My ear hurts...

beelzelboss · #1 07-30-2011, 11:21 AM

So last night I'm going to bed at around 1 in the morning when all of a sudden, BAM, I get a high pitched ringing in my left ear and some pain.

I have a little tinnitus in my ears, very faint, but it's there. This was on a whole different level. It was worse than after EDC (an all night long electronic concert. The bass was loud enough to shake my clothes slightly).

It lasted about twenty minutes, then my A/C turned on and it went away. Nonetheless, I'm kind of scared. I didn't listen to any loud music today, just stuff my laptop was playing for a while. (I didn't even have it on full!)

Has anyone had this happen to them? There was some pain like deep in my ear, what felt like my eardrum, but it all went away after a while.

Jim Nazium · #2 07-30-2011, 11:25 AM

Tumor.

Skitch it! · #3 07-30-2011, 11:33 AM

I've had tinnitus for a number of years but have never experienced that, sounds like an inner ear infection maybe, I would go and see the doc and have him take a look at what's going on in there.

**colcifer** · #4 07-30-2011, 11:35 AM

Are you congested?

Funky Ghost · #5 07-30-2011, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Nazium

Tumor.

Longhair · #6 07-30-2011, 12:31 PM

I don't remember any pain when my tinnitus started in both ears.

beelzelboss · #7 07-30-2011, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colcifer

Are you congested?

A little here and there. Not last night.

I think if it was an ear infection it would last longr, right?

**john turner** · #8 07-30-2011, 02:16 PM

seriously, though, i'd go to the doctor, like asap.

beelzelboss · #9 07-30-2011, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john turner

seriously, though, i'd go to the doctor, like asap.

Awesome. Time to go look in my ear for a spider.

Ughh, I'm not too excited to go to the doctor, as they are expensive, but it may be worth it to get a full checkup on my ears.

daystcity · #10 07-30-2011, 02:27 PM

I get little pops like you describe (not painful though) followed by about a minute of tinnitus before it goes away, hasn't troubled me for what it's worth

**colcifer** · #11 07-30-2011, 03:15 PM

Beelzelboss has 666 posts...

It sounds to me like it's Doctor time, bro.

Radical Edward · #12 07-30-2011, 06:04 PM

This happens to me all the time. Q-tips, are usually the culprit and can lead to ear infections and permanent hearing loss. Go to the doc and see what's up.

disenchant · #13 07-31-2011, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radical Edward

This happens to me all the time. Q-tips, are usually the culprit and can lead to ear infections and permanent hearing loss. Go to the doc and see what's up.

Yes, you're supposed to stop the Q-tip when you feel resistance!

MakiSupaStar · #14 07-31-2011, 02:59 AM

I use those japanese sticks with the tiny wooden spoon.

madmatt · #15 07-31-2011, 07:12 AM

Are you just trying to get out of going to school?
Earache?!?!?! Earache my eye!

But seriously, you can put some hydrogen peroxide on a Q-tip and clean your ear out. I do it no problem.

Popbumper · #16 07-31-2011, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beelzelboss

So last night I'm going to bed at around 1 in the morning when all of a sudden, BAM, I get a high pitched ringing in my left ear and some pain.

I have a little tinnitus in my ears, very faint, but it's there. This was on a whole different level. It was worse than after EDC (an all night long electronic concert. The bass was loud enough to shake my clothes slightly).

It lasted about twenty minutes, then my A/C turned on and it went away. Nonetheless, I'm kind of scared. I didn't listen to any loud music today, just stuff my laptop was playing for a while. (I didn't even have it on full!)

Has anyone had this happen to them? There was some pain like deep in my ear, what felt like my eardrum, but it all went away after a while.

You should be scared. Please don't take this lightly. After years of cumulative, unknown damage (car stereo in youth, band and orchestra memberships, concerts), four and a half years ago (January 28th, 2007), I spent a "binge evening" - 2 hours - of listening to loud home theater (up around 100dB), auditioning an improperly balanced custom speaker.

The next day I woke up with my head in a ball of sound. Every day now, yes, 24 hours a day, I suffer from tinnitus, particularly in my left ear. It has affected EVERYTHING in my life, my sleep, what noises I can/cannot be around. I have to wear earplugs most of the time when I drive, and there are days that the sound of the REFRIGERATOR drive me crazy from hyperacuity.

Pain? Absolutely, infrequently, but it does happen. I have had the cat scans. I have been to the doctors. There is nothing that can really be done. You are on that threshold between debilitating tinnitus, and tolerable tinnitus. Your body is warning you.

I am NOT trying to be harsh, please, be careful. Ear damage is cumulative, and once you get beyond a ceratin point, you are done. By all means, go have a generalist check your ears for infection or blockage to rule these things out. But, since you HAVE tinnitus already (I did too - before the crash), your body is warning you. Don't suffer, be reasonable.

I wish you the best, for me, it was a turning point in my life. Don't let it happen to you.

Chris

iamdenialNJ · #17 07-31-2011, 12:05 PM

Go to the doctor. Any damage to the auditory canal is permanent. Invest in some custom molded musician ear plugs. It is be the best long-term investment you can do if you are a musician or just a listener.

**colcifer** · #18 07-31-2011, 02:34 PM

At least it's just an earache and not an Earache ElbowKnee!

Am I too hard on him?

beelzelboss · #19 07-31-2011, 02:44 PM

Well. I'm making a first appointment with my general doctor, but I need a full ear checkup before I leave for college. Just another thing I have to talk to my parents about.

It hurt a little this morning, but it went away again. It felt like it was right where my jaw connects, so I'm thinking its an ear infection, but I may be wrong.

Damn these frail human bodies.

Oh and madmatt, I'm out of school. Ive heard enough horror stories to take not take this lightly, but still was looking for advice.

How much do musician earplugs cost?

Popbumper · #20 07-31-2011, 08:17 PM

My nickel on earplugs - If I recall correctly, the custom molded earplugs that I ended up getting at the audiologist were about $150. That might sound like a lot, and it will be to some, but these fit your ear canal perfectly and have changeable filters that allow for different attenuations depending on where you are. I have both 10dB and 20dB filters - both allow you to hear very clearly. The biggest benefit is that they virtually eliminate background noise (fans/road noise/air conditioners/motors/etc.) and still allow speech to get through. I use them particularly at movies, where the volume is stupidly ear splitting, especially during blockbuster special effect movies and trailers. They work well in all loud noise applications/environments.

Chris