How Do You Treat TMJ Fullness in the Ears?

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Do you have a crackling sound in your ear due to TMJ?! Call our dedicated team today at Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders or visit us online to book an appointment. We have convenient locations across the U.S. in Bloomington IL, Peoria – Dunlap IL, Mishawaka IN, Kansas City MO, El Paso TX and Wausau WI.

Table of Contents:

Can TMJ cause a crackling sound in your ears?
How do I get rid of the crunching sound in my ear?
How do you treat TMJ fullness in the ears?

Crepitus is a sound or vibration that occurs when tissues in the body, such as cartilage in the joints, are damaged and rub against one another. One of the most common causes of crepitus is dysfunction of the TMJ or temporomandibular joint disorder. TMJ disorder occurs when the various parts in the temporomandibular joint become misaligned; this can cause the bone to rub on bone or cartilage. This rubbing can damage cartilage, causing it to develop into crepitus.

Can TMJ cause a crackling sound in your ears?

Yes, TMJ disorder can cause a crackling sound to occur in the ears; this is known as crepitus. In addition to a crackling or popping sound, crepitus also refers to a grating sensation produced by the friction of bone rubbing against cartilage. Crackling in the ears does not only occur from TMJ disorder, it can also be the result of ear wax that has dried on the eardrum. When the dried wax expands, it cracks, which is audible in the ear canal as a crackling, crunching or popping sound.

How do I get rid of the crunching sound in my ear?

When a crunching or crackling sound is audible in the ears, it is likely caused by dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint. In order to address this concern, the underlying cause of the crunching sound must first be taken care of. The best way to find the most effective treatment is by visiting a dentist who specializes in treating temporomandibular joint disorders. The dentist may utilize any one of several different modalities, including oral splints and mouth guards, or they may even prescribe physical therapy to help stretch the jaw muscles and relieve tension on the temporomandibular joint. Gentle stretches and strengthening exercises can improve TMJ health, reducing symptoms.

How do you treat TMJ fullness in the ears?

The TMJ, or temporomandibular joint, is positioned just in front of the ear; dysfunction with this joint can therefore easily impact how the ears feel. Several TMJ-related causes can cause stuffiness of the ear; tension in some of the jaw muscles can actually trigger tension in the stapedius muscle, the muscle of the inner ear. When this occurs, the eardrum tenses and can give a sense of stuffiness or diminished hearing. Chronic clenching or grinding of the teeth can trigger these types of spasms; the more frequently teeth clenching or grinding occurs, the more severe the ear symptoms will be. Other jaw muscles can also spasm from chronic clenching, causing the Eustachian tube to narrow or close. This affects inner ear pressure and can muffle hearing, similar to how ears pop when descending in an airplane.

In hard-to-diagnose cases that involve muffled hearing, ear pain, hearing changes or itching deep in the ear, it is likely that a chronic TMJ condition exists. In the treatment of TMJ disorder, using orthotic appliances to decompress the joint can restore ear function and improve hearing. Orthotic appliances are different from other techniques such as bite adjustment and bite equilibration as they use orthopedic medicine to improve jaw function.

In some cases, TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) may be used; this technique confuses the muscle memory to find the optimal resting position of the jaw. This can effectively ameliorate ear fullness when caused by the temporomandibular joint disorder.

If you are experiencing fullness in your ears, trust the team at Koala® Centers For Sleep & TMJ Disorders to provide you with relief.

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7 TMJ Symptoms You Should Know in 2020

Dr. Pradeep Adatrow

May 11, 2020

TMJ
0

Temporomandibular joint or TMJ is a joint which connects your lower jaw to your skull. The joint is present in the both sides of your jaw in front of your ear and is responsible for many mouth activities like moving your jaw, smiling, eating, speaking, and many other activities. The joint acts like a hinge on the both sides of the jaw to make many movements.

Reasons of TMD

When your jaw or jaw muscle is injured it can cause TMJ disorder or TMD. There could be many reasons behind TMD.

• Many people grind or clench their teeth during sleep which puts a lot of pressure on the joint and can lead to the TMD.

• Those who are suffering from arthritis are also vulnerable to TMD.

• The poor neck and face postures that hold muscle also responsible for TMD.

• Stress and lack of sleep can also cause TMD syndrome.

TMJ Symptoms

There are many signs and symptoms which help you to diagnose TMJ syndrome.

• Jaw or facial pain

• A clicking and popping sound in the jaw

• Popping sounds in ears

• Ear pain/earache,

• Headaches

• Stiff or sore jaw muscles

• Restricted jaw movement

These are the symptoms of TMJ disorder.

Jaw or facial pain: This is not common pain that everyone feels, while you are experiencing pain in your jaw for a long time during certain muscle activities it might be due to TMJ syndrome. Note the facial activities during which you are feeling pain in your jaw.

A clicking and popping sound in the jaw: There will be a popping sound from your TMJ joint while you are opening or closing your mouth. It might be a TMJ symptom. If you feel a clicking a popping sound from your TMJ joint while you move your jaw then could be due to TMD.

Popping sound in ear: Popping sound from your ears could be due to TMD. If you are not experiencing any pain then there is nothing to worry about as these signs disappear by themselves.

Ear pain: Many people think that ear pain is due to some problem in ear but if you experience above symptoms with pain in your ear then it could be because of TMD and not due to any other reason. If you are experiencing constant and sharp pain in your ear then you should consult your dentist.

Headache: There could be many reasons for headache and one could not relate headache to the TMJ disorder but if you pay attention to other symptoms like popping sound from TMJ, and restrict jaw movement, pain in jaw then you can relate headache with TMJ syndrome.

Stiff or sore jaw muscles: Your sore jaw muscles are one of the signs that you are suffering from TMJ disorder. If you are feeling pain in your jaw muscles while making certain facial movements, it could be due to TMD syndrome.

Restricted jaw movement: If you are not able to move your jaw or it becomes too stiff then you might be suffering from TMJ. In this case you might not feel pain but stiffness in your jaw.

So if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms you can consult your doctor. He will examine your jaw muscles to diagnose the exact reason.

However, good news is that many times you don’t need to worry about TMJ syndrome as it does not require any treatment. But if you are feeling discomfort for a long time then you should not ignore it.

For more help managing your TMJ disorder, contact the trusted team Advanced Dental Implant and TMJ Center . You can visit their website or call them at (662) 655 -4868 to ask questions or to schedule an appointment.

Discharge from the ear, or otorrhea

Allergy

Fungus

Otitis

Sulfur plug

Mastoiditis

Tympanic membrane rupture

Otomycosis

19305

June 24

Discharge from the ear: the causes of occurrence, in which diseases occur, diagnosis and methods of treatment.

Definition

Earwax is a physiological secretion from the ear canal and protects the hearing aid from pathogenic bacteria. It consists of fat, fatty acids and fat-like substances, as well as various mineral salts. Normally, a person produces 15–20 mg of earwax during the month, which looks like a sticky yellow-brown mass. All other discharges are considered pathological and indicate ear diseases.

Types of discharge from the ear

The discharge may be transparent, white, light or dark yellow, greenish (in the presence of pus). If blood enters the ear secretion, the discharge becomes reddish or brownish in color.

The discharge may be watery in consistency, have a cheesy or flaky texture, and may sometimes form crusts.

An unpleasant smell of discharge due to the presence of pus in them can serve as a diagnostic sign.

What diseases and conditions cause discharge from the ear

Sulfur plugs . Excessive work of the sulfur glands leads to the formation of a sulfur plug. Most often, this problem occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, high cholesterol levels in the blood. The formation of sulfur plugs provokes an increased viscosity of sulfur, dry skin, small foreign particles (for example, industrial dust) entering the ear, as well as excessive hair growth in the ear canal. Often, sulfur plugs are observed in people involved in water sports, using hearing aids, miniature headphones.

