Suicidal

Can someone summarize what (my) ear pain can be?

It's not hyperacusis with my symptoms? The pain is unbearable and I really want to stick a knife in me or hang myself.

The ear hurts but not exactly in the canal but more just under the ear - what is it called? The joint near the bone?

I called my dentist and we will discuss a nightguard and consult with a tmj specialist. But, the appointment is Thursday and I am in agony now. I don't even know how much they can help.

The muscle and jaw joint there is really sore and I have intense pain there. The pain is most severe in the area of the bone behind the ear - mastoid bone maybe? I am really worried. :(

@Greg Sacramento,
Sorry to bother you but does it sound seriously bad? The pain has been pretty constant for a while. Who can diagnose and treat this? Can anyone?!? The tinnitus is bad enough but having this constant ear pain as well... when I open my jaw, it is sore on that side and I have slight ear fullness too - I think. I am begging for someone to solve this.

Did you try putting ice pack on the affected area under the ear?
 
Really sounds like some TMJ related issue. That can be treated.

Do pain killers help? Not all of them are bad, in terms of tinnitus.
Depends what you mean by pain killers. I consider Percocet and Oxycodone as pain killers. NSAIDs, not so much. Is Gabapentin any good? My doctor prescribed that but I haven't picked it up from the pharmacy yet.
 
Did you try putting ice pack on the affected area under the ear?
Yep. :( Been doing that constantly for the past few days whenever I am at home. It helps only a little. Not enough relief. Pain is 10/10 and applying ice makes it go to 9.7/10.

I want to know exactly what is going on and hopefully there is a treatment and prevention strategy. I hope it is not nerve-related or something that I can't treat because that would cause me to have even darker thoughts.

P.S. thanks for replying @TheDanishGirl and @Harley.

I really appreciate it.
 
Depends what you mean by pain killers. I consider Percocet and Oxycodone as pain killers. NSAIDs, not so much. Is Gabapentin any good? My doctor prescribed that but I haven't picked it up from the pharmacy yet.
Just traditional over the counter pain killers. I'd be careful with Gabapentin, it has some nasty side effects. But if nothing else helps... just be careful with it. Maybe only take it every once in a while, if it can be taken like that.
 
@PeteJ Take a wash cloth that will absorb water and place it under a cold facet. Ring it out and place one over the jaw joint just in front of ear and behind ear. Keep rinsing the washcloth in cold water every five minutes and repeat three or four times. All of this will take about thirty minutes. Water will absorb better than ice. Within an hour switch to warm. Cool will help with swelling, but warmth is then needed to help with pain.

Also, most important is not to extend lower jaw forward. Keep lips together.
You can try this. Take a Kleenex tissue, not toilet paper and fold to a half/three quarters of an inch. Place in middle of mouth and let the sides of the tissue hang out on both sides. Don't bite on the tissue. Besides a running brook CD at whisper level ten to fifteen feet from my bed, I also use this tissue method for hyperacusis and it works. Turmeric Curcumin has many positives, but for me it increases both ear pain and hyperacusis.
 
One more question: I asked this before and/or someone else did:
If tinnitus severity is 9/10 say, is there a percentage probability or chance of it lowering? Is it only possible from these research treatments? Maybe it's less than 1? If mine has virtually no chance then I want to arrange my suicide period. I know of two methods and I am scared to but the tones/tinnitus is way too loud. I believe it is an ultra extreme case and I wish it was mild because I think it would be tolerable then. I don't understand why it's so loud and why so many tones.

I live in a noisy area. I don't know if that had anything to with it but I can't move and I can't wear plugs 24/7. The ear pain is daily and I don't want to endure this torture anymore. I want to make some arrangements before I go though. I am not on a timetable but I want to go soon.
My tinnitus was extremely loud at onset 1.5 years ago. It was absolutely hellish for 8 months. I could hear it over everything, even in the shower. Then I started to have days when it almost disappeared. It just happened one day that it sounded like it was gone. The next day it showed up again. Then at Christmas I had 3 mild days in a row. Then a pattern started to develop where I'd have 4 or 5 loud days then a quiet one. Eventually my tinnitus changed in pitch and tone becoming higher and thinner in sound, but still ugly. The good days just kept getting more frequent. Now I have a good day every 3 days. The first day is loud with hyperacusis, then it softens on the 2nd day, then mild on the third. Lately, it's been fluctuating every other day. It's been a very slow process, but I think I'm heading in the right direction. I thought I'd be stuck with what I started with forever. Don't give up hope yet. My tinnitus still sucks, but it's better than what it was. I lost both of my parents since my tinnitus onset, so it's been an extremely stressful year or so for me.
 
