Suffering from Labyrinthitis (Vestibular Problem)

[Amish RakeFight]

One more question:


How does one typically get this? Are some more prone than others or is it induced by a medicine, diet, or some contagion?

Were you told or had you figured out where this might have come from? It's hard to think it transmits like a common cold, but who knows.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Another thing you might look into, and i'm going to see a specialist tomorrow about it is TMJ. I never thought that a jaw problem could cause these symptoms, but a fellow pilot told me his story about going through the same thing i am and it turned out to be TMJ. The joint is located millimeters from your inner ear so if it gets inflammed, it causes all sorts of problems for your ear - dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus, nausea, bad headaches, - all the same symptoms for a vestibular nuerotitis.

I once had heard that if you apply reverse pressure from the underside of your jaw while attempting to gently and slowly open the jaw helps reseat the jaw discs. This actually seemed to help and the hearing seemed to improve in my right ear. I definately have some TMJ going on. There's a lot fo clicking and when I perform that expercise, it feels like I'm snapping something into place.

Let me know what came of the TMJ story. Like I said earlier, Ive been told I grind my teeth at night and that it predominantly affects males. I just refuse to wear a mouth guard at night.

 

[TV9Driver]

It looks like I have TMJ issues. The doc did an EMG test (kind of like an EKG but they put sensors on the muscles around your jaw and face) and it showed that the muscle behind my right ear (my problem ear) was not relaxing and having problems.

Now I just have to figure out a way to pay for this. Apparently medical insurance doesn't cover TMJ, so i'm not sure what to do.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

I too may have a TMJ issue as well. When I move my jaw up and down, the jaw shifts left and right slightly. I'm almost certain I have worn away my TMJ. Look into your bite. I've had a lower aft tooth removed, which coupled with teeth grinding, can create an imbalance in your bite leading to further TMJ destruction.

It's surprising that TMJ isn't covered by insurance. An operation may be involved with TMJ if the discs are worn enough. You should also look into getting a night guard for sleeping. This is supposed to prevent TMJ smyptoms as the grinding takes place unconciosuly in your sleep.

At this point, I may have a TMJ issue, Labyrinthitis or god knows. Hopefully, the ENT will make an accurate call next week.

Thanks again for sharing the info. Please feel free to add any additional insight you've gained through any of this. I'll do the same. I know there must be more out ther suffering from these ailments, but are going undiagnosed.

 

[TV9Driver]

If you explore the TMJ thing, definitely go to a dentist who practices neuromuscular dentistry and not just a regular dentist who treats TMJ. A NM dentist uses a few specific tests (EMG, TENS, K7) to find out where the problem is exactly and can precisely tune your bite and occlusion. A regular dentist will just give you a mouthpiece to wear - and an incorrect mouthpiece can do more damage than good.

That is what i've learned so far. I have another appointment on Tuesday for a second opinion. I'll let you know what I find out.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Update:

So I went to the ENT earlier today and was told that I most likely don't have Labyrinthitis or the calcium rock thing (Benno something or another). My hearing and ear pressure are fine based upon several hearing tests administered. My hearing is actually better than I had actually thought.

However, the Doctor feels I do have an eustachian tube blockage issue. It appears that the sensation I'm feeling is fullness in the ear, which seems to mimic Labyrinthitis in symptoms. The pressure sensation leaves you feeling imbalanced and a bit anxious. He's given me some prescription Nasonex to help with it, although he has scheduled further "balance" testing in a few weeks. The test takes a little over an hour long and it'll confirm whether I have any lingering balance issues with my inner ear. Hopefully the Nasonex which I'll have to use for 1 month straight will alleviate any symptoms.

Anyway, thanks for the info. TV9. Hopefully there are others out there who may be able to benefit from some of the discussion here.