With improper hygiene measures and independent attempts to remove excess earwax, there is a risk of pushing it deeper into the ear canal, thereby causing a plug to form.

Clinical signs of sulfur plug are pain and stuffiness of the ear, tinnitus, especially painful when sulfur comes into contact with the eardrum, sometimes headache, dizziness, nausea.

Mucopurulent and purulent discharge is a symptom of inflammation of the outer and middle ear. In inflammation external ear (otitis externa) pathological process can develop in the auricle and external auditory canal (up to the tympanic membrane). Most often, external otitis occurs against the background of infection of the ear with bacteria and microscopic fungi. Its first signs are, as a rule, pain in the ear, itching, less often – hearing loss and a feeling of fullness. Mucopurulent discharge appears only with a common form of the inflammatory process throughout the auditory canal.

The source of purulent discharge in the outer ear can also be a boil located in the shell or ear canal. With otitis media mucopurulent and purulent discharge results from infection of sterile effusion from inflamed ear tissues. Since the chamber of the middle ear is closed by the tympanic membrane, purulent discharge may appear in the outer ear only after the formation of a hole in it. This is preceded by severe pain in the ear, fever, hearing loss, and in children – overexcitation, sometimes vomiting.

When mastoiditis (inflammatory lesion of the mastoid process of the temporal bone), purulent discharge from the ear also appears. As a rule, this disease develops as a complication of otitis media and is accompanied by fever, soreness and swelling in the mastoid process behind the ear.

Clear bloody or purulent discharge occurs in acute infectious myringitis (inflammation of the eardrum), which may be of fungal or bacterial origin. Bubbles filled with blood form on the surface of the eardrum, which then burst. In addition to discharge, ear congestion is observed.

Transparent, colorless or slightly pinkish discharge from the ear may be the result of liquorrhea – the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid. It enters the auricle in case of skull fractures (usually temporal) due to trauma.

In addition, transparent watery discharge sometimes accompanies allergic otitis media , which is also characterized by other signs – itching, ear congestion.

Unaltered blood appears from the ear, usually after injury and rupture of the eardrum .

Such an injury can be caused by acoustic and mechanical shocks, as well as due to improper hygiene procedures. A ruptured eardrum is always accompanied by severe pain.

The appearance of bloody-purulent discharge from the ear is one of the evidences of the presence of a polyp on the tympanic membrane or mucous membrane of the middle ear . A polyp is an overgrowth of tissue in response to its irritation. The appearance of a polyp is preceded by active inflammation of the middle ear. In addition, polyps can be the result of myringitis, otitis externa, malignant neoplasms. Perforating the tympanic membrane, the polyp can protrude into the area of ​​​​the external auditory canal, leading to hearing loss.

Insignificant secretions, sometimes forming crusts and having an unpleasant odor, are characteristic of cholesteatoma – a tumor-like formation formed from the epidermis of the ear canal. In most cases, cholesteatoma complicates chronic purulent epitympanitis and is formed from layers of keratinized epidermis, water, proteins, fats and cholesterol. The formation of cholesteatoma is accompanied by feelings of heaviness and fullness in the ear, headache. If left untreated, it can gradually invade the mastoid process and the cranial cavity.

At otomycosis loose curdled discharge is observed. The main culprits of the disease are molds (often localized in the outer ear) and yeast-like fungi (more often inhabiting the middle ear). Clinical signs of otitis externa in these cases include pain and colored cheesy-necrotic discharge from the ear. Patients complain of tinnitus and dizziness.

Discharge that contains large, fatty flakes, sometimes mixed with pus, is characteristic of seborrheic ear dermatitis . The disease can affect not only the ear, but also the scalp. Clinical signs are severe itching, swelling of the auricle, peeling of the skin and weeping wounds.

