Re: Anyone experience mild ear pain during a spasm?

[Guest guest]

Is it a warm feeling in the ear and then slight pain? My spasms are gone

since surgery, but i have had some slight ear pain. I never thought it was

related to A....now I am wondering...

Connected by DROID on Verizon Wireless

Anyone experience mild " ear pain " during a spasm?

Hi...this is from Louisiana. I haven't posted in a few months

since my HM in April. I'm doing GREAT! I even got to eat at my

daughter's wedding [] !

I have a question:Before my HM (and sometimes now), every time I had an

esophageal spasm the pain would radiate to my ears! It's like a mild ear

pressure pain...a little worse than when you are in an airplane.

I tried to look this up in the Achalasia archives and the internet but I

don't see that it exists. Just curious....has anyone else with Achalasia

experienced this ear pain with or without a spasm?

Thanks!.... from Louisiana

[Guest guest]

Yes, I have definitely had this. It shoots straight up on both sides under my

ears. Because I'm often having some weird sinus drama, I thought it was related

to that for the longest time.

>

> Hi...this is from Louisiana. I haven't posted in a few months

> since my HM in April. I'm doing GREAT! I even got to eat at my

> daughter's wedding [] !

> I have a question:Before my HM (and sometimes now), every time I had an

> esophageal spasm the pain would radiate to my ears! It's like a mild ear

> pressure pain...a little worse than when you are in an airplane.

> I tried to look this up in the Achalasia archives and the internet but I

> don't see that it exists. Just curious....has anyone else with Achalasia

> experienced this ear pain with or without a spasm?

> Thanks!.... from Louisiana

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hey ! I'm not too far from you - I live just outside , MS, but I

was in Monroe for a while at ULM...met my husband there

I have had episodes of horrible spasms since the onset of my esophageal

problems. I don't recall noticing pain specifically in my ears, but I have had

pain radiating into my jaw. In fact, there have been a couple times where I felt

the pain in my jaw just before it started in my chest. Odd. If I can feel pain

radiating in my jaw, it seems possible that your pain could radiate up a bit

higher into your ears...

>

> Hi...this is from Louisiana. I haven't posted in a few months

> since my HM in April. I'm doing GREAT! I even got to eat at my

> daughter's wedding [] !

> I have a question:Before my HM (and sometimes now), every time I had an

> esophageal spasm the pain would radiate to my ears! It's like a mild ear

> pressure pain...a little worse than when you are in an airplane.

> I tried to look this up in the Achalasia archives and the internet but I

> don't see that it exists. Just curious....has anyone else with Achalasia

> experienced this ear pain with or without a spasm?

> Thanks!.... from Louisiana

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

YESSSS! That is a detail I forgot to mention....my inner ears get warm

and then the mild pain lasts for just about 30 seconds or less. One of

the other repliers to my message reminded me that it also starts just

before the spasm would come....that's how I knew I was getting ready to

have a spasm and I would hurry up and take the Levsin prescription to

catch it early...because if I didn't take the pill under my tongue fast

enough, the spasm could last up to half a day!

The ear pain is not too bothersome that I can't live with it....I was

just curious that since this is a " rare " disorder, could this possibly

be one of the symptoms that may be related to the disorder....and it

maybe hasn't been discovered yet....or was it just me that it was

happening to? Even though I haven't had a spasm in over a month, I still

get the strange ear sensation. Thank you SO much for

sharing........

>

> Is it a warm feeling in the ear and then slight pain? My spasms are

gone

> since surgery, but i have had some slight ear pain. I never thought

it was

> related to A....now I am wondering...

>

> Connected by DROID on Verizon Wireless

>

> Anyone experience mild " ear pain " during a spasm?

>

> Hi...this is from Louisiana. I haven't posted in a few months

> since my HM in April. I'm doing GREAT! I even got to eat at my

> daughter's wedding [] !

> I have a question:Before my HM (and sometimes now), every time I had

an

> esophageal spasm the pain would radiate to my ears! It's like a mild

ear

> pressure pain...a little worse than when you are in an airplane.