My mother suggests white noise generators for my hyperacusis, but I don't know... I'm scared it will worsen my hyperacusis further.
You should try... Mom has a point.

Michael Leigh believes strongly they have helped many people, so does the hyperacusis forum (have you visited)?

They are worth a shot. Lots of folks saying they helped. Can you get to Southern Florida University to try their new WNG and noise cancelling system?
 
My mother suggests white noise generators for my hyperacusis, but I don't know... I'm scared it will worsen my hyperacusis further.
Is your hyperacusis due to acoustic trauma? If it's pain hyperacusis my guess is that TRT would make it worse. I'd say protect your ears and stay in a quiet environment so hyperacusis has the chance to calm down. But ultimately it's your choice what to do.

Really sorry it has gotten worse for you :( I'll keep you in my thoughts.
 
Is your hyperacusis due to acoustic trauma? If it's pain hyperacusis my guess is that TRT would make it worse. I'd say protect your ears and stay in a quiet environment so hyperacusis has the chance to calm down. But ultimately it's your choice what to do.

Really sorry it has gotten worse for you :( I'll keep you in my thoughts.
Hyperacusis is so rare. It's an enigma sadly. It is truly debilitating as you know. I am sure TheDanishGirl is in quiet, this is why this condition is so burdensome. We are here for each other.

You, TDG, and everyone here are in my thoughts as well. I am on auto pilot mode now for my children (which is not easy, kids are noisy), but I do my best.

Hugs and best wishes to all, thanks for your support... I am here, for you and me.

Daniel
 
Believe me, I know. I don't want to be stuck in this hell for another day either. I spend my days in a soundproof cabin 'cause my H is so extreme. Haven't been outside for months. My life heavily relies on hyperacusis research. I do think, however, that they have already figured out a lot in regard to the underlying mechanisms of noise induced pain. It's just a shame that no trials are in progress right now. I have my hopes set on Fx-322; in theory, it could really help us.
Man, my heart goes out to you. That sounds terrible. I'm hoping that relief comes for you from somewhere very soon.
 
Depends what you mean by pain killers. I consider Percocet and Oxycodone as pain killers. NSAIDs, not so much. Is Gabapentin any good? My doctor prescribed that but I haven't picked it up from the pharmacy yet.
Only my personal opinion Pete, but Gabapentin is a horrid drug, just like benzos... I would not pick it up. @Chinmoku is having a lot of trouble with Pregabalin which belongs to the same family as Gabapentin...

I have also tried this drug, it caused my mood to plummet big time and gave me anxiety...
 
You should try... Mom has a point.

Michael Leigh believes strongly they have helped many people, so does the hyperacusis forum (have you visited)?

They are worth a shot. Lots of folks saying they helped. Can you get to Southern Florida University to try their new WNG and noise cancelling system?
No, I can't get to Florida.
 
Is your hyperacusis due to acoustic trauma? If it's pain hyperacusis my guess is that TRT would make it worse. I'd say protect your ears and stay in a quiet environment so hyperacusis has the chance to calm down. But ultimately it's your choice what to do.

Really sorry it has gotten worse for you :( I'll keep you in my thoughts.
It's pain hyperacusis, because of abusing my ears with headphones.
 
Only my personal opinion Pete, but Gabapentin is a horrid drug, just like benzos... I would not pick it up. @Chinmoku is having a lot of trouble with Pregabalin which belongs to the same family as Gabapentin...

I have also tried this drug, it caused my mood to plummet big time and gave me anxiety...
Yes @PeteJ, be careful with gabapentinoids. I'm stuck on pregabalin and can't get off it despite me suspecting it's contributing to my monster tinnitus. Even a very slow taper didn't work as I was hit by a host of horrid symptoms and tinnitus went off the charts.

Dr Shulmanin NY has a protocol for severe tinnitus cases based on gabapentin plus clonazepam, but it's very risky.
 
Only my personal opinion Pete, but Gabapentin is a horrid drug, just like benzos... I would not pick it up. @Chinmoku is having a lot of trouble with Pregabalin which belongs to the same family as Gabapentin...

I have also tried this drug, it caused my mood to plummet big time and gave me anxiety...
My mood is already down.

I would like to solve this ear pain and even hope it can be solved. Do you know how it is having loud tinnitus and extremely hear pain?