Clear discharge mixed with blood (sanitary discharge) indicates bullous or influenza-like otitis media . Bullae (vesicles with fluid) occur on the surface of the ear canal and eardrum. When they burst, the liquid with the ichor flows out through the ear canal into the auricle.

Which doctor to contact for ear discharge

In most cases, ear diseases are characterized by a clear clinical picture, which is based on pain. These patients are treated by an otorhinolaryngologist.

In the presence of a traumatic brain injury, which is accompanied by liquorrhea, urgent hospitalization is necessary. Otherwise, a poor prognosis is possible.

Discharge from the ear is not always accompanied by pain, in particular with allergic otitis, which is treated by
therapist,
pediatrician and
allergist-immunologist.

Diagnosis and examination of discharge from the ear

If wax plug is suspected, the doctor performs an otoscopy, during which an accumulation of wax in the ear canal is detected. Diagnosis of otitis externa and otitis media is carried out on the basis of patient complaints, otoscopy, palpation of the parotid region. It is recommended to sow discharge from the ear to determine the causative agent of the disease and its sensitivity to antibiotics. Perhaps an audiometric study.

Traumatic brain injury, which is accompanied by liquorrhea, is diagnosed using radiography and CT.

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To diagnose cholesteatoma and mastoiditis, the doctor performs otoscopy and radiography.

X-ray of the mastoid processes

X-ray examination of the mastoid process of the temporal bone to assess its integrity and identify other pathology.

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If otomycosis is suspected, endomicroscopic (examination of the ear under an operating microscope) and microbiological examination of ear discharge using microscopy and culture are recommended. Diagnosis of bullous otitis media includes sowing fluid from the ear, audio and tympanometry, and radiation examination methods. It is also possible to use serological methods of blood analysis.

What to do if there is discharge from the ear

If clear discharge from the ear appeared after an injury, urgent hospitalization is necessary.

If there is an increased excretion of sulfur, you should seek the help of an ENT doctor who will recommend proper care and personal hygiene methods acceptable at home.

It is strongly not recommended to clean the ear canal with the help of items not intended for this purpose.

Treatment for ear discharge

If a sulfur plug is detected, the doctor removes it, after softening it with special preparations. Remove plugs by lavage or aspiration and curettage.

Irrigation is possible only in the absence of contraindications, which the doctor will definitely inform about (perforation of the tympanic membrane, otitis externa).

Treatment for otitis media may include pain relief, physiotherapy, and etiotropic therapy, depending on the causative agent of the disease. The allergic nature of ear discharge requires the use of antihistamines. Cholesteatoma is treated only with surgery.

Sources:

1. Clinical recommendations “Acute otitis media”. Developed by: National Medical Association of Otorhinolaryngologists. – 2021.
2. Morozova S.V. Ear wax: topical issues of norm and pathology in clinical practice. breast cancer. No. 3 (II), 2018, pp. 53–57.
3. Clinical guidelines “Chronic otitis media”. Developed by: National Medical Association of Otorhinolaryngologists. – 2021.

IMPORTANT!

The information in this section should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, only the attending physician should prescribe diagnostic tests. For diagnosis and proper treatment, you should contact your doctor.
For a correct assessment of the results of your analyzes in dynamics, it is preferable to do studies in the same laboratory, since different laboratories may use different research methods and units of measurement to perform the same analyzes.

Otitis is the main cause of ear pain. Symptoms, possible complications and treatment of otitis.

Author

Mishchenko Natalya Sergeevna

Leading physician

ENT

Creation date: 2016.03.31

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Otitis is the general name for any inflammation localized in the ear. Our ear is a complex organ, the structure of which can be divided into three parts: the outer ear, including the auricle and auditory canal to the eardrum, the middle ear (the cavity behind the eardrum) and the inner ear. Accordingly, three types of otitis media are distinguished: otitis externa , otitis media (or inflammation of the middle ear) and internal otitis ( labyrinthitis ) is a serious but rare disease. Doctors also talk about right-sided or left-sided otitis media – depending on which ear has inflammation. If the inflammatory process has affected both ears, the diagnosis is bilateral otitis media .