> I tried to look this up in the Achalasia archives and the internet but

I

> don't see that it exists. Just curious....has anyone else with

Achalasia

> experienced this ear pain with or without a spasm?

> Thanks!.... from Louisiana

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your response!

Did you ever find out if your ear pain " is " caused from your sinuses, or are you

thinking that it might be caused by Achalasia? Did you ask your Dr. about it?

......

> >

> > Hi...this is from Louisiana. I haven't posted in a few months

> > since my HM in April. I'm doing GREAT! I even got to eat at my

> > daughter's wedding [] !

> > I have a question:Before my HM (and sometimes now), every time I had an

> > esophageal spasm the pain would radiate to my ears! It's like a mild ear

> > pressure pain...a little worse than when you are in an airplane.

> > I tried to look this up in the Achalasia archives and the internet but I

> > don't see that it exists. Just curious....has anyone else with Achalasia

> > experienced this ear pain with or without a spasm?

> > Thanks!.... from Louisiana

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I get pain in the right side of my jaw up to the ear as a warning sign of

spasms. Maybe it is only the right side since I have TMJ. Nice to know other

people have strange symptoms too!

Pam, HM in 2008

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

[Guest guest]

I never did ask my doctor! I rarely have spasms anymore (had HM 12/2010), but

usually when I was having the ear pain I was also having the chest pain. (Isn't

this disease a riot?) It's been months since I've had any of the ear pain.

> > >

> > > Hi...this is from Louisiana. I haven't posted in a few months

> > > since my HM in April. I'm doing GREAT! I even got to eat at my

> > > daughter's wedding [] !

> > > I have a question:Before my HM (and sometimes now), every time I had an

> > > esophageal spasm the pain would radiate to my ears! It's like a mild ear

> > > pressure pain...a little worse than when you are in an airplane.

> > > I tried to look this up in the Achalasia archives and the internet but I

> > > don't see that it exists. Just curious....has anyone else with Achalasia

> > > experienced this ear pain with or without a spasm?

> > > Thanks!.... from Louisiana

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

I'm new to this group.  I am caregiver for my mentally-challenged sister who is

54. 

 

Beginning in 2006, she began having pain in her chest after she ate, when food

would feel like it was getting stuck.   She never got to the extreme condition

often described here of not being able to keep food down or even being able to

drink.  She had her esophagus stretched a couple times, botox injections (which

made her condition worse).  Due to the pain she experienced after eating, she

wouldn't want to eat and she lost 70 lbs. over the course of a year (she is

actually at an ideal weight now, but can't risk losing more). 

 

She was diagnosed with achalasia in 2008 and 10/08, she had an esophageal

myotomy with fundiplication surgery.  Since that time, she has had a severe,

dibilitating pain just below her sternum and sometimes 4 inches below her

sternum (doctors describe it as in the epigastric area).  She has suffered with

this pain for almost 4 years. 

 

I have taken her to numerous specialists (I would guess maybe 20) and some out

of state.  Some believed it could have been adhesions from the surgery or nerve

damage.  It was only within the past 3 months when we saw a new physician in our

winter home in Florida did I get an explanation that the pain is due to a

neurological syndrome which is the cause of her achalasia, irritable bowel

syndrome, and cardiomyopaty (enlarged heart).  The doctor said even though she

had the myotomy, this does not resolve her achalasia; she still has it and that

electrical impulses in her neurological system cause erratic spasms and don't

work properly.   

 

We have tried numerous approaches to ease her symptoms including Fentanyl pain

patches, pain meds, nerve block, alternative approaches including massage, Amega

wand, TENS, energy healing treatments, etc.  However, she still suffers with

this pain and has a low pain tolerance.  She cries a lot when she is in pain. 

