My daughter has been complaining about her ears hurting and headaches, on and off since January. We have been to the doctor several times and sometimes weekly and she never has an ear infection. Her last ear infection was in December. The first Tympanogram that was done showed possible fluid in the ears. We tried Nasonex and switching up her allergy medicine and nothing has worked. We have since been to the doctor several times and had 3 other Tympanograms done. The last two were normal, but my daughter is still complaining about her ears and her head.
We finally saw the ENT yesterday, but he said that everything looks fine and that there is nothing more he can help us with. We left there very frustrated, I don't want there to be anything wrong, but we need answers. Something is wrong and I need to help my baby. I have been searching endlessly for anything that could be causing her ear pain and headaches, I don't know what else to do. I will be speaking with her pediatrician today to see what she says.
Has anyone ever dealt with something like this?
My BIL is a dentist. He sees a lot of people who thought they had ear infections and it was a dental issue. ANd vice versa. People come to him with what they believe to be a dental issue and it's an ear infection. Just something else to investigate.
I have been dealing with ear issues for over three months...just learned two weeks ago it is a fungal infection. MY regular doc found it when my ENT dismissed me too.
Have you considered going to a chiropractor? Find one that specializes in treating children. Perhaps there is some type of alignment problem that is causing her ears to hurt. Has anyone taken X-rays to see the alignment of the ear canal and the eustachian tube? I was very surprised when I visited a chiropractor for my back and ended up getting a lot of relief on my ears. I used to think they were congested all the time and I felt a lot of pressure in my ears and had some problems hearing. When they adjusted my neck and showed me how to do some neck exercises, I had wonderful improvement in my ears and hearing. Good luck!
It might be time to see an allergist. I would get her tested ASAP to find out if this IS allergies (it might not be - so rule out allergies first) and if so, what exactly she's allergic to. Just because she's on allergy meds does not mean they are the right meds targeting the right allergens.
If she's been diagnosed by the pediatrician with having "seasonal allergies" (namely, seasonal plant pollens), I'd get her to an allergist for a more complete and detailed diagnosis, since clearly the current allergy meds aren't working.
If it turns out she has no allergies beyond what the current meds affect, then at least you have ruled out allergies. If that's the case, it would be time to move on quickly to another specialist. I would consider a specialist who focuses on headaches -- does she have migraine-type headaches? Do things like light or noise set them off? A pediatric neurologist could be the next stop.
I say this on questions here a lot: Be assertive with her pediatrician and just insist on a referral ASAP to an allergist, and then if needed to another specialist. You have to be quite assertive with many doctors who may dismiss things as just "a kid who thinks she's having headaches" or "it's just allergies." You know your child best. If you think this is really something, then don't ASK for a referral, TELL the doctor: "It's time for us to see a specialist. I am asking for a referral by the end of the day for an allergist so we can get an appointment ASAP." Some doctors are very hesitant to refer patients to specialists because the doctors think it makes them look bad, or the doctors get flak from insurance firms about doing referrals, or both. Don't let that get in your way. Just say, you want a referral now.
Research Hypercusis.
Don't know how old your daughter is but my severe ear pain was my wisdom teeth. I was in the eleven to twelve age range. I had to get them removed they were pressing on the nerves that went by my ears.
Does a heating pad help to relieve the pain?
I get headaches when the weather changes rapidly - 40 degree jumps up or down in temp, big weather front moving through, etc.
Sometimes Excedrin Migraine helps and sometimes it doesn't.
In the spring and fall I seem to have a day when i just want to stay in bed with a heating pad on my head/face/ears.
But then it goes away and I'm fine.
This winter has been horrible with the yoyo weather extremes.
Additional:
If she has fluid behind her eardrums, never giver her a decongestant - it only makes the fluid thicker and harder to flow out.
Instead try her on Mucinex or another expectorant (and haver her drink lot's of water) - it helps keep the fluid thinned out and better able to flow out.
Did they do and MRI and look at the overall picture?
Have you had allergy testing done? I know that if I eat chocolate and bananas that messes with my sinuses and it hurts. It could be a food sensitivity, combined with the weather.
School/desk set up with computer work could help cause pain. If she is not set up in the correct ergonomic position.
The next thing I would try would be an NSAID and a decongestant, both work better when used in conjunction with an antihistimine.
I also suggest a chiropractor.
What about a natural anti-inflammatory and immune system booster? A friend of mine had 3 daughters with allergies, asthma and ear problems. She avoided all the subsequent ear infections, avoided tubes in the 3rd one, and got the older 2 off nebulizers and meds. I'd be concerned with so many medications and tests in a young baby and would try something else especially with allergy season on its way. I also had endless allergy problems and headaches as an adult, and am now off all meds.
See a dentist as well and let them know about the pain.
This may be neurological pain, for example, neuralgia. While it is not common in young children, it does happen. I am not suggesting this is the diagnosis, only that when one route (ENT) doesn't work, it's best to investigate another cause. My recommendation is that you discuss a consultation with a pediatric neurologist. All my best.
I have the same thing...headaches and ear pain. Look up trigger points and there pain referral locations. Maybe this can explain where the headache ear aches are. I would suggest massage, heat packs, chiropractor. Stress is often a factor...meaning that is where we hold our stress. Or she may be out of alignment. I second the dentist opinion too...that could be it.
Just a shot here. It could be possible she has food allergies that make her ears feel stuffy and crackly. I hVe been seeing a ENT for years. He put me on allergy shots for the last three years. He is a surgeon so he is very quick and doesn't spend enough time with me. I'm still having several symptoms that don't make sense to me. My asthma gets unbearable every time I get a cold/ sinus infection. I just went to see a asthma/ allergy specialist at an allergy clinic and he diagnosed me in 20 mins with an aspirin sensitivity condition. He related all my symptoms and it is exactly what Ai am reading in everything I look up online. You may need another opinion. Does your daughters mouth throat or tongue get itchy from any particular foods? Apples come from birch trees. Banannas from ragweed. Some foods cause the stiffness and stuffiness. I read under my condition that there are certain foods to stay away from that bring on the sinus like reactions. I wish Iwould have seen this allergy dr sooner. He knew so much! He did breathing tests on me and realize I am severely congested after being on prednisone and 3 weeks of an antibiotic that wasn't doing anything for me and says the allergy injections I've been getting for 3 years aren't going to work and I should stop. Please get another opinion from an allergy dr.