Otitis externa

Otitis

Otitis externa is inflammation that can affect the pinna and/or ear canal. The path of infection can be opened, for example, by a wound caused by careless cleaning of the ears. The hair follicle or the mouth of the sebaceous gland may become inflamed – in this respect, the outer ear is no different from other areas of the skin.

If the inflammation is localized (for example, the hair follicle is inflamed), this form of the disease is called limited otitis externa . In this case, the pain in the ear first increases, then the abscess bursts, and the severity of the pain decreases. If the inflammation captures the entire ear canal, this form of the disease is called diffuse otitis externa . Diffuse otitis externa can be bacterial, fungal and allergic in nature.

The development of infection is facilitated by a humid environment. Moisture may linger in the ear canal after swimming; therefore, people who are actively involved in swimming experience otitis externa quite often, so that this disease has even been called “swimmer’s ear”. In hot weather, sweat can act as a moisturizer.

Sulfur plug can also provoke external otitis media. Under it, a favorable environment is created for the development of a fungal infection, and the patient’s attempts to remove the plug on their own lead to injury to the walls of the auditory canal, which facilitates the penetration of the infection.

Learn more about otitis externa

Otitis media (otitis media)

Otitis media can develop as a complication of otitis externa, but much more often the infection in the middle ear comes from the nasopharynx through the Eustachian tube. In this case, otitis media is a complication of colds. It is enough to blow your nose incorrectly when you have a runny nose (without pinching one nostril), and discharge from the nose can get into the auditory tube. If this occurs against a background of weakened immunity, the development of otitis media is very likely.

The development of inflammation can contribute to the accumulation of fluid in the middle ear (exudate). This fluid is constantly being produced. Normally, it should leave the middle ear through the auditory (Eustachian) tube. This evacuation can be difficult due to diseases and pathologies of the nose (rhinitis, adenoids, deviated septum), as well as diseases of the auditory tube itself (eustacheitis, tubo-otitis). In this case, the fluid fills the space of the middle ear, becomes viscous, interferes with the work of the auditory ossicles. Such a state is defined as exudative otitis media . Infection of the accumulated fluid leads to the transition of exudative otitis into chronic suppurative otitis media.

Learn more about otitis media

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Otitis symptoms

The main symptom of otitis media is ear pain.

Pain in the ear

Pain in the ear with otitis can be severe, “shooting”.

Methods for diagnosing otitis media

To accurately diagnose the disease, make an appointment with the specialists of the Family Doctor network.

Otitis media

Severe, “shooting” pain in the ear, characteristic of acute otitis media, usually leads us to immediately begin treatment of the disease. However, it is highly desirable that the treatment of otitis occurs under the guidance of a physician.

If two days have passed, and the ear is still bothering you, you must definitely see an ENT. There is a possibility that the disease can move to the next stage, in which purulent discharge begins to accumulate in the middle ear. The accumulated pus can rupture the eardrum. It is desirable to avoid this. If, nevertheless, pus must be removed from the tympanic cavity, then it is better that the doctor does this by making a neat puncture of the eardrum, the so-called paracentesis.

Left untreated, otitis media can become chronic. In this case, the pain in the ear ceases to be excruciating. For a long time, the patient may not feel pain at all. This is due to the fact that in chronic otitis the eardrum remains perforated, and through this hole pus can flow into the auditory canal without creating excessive pressure in the tympanic cavity. A permanent focus of inflammation and impaired integrity of the tympanic membrane contribute to the development of hearing loss.

Another danger: improper treatment can lead to the formation of adhesions and scars in the tympanic cavity, disrupting the functioning of the auditory ossicles and blocking the auditory canal. This is the so-called adhesive otitis media, which leads to persistent hearing loss and the appearance of tinnitus.