 

Since she is mentally-challenged, she isn't able to effectively communicate the

level of pain or description of pain she has.  I believe it is sharp, and at

times it has been a pain level 9.  When she experiences her pain, she doesn't

want to eat because sometimes she does have pain afterwards, but again, it is in

her sternum area.  After a few minutes, it usually gets better after the food

moves down her digestive system.  Unfortunately, she is not a good chewer;

although we try to explain and teach her how to do this.  Her mentality is about

that of a 4 year old. 

Any suggestions, tips, or guidance would be most welcome.  I don't understand a

lot of the abbreviations yet, like what is an HM?  I'm wondering if when

has her pain, is she really experiencing spasms?  I have found that when she is

pain and sleeps a lot, it can go on for 3 or 4 days.  However, if I encourage

her to get up and get her out of the house and engaged, it can break the pain

cycle.  Because her brain is not normal, I wonder if her brain stays locked on

the pain sensation until it is distracted.   

I am persistent and determined to find relief for her.  She is a precious, sweet

person.  Everyone loves her and she is the joy of our lives.  We almost lost her

last fall when she was put under anesthesia for a heart MRI and she had a

cardiac arrest and it also happened when I took her to the University of

Illinois Hospital in Chicago to see specialists and she had a cardiac arrest

when they did an endoscopy.  Those were horrible experiences.  She deserves a

better quality of life and I won't give up trying to improve her condition. 

Kristy

[Guest guest]

Hi Kristy, welcome to the group. My condolences to you and your sister for the

horrible circumstances you both are going through. It is really unfortunate that

your sister cannot fully communicate what she is feeling!( My best friend's

daughter is autistic)

You will find a lot of support here and it does take a little while to figure

out the Achalasia " jargon " . I don't even have it all figured out...maybe there

is a dictionary in these archives? What I think I DO know is that HM means

" Heller Myotomy " . A specialized surgeon cuts the LES (lower esophageal

sphincter)which will allow food to pass through to the stomach. My HM was

followed by a partial " Fundoplication " (sometimes " Fundo " for short)I had this

surgery in April, 2012 and it was miraculous for me. I feel great. I have had

only 2 spasms since then.....yes, a spasm can last for a day or more. The best

way I could stop that from happening is to take LEVSIN prescription under my

tongue as soon as I felt the symptoms coming on. (like the ear pain that I

explained here). If I didn't take the pill soon enough, my spasm would last for

hours! Please check with your sister's doctor and see if this is a possible

medication for your sister. The pill tastes like peppermint, not bad at all.

Also..... " E " stands for Esophagus. " A " stands for Achalasia.

Anyone out there, please feel free to correct me, or give us some more

definitions of the Achalasia abbreviations. I would like to know also

....thanks,

>

> I'm new to this group.  I am caregiver for my mentally-challenged sister who

is 54. 

>  

> Beginning in 2006, she began having pain in her chest after she ate, when food

would feel like it was getting stuck.   She never got to the extreme condition

often described here of not being able to keep food down or even being able to

drink.  She had her esophagus stretched a couple times, botox injections (which

made her condition worse).  Due to the pain she experienced after eating, she

wouldn't want to eat and she lost 70 lbs. over the course of a year (she is

actually at an ideal weight now, but can't risk losing more). 

>  

> She was diagnosed with achalasia in 2008 and 10/08, she had an esophageal

myotomy with fundiplication surgery.  Since that time, she has had a severe,

dibilitating pain just below her sternum and sometimes 4 inches below her

sternum (doctors describe it as in the epigastric area).  She has suffered with

this pain for almost 4 years. 

>  

> I have taken her to numerous specialists (I would guess maybe 20) and some out

of state.  Some believed it could have been adhesions from the surgery or nerve

damage.  It was only within the past 3 months when we saw a new physician in our

winter home in Florida did I get an explanation that the pain is due to a

neurological syndrome which is the cause of her achalasia, irritable bowel

syndrome, and cardiomyopaty (enlarged heart).  The doctor said even though she

had the myotomy, this does not resolve her achalasia; she still has it and that

electrical impulses in her neurological system cause erratic spasms and don't

work properly.   

