The pain can be on one side or both. A common cause of ear pain is TMJ disorder. TMJ is an acronym for the temporomandibular joint, commonly known as the joint where skull and jaw bone meet.
Patients can experience ear pain or clogged ears that they might pass off as an ear infection or allergies but is actually from TMD. TMD can also cause tinnitus (ringing in the ears from nerve irritation). If your ears regularly have pain, stuffiness, or ringing, it's best to get examined for TMJ.
TMJ disorders can result in a sensation of pressure or fullness in the ear, as well as other conditions such as tinnitus (ringing in the ears). The causes may include nerve irritation and changes at the base of the skull, or dysfunction in the muscles of the neck associated with TMD.
Taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain relievers, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, can help relieve TMJ-related ear pain. If the pain is severe enough, a doctor may prescribe muscle relaxers. Applying a warm compress to the jaw can also provide relief.
The TMJ is adjacent to the ear, so swelling and inflammation often has a direct effect on the ear/s. Inflammation can cause blocked Eustachian tubes, and if the fluid in these tubes cannot drain properly, hearing is almost always affected (stuffiness, clogging, pain and/or hearing loss).
The course of aural fullness was between 2 days to 2 months.
1 Symptoms of TMJ disorder-related hearing loss include: Muffled/decreased hearing. Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Ear pain.
EUSTACHIAN TUBE BLOCKAGE can be caused by an inflamed TMJ or sustained increase in resting tonus of the tensor veli palatini muscle. The eustachian tubes pass just behind the TMJs, where increased fluid pressure from TMJ inflammation can push them closed.
Eustachian tube massage
Using firm, steady pressure, slide your finger down until you feel a groove between your ear lobe and jaw. Trace that groove all the way down your neck to your collarbone using the same firm pressure. Repeat this process three times on each side, three times a day.
Factors That Can Trigger a Flare-up
Injury or trauma to the jaw can most certainly cause painful symptoms to begin. Other triggers that may bring on a TMJ flare-up include dehydration, vitamin D deficiency, changes in hormone levels and even poor posture that causes tension on the TMJ and other facial structures.
TMJ-related jaw pain can be felt at the temples and it may extend all the way down to the sides of the upper jaw and beyond. Sometimes instead of pain, patients experience a feeling of discomfort, often described as feeling as if their jaw is out of alignment.
Symptoms typically present as swelling, erythema, pain, tenderness, and limited range of motion of the TMJ. Many patients may misidentify it as ipsilateral earache or temporal headache due to anatomical proximity. Pain may be worse at night if bruxism is present, and may wake the patient from sleep.
A dentist can help in diagnosing your TMJ disorder, and may also refer you to a physician or a specialist dentist for further diagnosis. Because TMJ can be caused by tooth and jaw alignment problems, there are dental treatments that may help.
Problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can cause a wide range of symptoms, including, most prominently, ear and jaw pain. Some people also get headaches, eye pain, and even sinus pressure. Several conditions and factors can cause TMJ pain, including: grinding the teeth.
In a condition called mastoiditis, undiagnosed ear infections may spread to other parts of the body as well. As the infection spreads, the person might encounter massive swelling and pain near the ear and jaw on one side.
The muscles that surround the temporo-mandibular joint and the fascia and ligaments that hold the bones in place are intricately connected with the ear and the nerve that supports the ear. Frequently the pain (in one ear or both) has persisted for several weeks and may even come and go.
Allergies, head colds, pregnancy, and air pressure are some common reasons it may feel like your ears are full. Typically, plugged ears settle after a few days. Decongestants and nasal sprays are the best treatment for plugged ears that allergies and head colds cause.
Fluid often builds up inside the ear during a cold or allergies. Usually the fluid drains away, but sometimes a small tube in the ear, called the eustachian tube, stays blocked for months. Symptoms of fluid buildup may include: Popping, ringing, or a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear.
About 33% of patients with a TMJ disorder describe muffled, clogged, or full ears. They may notice ear fullness and pain during airplane takeoffs and landings. These symptoms are usually caused by eustachian-tube dysfunction, the structure responsible for the regulation of pressure in the middle ear.
She says the link between ETD and TMJD is not surprising at all. “Because the temporomandibular joint is so close to the ears, it isn't surprising that it could irritate the eustachian tubes,” she says. According to George, ETD isn't the only condition of the ears that TMJD frequently suffers from, either.
Blocked eustachian tubes can be relieved by nasal sprays and antihistamine tablets, which reduce inflammation and congestion. Recurrent eustachian tube dysfunction requires the surgical placement of tubes in the eardrum, which allows pressure to equalize in the middle ear.
Because the temporomandibular joint is located so close to the ear, inflammation in these muscles can block the Eustachian tubes and make it more difficult to hear. Without treatment, more severe hearing problems and ear damage may happen.
If your TMJ does not work properly, it can cause tinnitus (a ringing of the ears), ear pain, or a sensation of fullness in your ears. TMJ inflammation can also throw off the sensors in your ear that help you stay balanced, leading to the dizzying or spinning sensation that we know as vertigo.
When TMJ affects the eyes, the symptoms can include pressure that builds behind the eye sockets. Some people may also experience blurry vision. TMJ often causes tension headaches, which can contribute to blurry vision and pressure behind the eyes. Sufferers can also have pain around their eyes due to TMJ.