A 30-year-old member asked:
last night my ear felt stopped up and i heard nothing for a minute, and then i got a dull pain?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Joseph De Santi answered
Family Medicine 29 years experience
Clear the Ear: It's not unusual to experience pressure differentials in the ear when we swallow. The eustachian tube functions to control this process. If the pressure in the middle ear is too high and doesn't equalize with ambient pressure then the drum doesn't move properly and sound will not be transmitted effectively. The dull pain was likely due to the distention of the drum and will subside with time.
5786 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Gerry Tolbert answered
Family Medicine 13 years experience
Get It Checked: It's possible this was just pressure equalizing in the middle ear, but there's also a chance you ruptured your eardrum (tympanic membrane). It would be best to have it evaluated by a trained professional, since in rare cases it can lead to hearing loss or balance problems. In the meantime, if it hurts, you can use a cotton ball in your outer ear (don't shove it in he canal) and use ibuprofen.
5758 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
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Last updated Sep 28, 2016
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