieve Ear Pressure From Sinus Infection
How to relieve ear pressure from sinuses can be a hit-and-miss game sometimes. Sometimes, you try one thing the first time, and it works like a charm another time, you might try many different things before you find the one that works.
The idea is never to give up. That is why knowing these many methods of sinus infection treatment at home is essential. Because if one fails you, the next might work to ease your ear pressure and pain.
Leaving sinus infection from ear pressure untreated can be dangerous. Because the more you left it to linger, the worse it will get. So, because it can get irritating, uncomfortable, or even more painful, you might benefit from releasing that pressure early onby following one or some of the sinus infection treatments at home listed above.
Follow any of these methods to relieve ear pressure and pain from a sinus infection and see which ones work for you. If, after trying these, you are still feeling ear discomfort, make sure you go and see your doctor. Thank you for reading, and best of luck to you! And those are tips on how to relieve ear pressure from sinus infection.
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What Is Sinus Pressure In Your Ears
Do your ears feel full? Are they stuffy? This is sinus pressure in your ears. Sinus pressure in your ears results from congestion. It can be temporary, but when caused by chronic infections, the pressure may not resolve for weeks or even months without intervention.
The issue youâre suffering from could be eustachian tube dysfunction.
Treatments For An Ear Infection
Symptoms of ear infections usually improve within the first couple of days, and most infections clear up on their own within one to two weeks without any medication or treatment. If your symptoms dont improve on their own, your physician will advise you on which treatments for pain from an ear infection. These may include the following:
- A warm compress
- Pain medication
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Causes Of A Sinus Infection
It can pop from varied factors, but it always stems from fluid getting trapped in the sinuses.
Viruses: 90% of cases in adults are the result of sinusitis.
Bacteria: 1 case in 10 adults is caused by bacteria.
Pollutants: Irritants and chemicals in the air may cause a sinus infection.
Fungi: Two types of infections are caused by fungi known as allergic fungal sinusitis and chronic indolent sinusitis.
Two Ear Wax Removal Methods To Try
If ear wax is becoming a nuisance, Dr. Nguyen-Huynh recommends twoeasy ear cleaning methods:
1. Over-the-counter ear cleaning drops
If you have a small amount of wax, over-the-counter earcleaners work well. Look for drops that contain hydrogen or other kinds of peroxide.The peroxide does a good job of breaking up ear wax.
Heres how to use them:
If that method doesnt work, theears might need flushing with a bulb syringe. But there are a few caveats:
- Be gentle:Flush your ear gently to avoid harming your eardrum.
- Watch the temperature:The water should not be too cold or too warm. If it is, the temperaturedifference could make you dizzy.
- Avoid if necessary:Dont use the flushing method if you have a hole in your eardrum or if youve everhad eardrum surgery. Flushing may damage your eardrum repair.
If you are not comfortableflushing your own ears, said Dr. Nguyen-Huynh, you might want to check withyour primary care providers office to see if there is a nurse who would do itfor you.
Ear cleaning drops may not work if you have too much ear wax or a condition called impacted cerumen .
2. Mineral or olive oil
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Can Sinus Infection Cause Ear Pain
Sinus infection or sinusitis is swelling or inflammation of the air cavities within the nose passages. It is of 4 types and if left untreated may lead to meningitis. People have many doubts regarding its further consequences such as can sinus infection cause ear pain, and so on. Let us see what this infection is all about and its other effects in this article.
Clogged Ear: The Sinus
A sinus infection primarily affects your nose, but symptoms can extend to the ears as well. The sinus-ear connection stems from the fact that your sinuses and ears are connected therefore, clogged and congested sinuses also affect the ears.
There are many ways you can help improve your sinus infection and obtain relief in your ears. Below are some tips that can help decongest your sinuses.
- Use a nasal saline or apply a warm moist washcloth to your nose to add moisture. Humidifiers are also useful to help add moisture to the air and not dry out your nose.
- Over-the-counter pain medications can help relieve ear pain.
- Over-the-counter decongestants can help clear out sinus cavities.
- Avoid extreme temperatures hot or cold weather can worsen sinuses.
- Keep your head up putting it down applies added pressure.
Sinus-related ear problems can also lead to dizziness. If you experience dizziness due to sinuses, you may want to avoid fast movements as it can increase dizziness. Its also important to drink plenty of water to thin mucus and avoid caffeine, salt, alcohol and tobacco, which alter blood flow and can worsen dizziness.
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Ear Throat And Sinus Infections
Your ears, nose, and throat are all part of your upper respiratory system. They share anatomy and have similar mucus membrane linings, which means they are able to get similar infections. Understanding the anatomy of your ears, nose, and throat will help you know how to keep them in good health and free of infections.
Below youll find information regarding common ear, throat and sinus infections and how they can be treated at Windermere Medical Center.
What Is Acute Sinusitis
Acute sinusitis is a short-term inflammation of the sinuses, most often including a sinus infection. The sinuses are four paired cavities in the head. They are connected by narrow channels. The sinuses make thin mucus that drains out of the channels of the nose, cleaning the nose. Typically filled with air, the sinuses can become blocked by fluid and swell from irritation. When this happens, they can become infected.
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Sinus Infections And Other Health Effects
Aside from ear pain and dizziness, a sinus infection can also cause temporary hearing loss. Sinus-related hearing loss occurs when the infection spreads to the ears, specifically the middle ear. Hearing can become affected if inflammation puts pressure on the ear drum. This inflammation can cause discharge of fluid and the build-up of fluid in the eardrum, which leads to pain and temporary hearing loss.
When the fluid and pressure are relieved the hearing loss will reverse, and you can go back to hearing how you previously did, prior to the infection. If the fluid does not drain commonly seen in children the continuous pressure can cause the eardrum to burst, which contributes to permanent hearing loss.
Its important to prevent sinus infections as well as treating them right away, so that you dont encounter any complications.
Other health complications that can stem from a sinus infection are headaches and throat problems, such as coughing or a sore throat.
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Tips To Prevent Sinus Infections
In order to avoid ear pain and temporary hearing loss due to clogged ears as a result of sinus infections one must prevent sinus infections. Here are some tips to help you prevent sinus infections and avoid the complications associated with it.
- Control your allergies.
- Keep hydrated, which keeps mucus thin.
- Reduce alcohol consumption, which can worsen mucus.
- Minimize exposure to people with cold or flu.
- Always wash your hands and avoid germs.
- Avoid chlorinated swimming pools.
- Take a nasal spray or decongestant prior to flying.
- Dont smoke, which can aggravate sinusitis, or quit smoking.
These tips can better help protect you against sinus infections. If you do develop a sinus infection, begin treatment right away to reduce complications.
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Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University . He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine , and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
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Learn More About Our Effective Treatments
Persistent sinus pressure and symptomatic ear pain can affect your quality of life. At our practice, Dr. Joshua Goldberg has the knowledge and experience to identify and treat the underlying causes of your ear pain so you can get back to living life to the fullest. Contact us today at 215-659-8805 to schedule an appointment at our offices.
Blockage Due To Foreign Object
You can do the following things at home as first aid for a foreign object in the ear:
- if the object is visible, carefully use tweezers to gently remove it
- tilt your head to the side to use gravity to remove the object
- try to wash the object out using a small syringe with warm water to gently irrigate the ear canal
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Sinus Pressure Points On The Feet
There are also pressure points on the feet that may improve sinus pressure. Much like your fingernails, the toenails also have pressure points.
The areas, youll find, are almost identical to your fingernails with a few minor differences. Toenail pressure points are located at the base of the nail where it meets the skin.
- Big toe: inside and outside corner
- Every other toe : the outside bottom corner
Press each of these points lightly, and you may notice some sinus pressure relief.
Also, like your fingers, your toe tips have pressure points that may be useful in clearing sinus pressure. Use the same method as you would for fingertips.
Massaging the balls of your feet may also offer an answer to relieving sinus pressure. You can do it yourself, but its probably better to get someone else to do it. Who couldnt use a foot massage?
As youve seen, there are pressure points you can access from head to toe that may help relieve sinus pressure. Go through and test them all to see which might work for you.
How Is Acute Sinusitis Diagnosed
Acute sinusitis is usually diagnosed by discussing all of your symptoms and medical history with your doctor. In a physical exam, your doctor will look at the ears, nose, and throat to check for any blockage, swelling, and drainage. If allergies are suspected, your doctor will can have an allergy test performed to determine what allergens might be the cause of your sinusitis.
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Why Should You Consult An Ent Doctor For A Middle Ear Infection
Although home remedies can heal middle ear infections, you have to consult an ENT doctor, who will make the call for you if the home treatment and nose drops are sufficient or if you need any antibiotics. If the infection is more, we will need antibiotics to treat the infection under the guidance of an ENT doctor.
Middle ear infections can spread to the outer and inner ear if uncontrolled. It can even cause perforation of the eardrum, which can lead to major surgery. So, it is better to consult an ENT doctor as early as possible. When diagnosed and treated early, it might require antibiotics, but we can avoid unnecessary major surgery that can take a toll on both your body and pocket.
Prevention is better than cure
Get your sinusitis treated and under control. Follow an ENT doctor’s advice carefully and avoid complications that can lead to the use of antibiotics or surgery. Sinus surgery and sinusitis complications are entirely avoidable. Just because you don’t have many sinusitis symptoms doesn’t mean your sinusitis is controlled.
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How To Treat A Sinus Infection At Home
In the first two weeks of a sinus infection, patients may use saline sprays, over-the-counter steroid sprays like Flonase, and over-the-counter decongestants.
After 10 days, if the drainage is still colored, an antibiotic is likely necessary. Theres no homeopathic alternative to antibiotics. However, saline spray, topical steroid sprays, and decongestants work well with antibiotics to clear most infections.
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What Are The Best Over
Thankfully, there are many highly effective over-the-counter medications available to help remove the sinus congestion.
Pain relievers help reduce the pain caused by the increased pressure in the sinuses. Aspirin, acetaminophen , Aleve , and Advil or Motrin are effective pain relievers. Nasal irrigation can also be used to relieve the congestion in the sinuses.
Oral decongestants can give better relief than nasal sprays but a few side effects may result. Mucus thinner that improves sinus drainage is called a mucolytic and is often prescribed along with cough suppressants. Guaifenesin is a mucolytic that is commonly used for sinusitis.
Always follow the instructions on the label if you are using OTC medications. Make sure you consume the recommended dose for the recommended duration based on your age and weight. Steroid sprays should not be used for a longer period than that mentioned on the label. Excessive use can cause the mucous membranes to swell more than before.
If symptoms persist for more than 10 days and breathing becomes difficult, the infection may be due to bacteria and you may need to consult a doctor for further treatment. Antibiotics such as amoxicillin may be recommended. Surgery is the last resort for people suffering from chronic sinusitis and is done to improve the drainage in the sinuses.