What Causes Sudden Onset Of Ear Pain?

Posted on Mon, 20 Apr 2015

Question: Question about onset of ear pain on right side of head extending down my neck and up to the base of skull ..

As of late my eye has been unfocused, I can barely hear other than a whooshing sound, been nauseous, way, way off balance, and now sagging of my right mouth ..

Must say I have lived with dx of MS for 14 yrs. Last MRI shows a benign tumor inside the Cerebral fluid plus possibly something on spine but no cause for the neurologist to chck further ..

That was Aug. 2014 .. The previous Aug. 2013 had flare old lesions with much inflammation .. More recent relapse 02\2014 ..

Thank you

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
ENT consult, assess for M.S relapse

Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome

I appreciate your concern

The ear pain most likely suggests an infection and would be appropriate if an ENT doctor has a look with an ottoscope to look for an inflamed tympanic membrane or a discharge and prescribe antibiotics accordingly. Audiometery can be advised and hearing loss assessed in the same setting.

As you have been living with M.S for 14 years you would know that its a relapsing remitting disease. For the acute relapses corticosteroids and plasmapheresis are the two options that are utilized. Recently Alemtuzumab has been approved by FDA for M.S patients having more frequent relapse attacks. The balance issues along with nausea and focal neurological deficits like drooping or sagging of the mouth should prompt for assessing a relapse in consult with your neurologist. Blood pressure should be checked along with fundoscopy as part of the workup.

wishing you best of health

thanks

Please consult your doctor before deciding on any further course of action.

Dr. M.S Khalil

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj