Ear pain during tx is intensifying..

cureitall66
cureitall66 Member Posts: 913
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Has anyone experienced ear pain (sometimes both) during tx? He had some pain before even starting tx and now it's getting worse. Mostly effects the side that is getting radiation. It hurts so bad when he has to cough up the mucus, he plugs both his ears to help with the pain. He's mentioned this to the team at the hospital and they don't seem to be to concerned about it. Apparently it's from the nerves? He has just started Methodone (nerve blocker) that is intended to help with his swallowing ability. Wondering if this will help with the ears as well?

Comments

  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #2
    I Had It, Too
    Was told it had something to do with damage and swelling.

    Still have ear pain from time to time. Whenever I eat food that's spicy, one or both ears hurt. Usually it's just the ear on the side most aggressively treated.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #3
    ENT
    Hi Cris...

    Has he communicated any with his ENT on this?

    While not uncommon (especially during rads), it's always a good idea to keep all of his MD's up to speed.

    My team was led by my ENT, he is still my lead. Though I have been released from everyone else other than semi-annual blood tests and scans that my Onco still takes care of.

    Best,
    John
  • cureitall66
    cureitall66 Member Posts: 913
    #4
    Skiffin16 said:

    ENT
    Hi Cris...

    Has he communicated any with his ENT on this?

    While not uncommon (especially during rads), it's always a good idea to keep all of his MD's up to speed.

    My team was led by my ENT, he is still my lead. Though I have been released from everyone else other than semi-annual blood tests and scans that my Onco still takes care of.

    Best,
    John

    He reports....
    to his Rad/Onc weekly along with working with his NP each week with needs/scripts/meds. My understanding is that the ENT oversees everything, though he does not speak with her on a scheduled basis during treatment.
  • katenorwood
    katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
    #5
    cureitall66 said:

    He reports....
    to his Rad/Onc weekly along with working with his NP each week with needs/scripts/meds. My understanding is that the ENT oversees everything, though he does not speak with her on a scheduled basis during treatment.

    Nerve pain ?
    Hey there !
    It was my ENT that originally got the ball rolling in the beginning...but once surgery was done the ball was handed off to a medical oncologist to supervise everything. I know every clinic is different....please check with your ENT yourself. I had severe pain from surgery resect, ear...jaw. It has gotten better after 11 mo's. I too tried nerve blocker, really didn't make a difference. Thinking of you and hoping this gets better. Katie
  • Tim6003
    Tim6003 Member Posts: 1,514 Member
    #6
    katenorwood said:

    Nerve pain ?
    Hey there !
    It was my ENT that originally got the ball rolling in the beginning...but once surgery was done the ball was handed off to a medical oncologist to supervise everything. I know every clinic is different....please check with your ENT yourself. I had severe pain from surgery resect, ear...jaw. It has gotten better after 11 mo's. I too tried nerve blocker, really didn't make a difference. Thinking of you and hoping this gets better. Katie

    I think it is normal ..but I'm no doctor
    I had ear pain...actually I still do if I push on my ear (as if to plug them up) ...it can hurt for a moment afterwards. The left side hurts more than the right side (left side got higher rads then right).

    But you did do the right thing in letting your team of docs know ....

    Hang tough ...keep us posted!

    Best,

    Tim
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #7
    cureitall66 said:

    He reports....
    to his Rad/Onc weekly along with working with his NP each week with needs/scripts/meds. My understanding is that the ENT oversees everything, though he does not speak with her on a scheduled basis during treatment.

    ENT
    The main reason that I suggest the ENT, that is his specialty....

    I know my case is different as my ENT was and still is my lead.

    Also, if I have anything bugging me related to TX and there were many intially I would schedule an appt with my ENT.

    Thankfully the majority were just me and changes due to residual primarily.

    He assured me that I would have many various aches and pains for a few years out, very common.

    But also, he'd much rather I call him and schedule an appointment, than to let it go.

    Pro-active, never Re-active..., even if it's only a sanity/confidense check.

    JG
  • meaganb
    meaganb Member Posts: 244 Member
    #8
    I had pain in my right ear
    I had pain in my right ear even before I was diagnosed. It was one of the things that made my Drs want to investigate and that's how they found my tumor. The tumor was invading a nerve, thus the pain. Pain went away almost immediately after surgery to remove the tumor. The same pain came back towards the end of radiation because they were targeting where the tumor had been. I am 5 months out from treatment and occasionally still get a dull ache in my ear but the intensity of the pain is much less. I never had chemo, just Rads so I can't speak to how that can cause ear pain, but Radscan definitely be the cause. I would certainly talk to your Dr if pain meds are not managing the pain and also be patient because these treatments cause collateral damage while healing us. I hope he feels better quickly!

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