extreme ear pain & other odd symptoms

[Dadkins]

unrelated or not, i began having severe ear aches 10 years ago. they begin as a dull ache in the left ear and travel to the left eye and nose. each MD visit rules out fluid or ear infection, but the pain last for days. my eyes are light sensitive and vision gets blurred. these symptoms began to happen more frequently and last longer. i have had meds, surgery, multiple diagnosis but no relief. 2 years ago i woke up with swollen, painful lips. it looked as if sores were begining to outline my lips...not an allergy, sun or wind burn. it is now a prelude to the ear/facial pain. after two years of this on and off a doctor gave me zovirax. it cleared my lips immediately and haven't had a headache since i started it in september. he has no explaination for this. each time i stop this very expensive med, i flare up. what could it be?

i also stay fatigued, have slurred speech and an occasional shooting pain in the left shoulder and neck. it usually radiates down, but on one occasion i had pain that went from the base of my skull to behind my left ear aproxiamtley every 20 mins for three days. i was unable to sleep during that time because when i would lay down the pains came every 3 to 5 seconds. finally on the third day i had a seizure. an ER visit and MRI revealed NOTHING! this is just some of my symptoms..there are more such as skin, not muscle, twitches in my face, eyes, thighs.

i have 2 older sisters with MS. possible connection?

[Tootsie]

Have you ever had any open sores that could be cultured? Usually, the pain from a herpes zoster infection travels along the course of the nerve, even though nothing is seen on the skin at the time. Lesions break out, after the pain is established. Since the zovirac seemed to help, I wonder if you have some kind of herpes virus. Check this out with your doctors.

Stress would make herpes infections worse. How is your stress level? What kind of doctors have you seen? If you think herpes pertinent, ask to see an Infectious Disease specialist. Cheerio.

[Dadkins]

thanks for your reply. i do not get sores per se. i would describe it more as swelling, redness...my husband says i look like i kissed a hot iron. the lips must be related to the pain though since the med takes care of that to. i have seen dentists/oral surgeon for TN, neuro x5, pcp x4, ENT x2, endocrine x4. i have had stress, but this is a problem ALL the time. my husband thinks it's worse around my period.

i have another neuro appt on monday

[painfree3]

unrelated or not, i began having severe ear aches 10 years ago. they begin as a dull ache in the left ear and travel to the left eye and nose. each MD visit rules out fluid or ear infection, but the pain last for days. my eyes are light sensitive and vision gets blurred. these symptoms began to happen more frequently and last longer. i have had meds, surgery, multiple diagnosis but no relief. 2 years ago i woke up with swollen, painful lips. it looked as if sores were begining to outline my lips...not an allergy, sun or wind burn. it is now a prelude to the ear/facial pain. after two years of this on and off a doctor gave me zovirax. it cleared my lips immediately and haven't had a headache since i started it in september. he has no explaination for this. each time i stop this very expensive med, i flare up. what could it be?

i also stay fatigued, have slurred speech and an occasional shooting pain in the left shoulder and neck. it usually radiates down, but on one occasion i had pain that went from the base of my skull to behind my left ear aproxiamtley every 20 mins for three days. i was unable to sleep during that time because when i would lay down the pains came every 3 to 5 seconds. finally on the third day i had a seizure. an ER visit and MRI revealed NOTHING! this is just some of my symptoms..there are more such as skin, not muscle, twitches in my face, eyes, thighs.

i have 2 older sisters with MS. possible connection?

Your ear, face, headache pain can be the result of Myofascial trigger points in the Sternocleidomastoid muscle(s) in the neck and a long shot from the Soleus muscle in your clalf .
Read about it at:
http://www.round-earth.com/HeadPainIntro.html

[mlsteven]

Herpes is not always a sore. I had a rash (my lips were swollen, red, and burned like crazy!) on my lips; it was herpes.

Wish I had known before my sister drank out of the same glass I did.