I suspect it isn't typical hyperacusis because it's not like identifiable noise causes it. Not that I can tell. Plus, the pain persists for days and days. The ear is mostly in pain but there is soreness in the joint also, below the ear and sometimes the cartilage has pain too. There is some fullness and a sensation in the ear that is not normal. I don't know how to describe it so I call it fullness. There's a bit of burning too.

I just wish someone could diagnose it but I am also scared that it's not treatable because it is always is in pain. It has subsided before but then the pain keeps returning. I can't remember how long the pain persists for and how long it usually is after the pain has subsided.

The tinnitus is bad enough that I have to suffer with my left ear in chronic pain too?!? It's not even a mild earache like pain. It's excruciating and NSAIDs don't do anything which is why I want something stronger.

This is unique and not normal, right?

I know hyperacusis causes ear pain but isn't it from each loud noise? Most people instantly know what sound or noise caused the pain because the pain appeared right after it happened?

Well, my left ear pain doesn't seem to be happening that way. The pain comes on and just persists. It lasts a long time and the pain is severe.
 
My tinnitus was extremely loud at onset 1.5 years ago. It was absolutely hellish for 8 months. I could hear it over everything, even in the shower. Then I started to have days when it almost disappeared. It just happened one day that it sounded like it was gone. The next day it showed up again. Then at Christmas I had 3 mild days in a row. Then a pattern started to develop where I'd have 4 or 5 loud days then a quiet one. Eventually my tinnitus changed in pitch and tone becoming higher and thinner in sound, but still ugly. The good days just kept getting more frequent. Now I have a good day every 3 days. The first day is loud with hyperacusis, then it softens on the 2nd day, then mild on the third. Lately, it's been fluctuating every other day. It's been a very slow process, but I think I'm heading in the right direction. I thought I'd be stuck with what I started with forever. Don't give up hope yet. My tinnitus still sucks, but it's better than what it was. I lost both of my parents since my tinnitus onset, so it's been an extremely stressful year or so for me.
Is your tinnitus somatic?
 
My mood is already down.

I would like to solve this ear pain and even hope it can be solved. Do you know how it is having loud tinnitus and extremely hear pain?

I suspect it isn't typical hyperacusis because it's not like identifiable noise causes it. Not that I can tell. Plus, the pain persists for days and days. The ear is mostly in pain but there is soreness in the joint also, below the ear and sometimes the cartilage has pain too. There is some fullness and a sensation in the ear that is not normal. I don't know how to describe it so I call it fullness. There's a bit of burning too.

I just wish someone could diagnose it but I am also scared that it's not treatable because it is always is in pain. It has subsided before but then the pain keeps returning. I can't remember how long the pain persists for and how long it usually is after the pain has subsided.

The tinnitus is bad enough that I have to suffer with my left ear in chronic pain too?!? It's not even a mild earache like pain. It's excruciating and NSAIDs don't do anything which is why I want something stronger.

This is unique and not normal, right?

I know hyperacusis causes ear pain but isn't it from each loud noise? Most people instantly know what sound or noise caused the pain because the pain appeared right after it happened?

Well, my left ear pain doesn't seem to be happening that way. The pain comes on and just persists. It lasts a long time and the pain is severe.
Gabapentin in theory works by reducing your nerves firing, so you feel less pain. However, it does that across the board and may have bad side effects. Also, when you stop the drug nerves may fire too much and you may end up worse for a while. Very risky
 
Gabapentin in theory works by reducing your nerves firing, so you feel less pain. However, it does that across the board and may have bad side effects. Also, when you stop the drug nerves may fire too much and you may end up worse for a while. Very risky

To someone with Tinnitus, use of prescription meds is like dancing on a mine field.
It's all a high stakes guessing game, which could end very badly.

I would try to avoid them, unless there was no other options left, since most of them are ototoxic to begin with.
 
I just can't take it anymore. I step outside onto my balcony where it's fairly quiet and instead of hearing gentle wind I hear a screeching overlay. I just can't do it anymore. I feel like I'm having a breakdown. I'm crying every day now.

Does anyone else have reactive to just wind?? How the hell do you cope? I can't even be outside, this is sending me into the darkest spiral I've ever had
 
Gabapentin in theory works by reducing your nerves firing, so you feel less pain. However, it does that across the board and may have bad side effects. Also, when you stop the drug nerves may fire too much and you may end up worse for a while. Very risky
I wish I knew what is going on!!!! I will off myself because of ear pain. My tinnitus fluctuated briefly some time around 5 pm.

But, the pain got worse tonight. Pain in the ear but also cheek bone near ear and bone of just behind the cartilage. What is this?!? :(:(
 

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