>  

> We have tried numerous approaches to ease her symptoms including Fentanyl pain

patches, pain meds, nerve block, alternative approaches including massage, Amega

wand, TENS, energy healing treatments, etc.  However, she still suffers with

this pain and has a low pain tolerance.  She cries a lot when she is in pain. 

>  

> Since she is mentally-challenged, she isn't able to effectively communicate

the level of pain or description of pain she has.  I believe it is sharp, and at

times it has been a pain level 9.  When she experiences her pain, she doesn't

want to eat because sometimes she does have pain afterwards, but again, it is in

her sternum area.  After a few minutes, it usually gets better after the food

moves down her digestive system.  Unfortunately, she is not a good chewer;

although we try to explain and teach her how to do this.  Her mentality is about

that of a 4 year old. 

>

> Any suggestions, tips, or guidance would be most welcome.  I don't understand

a lot of the abbreviations yet, like what is an HM?  I'm wondering if when

has her pain, is she really experiencing spasms?  I have found that when she is

pain and sleeps a lot, it can go on for 3 or 4 days.  However, if I encourage

her to get up and get her out of the house and engaged, it can break the pain

cycle.  Because her brain is not normal, I wonder if her brain stays locked on

the pain sensation until it is distracted.   

>

> I am persistent and determined to find relief for her.  She is a precious,

sweet person.  Everyone loves her and she is the joy of our lives.  We almost

lost her last fall when she was put under anesthesia for a heart MRI and she had

a cardiac arrest and it also happened when I took her to the University of

Illinois Hospital in Chicago to see specialists and she had a cardiac arrest

when they did an endoscopy.  Those were horrible experiences.  She deserves a

better quality of life and I won't give up trying to improve her condition. 

>

> Kristy

>

>

[Guest guest]

I haven't posted in a really, really long time either, but had to respond to the

ear pain question! My HM was done in Sept. 08 and still have spasms, just not

as often. When I have ear pain, it is on the right side and it usually means I'm

in for some of my most painful spasms. They usually start for no apparent reason

and last a long time. Not much I can do to lessen the pain either.

Sunny

------------------------------

On Fri, Jul 13, 2012 8:16 AM EDT Robin M wrote:

>I never did ask my doctor! I rarely have spasms anymore (had HM 12/2010), but

usually when I was having the ear pain I was also having the chest pain. (Isn't

this disease a riot?) It's been months since I've had any of the ear pain.

>

>

>> > >

>> > > Hi...this is from Louisiana. I haven't posted in a few months

>> > > since my HM in April. I'm doing GREAT! I even got to eat at my

>> > > daughter's wedding [] !

>> > > I have a question:Before my HM (and sometimes now), every time I had an

>> > > esophageal spasm the pain would radiate to my ears! It's like a mild ear

>> > > pressure pain...a little worse than when you are in an airplane.

>> > > I tried to look this up in the Achalasia archives and the internet but I

>> > > don't see that it exists. Just curious....has anyone else with Achalasia

>> > > experienced this ear pain with or without a spasm?

>> > > Thanks!.... from Louisiana

>> > >

>> > >

>> > >

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your response, Sunny! A few achalasians responded to my post and said

that they " have " experienced some kind of " pre-warning " ear or jaw pain just

before a spasm. On the internet...I couldn't find anything about this being

related to achalasia nor a spasm. Some people don't even realize that they have

or do experience this.

For me, it only lasts a few seconds, and even though I had my HM this past

April...I have only had 2 spasms since the surgery, but I still get that strange

mild ear pain almost every day without the spasm.(thankfully!!!)

I was just VERY curious to know if it possibly happened to other people with

Achalasia. I know for SURE my ear pain is related to A, because it happens

" every " time! Maybe someday they'll do a study and find out this may be one of

the symptoms of Achalasia....thanks again... from Louisiana

P.S......have your tried the prescription " Levsin " for the spasms? These really

helped relieve the spasms, or if I put it under my tongue as soon as I knew a

spasm was coming, it would stop the spasm completely!

> >> > >

> >> > > Hi...this is from Louisiana. I haven't posted in a few months

> >> > > since my HM in April. I'm doing GREAT! I even got to eat at my

> >> > > daughter's wedding [] !

> >> > > I have a question:Before my HM (and sometimes now), every time I had an

> >> > > esophageal spasm the pain would radiate to my ears! It's like a mild

ear

> >> > > pressure pain...a little worse than when you are in an airplane.

> >> > > I tried to look this up in the Achalasia archives and the internet but

I

> >> > > don't see that it exists. Just curious....has anyone else with

Achalasia

> >> > > experienced this ear pain with or without a spasm?

> >> > > Thanks!.... from Louisiana

> >> > >

> >> > >

> >> > >

[Guest guest]

On 7/14/2012 11:52 AM, wrote:

>

> ... On the internet...I couldn't find anything about this being

> related to achalasia nor a spasm.

>

The thing to search for besides " spasms " is NCCP (Non-Cardiac Chest

Pain). The spasms from achalasia often are felt in the chest. Pain from

achalasia in the chest may be from other causes, such as neuropathy,

esophagitis, distention, irritation, heartburn and others, not just

spasms. NCCP covers it all. All of these NCCPs can cause intense pain

which can mimic heart attacks and " radiate " pain to other locations,

such as the back, jaw and ears. Much of the body shares neural pathways

such as the vagus nerve. Pain in one area on the pathway can be confused

and seem to come from another location. It is unlikely anything is

actually happening at your ears it just feels like it is.

Sometimes people get upset because our doctors don't know anything about

achalasia, but cardiologists generally do, because esophageal motility

disorders like achalasia are among the things they have to rule out when

people come in with chest pain thinking it is a heart attack.

In achalasia esophageal connections to the vagus nerve are damaged and

the signals from them are already a source of neural confusion so if it

can be confused anyway it shouldn't be surprising that we have these

strange effects. Here are some links about pain from along the vagus.

They are not related to achalasia but it would work the same at the

esophagus as it does at other points along the vagus.

Vagus nerve pain referred to the craniofacial region. A case report and

literature review with implications for referred cardiac pain.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18297020

" A case is presented here that reports that electrical stimulation of a

cardiac branch of the left vagus nerve in humans can cause referred

craniofacial pain. "

Toothache referred from heart disease and lung cancer via the vagus nerve.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20129877

" Current medical reports suggest that in addition to coronary disease,

thoracic disorders such as aortic dissection, pericarditis, and lung

cancer can cause referred craniofacial pain. "

Quality difference in craniofacial pain of cardiac vs. dental origin.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20448243

" The pain descriptors " pressure " and " burning " were statistically

associated with pain from cardiac origin, while " throbbing " and " aching "

indicated an odontogenic cause. "

notan

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Notan, for this information! This is definitely the kind of

information that I was looking for, but after many hours of searching I never

ran across anything about the " vagus nerve " . I knew about the NCCP's, but This

is interesting. I am definitely going to look up the links that you attached.

Thanks again for taking your time to email this post....

> >

> > ... On the internet...I couldn't find anything about this being

> > related to achalasia nor a spasm.

> >

>

> The thing to search for besides " spasms " is NCCP (Non-Cardiac Chest

> Pain). The spasms from achalasia often are felt in the chest. Pain from

> achalasia in the chest may be from other causes, such as neuropathy,

> esophagitis, distention, irritation, heartburn and others, not just

> spasms. NCCP covers it all. All of these NCCPs can cause intense pain

> which can mimic heart attacks and " radiate " pain to other locations,

> such as the back, jaw and ears. Much of the body shares neural pathways

> such as the vagus nerve. Pain in one area on the pathway can be confused

> and seem to come from another location. It is unlikely anything is

> actually happening at your ears it just feels like it is.

>

> Sometimes people get upset because our doctors don't know anything about

> achalasia, but cardiologists generally do, because esophageal motility

> disorders like achalasia are among the things they have to rule out when

> people come in with chest pain thinking it is a heart attack.

>

> In achalasia esophageal connections to the vagus nerve are damaged and

> the signals from them are already a source of neural confusion so if it

> can be confused anyway it shouldn't be surprising that we have these

> strange effects. Here are some links about pain from along the vagus.

> They are not related to achalasia but it would work the same at the

> esophagus as it does at other points along the vagus.

>

> Vagus nerve pain referred to the craniofacial region. A case report and

> literature review with implications for referred cardiac pain.

> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18297020

> " A case is presented here that reports that electrical stimulation of a

> cardiac branch of the left vagus nerve in humans can cause referred

> craniofacial pain. "

>

> Toothache referred from heart disease and lung cancer via the vagus nerve.

> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20129877

> " Current medical reports suggest that in addition to coronary disease,

> thoracic disorders such as aortic dissection, pericarditis, and lung

> cancer can cause referred craniofacial pain. "

>

> Quality difference in craniofacial pain of cardiac vs. dental origin.

> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20448243

> " The pain descriptors " pressure " and " burning " were statistically

> associated with pain from cardiac origin, while " throbbing " and " aching "

> indicated an odontogenic cause. "

>

> notan

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

On 7/15/2012 7:02 AM, wrote:

>

> Thank you, Notan, for this information! This is definitely the kind of

> information that I was looking for, but after many hours of searching

> I never ran across anything about the " vagus nerve " . I knew about the

> NCCP's, but This is interesting. I am definitely going to look up the

> links that you attached. Thanks again for taking your time to email

> this post....

>

You won't find much at those links, just abstracts, but they do point to

the concept here that NCCPs, such as spasm, can produce sensations that

are simply misinterpretations by the brain/mind of neurological signals

that are produced by a different part of the body than it feels like.

The topic is broader than just the vagus nerve. Organs like the heart

and esophagus also have closely related neural pathways that go to the

spine (the vagus is not a spinal nerve). It is also a problem of what

the brain does with the signals. If you don't mind a technical paper

here is one about brain imaging experiments that have been done dealing

with visceral pain and functional gastrointestinal disorders. It offers

few certainties but provokes a lot of ideas and has a lot of reference

you can link to.

Brain imaging and functional gastrointestinal disorders: has it helped

our understanding?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1774137

You may also find the following interesting, though it has nothing to do

with achalasia.

Cardiac Vagal Control in Non-Medicated Depressed Women and Non-Depressed

Controls:

Impact of Depression Status, Lifetime Trauma History and Respiratory Factors

" http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3090496 "

All this gets into not just how pain can crossover from the source to

another point in the body, but also how brain activity related to pain

can crossover into emotions and emotion into pain. Those that have been

long-term members here probably remember discussions about the vagus

nerve and achalasia symptoms and how they are associated with

depression, mood and stress, both as triggers and effects. It would seem

that our states of mind are not only effected by achalasia and NCCPs but

also that our states of mind can effect our perception of achalasia

symptoms and NCCPs. I think that beyond that some things like ear

sensation can be predictive of NCCPs, as some of you have experience.

The ear, jaw, teeth sensations are caused by the source that will also

cause the NCCP but can precede the feeling of the NCCP. Likewise, I

suspect that mood may also be predictive of achalasia symptoms not just

NCCPs. One of the ways I can tell things are worse in my esophagus than

normal is that I experience a very dark troubling state of mind just

before crossing over into sleep. Often it is predictive of trouble

choking while sleeping. This was more of a problem before my myotomy but

I do on occasion still have this " nocturnal panic attack " (I don't

personally think of it as panic) and the choking that follows,

especially if I eat too late. I don't know of any papers about achalasia

that show this. There is however the symptom of impending doom that is

associated with heart attacks. This is suppose to be one of the symptoms

that distinguishes heart attack from other pain sources. I wonder though

if esophageal stimuli, being so closely related neurologically to heart

sensations, could also trigger such mood effects not just while one

feels them but also as a predictor before feeling them in much the same

way neurologically as the heart produces a feeling of doom.

notan