What Causes Worsening Of Ear Blockage, Pain, And Positional Vertigo Post Turbinate Bone Removal For Treating Ear Blockage?

Posted on Tue, 23 Oct 2018

Question: Hi, 6 months ago I had turbinate bone removed from my nose, the doc thought it was causing my ears to be blocked and said the scarring of the tissue should open up the ear tubes but could take up to a year. My nose is healed and working properly again can blow it normally now and breathe through it better. But my ears are still blocked far worse than ever since the op and now I'm getting what I think is positional vertigo it's just contast ear blockage , pain and pressure , and dizzy spells , I don't know if dizzy spells are part of the ear blockage or a separate issue , but the ENT docs have done all the tests and everything appear normal , have had ct scan, MRI scan, blood tests, hearing test and ear pressure test to check how the ear tubes are working and all appear normal. Why have I still all these problems , its just a miserable life , rarely out of the house, can't travel, can't walk to far . The docs won't do anymore for me as they see nothing wrong , I should not be like this after all this time , any ideas as to what else could be the problem this is not normal , and I've had enough of it can't cope anymore with the pain and miseray

Answered by Dr. Noble Zachariah (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:

Discussion follows.

Detailed Answer:

Hello!

Welcome and thanks for your query.

There is a connection (Eustachian tube) between the nose and the middle ear. Any blockage of this tube leads to ear blockade, pain and may even cause some dizzy feeling.

You can try the following:

1. A steroid nasal spray, and anti histamine tablets
2. Repeated swallowing with closed nose and mouth (The Toynbee Manoeuvre) would help open up the passage if there is no damage through scarring or stricture.
3. Also try Betahistine to reduce the giddiness if any.

Hope my answer is helpful. Do get back to me if you have further queries.

Take care,

Dr. Noble Zachariah,
Internal Medicine Specialist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Noble Zachariah (43 hours later)

Thanks for your reply , the doctors won't give me any sprays or tablets they say theres nothing to see that is wrong, so im just left to feel miserable , why are my ears so blocked even more so since the operation, before the operation had normish kind of life now I'm just stuck in house all the time complete miserary and depressing , there must be something wrong

Answered by Dr. Noble Zachariah (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:

Discussion continued.

Detailed Answer:

Hello and welcome back!

I am sorry to note your state of affairs.

See if you can get these OTC:

1. Otrivin nasal spray. You have to spray this twice a day.

Tilt your face to the side where you had the operation. Spray into the nose aimed at the opening of the eustachian tube i.e. away from the bridge of the nose with your opposite side had and breath is closing the nostril where you did not have the surgery.

2. An antihistamine like Desloratadine or any other you can get as OTC also is to be used.

Keep doing the Toynbee manoeuvre I had mentioned before and I hope you will be able to open up the eustachian tube which will normalise the pressure in your middle ear and give you relief.

Hope I have answered your query.

Best wishes and regards,

Dr. Noble Zachariah,
Internal Medicine Specialist

Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar