Earache

[Suet3942]

3 weeks ago I cut down by 0.5mg pred to 6.5.

Yesterday I started to have an earache and a sore throat on the right hand side. This is what always happens when I get to below 7mg and it always about 3 weeks after a reduction.

Has anyone else experienced this?

[Maisiek]

I’m at 5.5mg with DSNS and tinnitus is getting louder and louder 😰

[YuliK in reply to Maisiek]

MaisieK good evening

Sorry to read you are suffering tinnitus. 😩

I’m nearly 2 years suffering PMR. About a year ago I started with tinnitus and have lost nearly all the hearing in my left ear. ( sudden hearing loss)

Maybe you should have your ears checked by ent ASAP and have proper hearing test ..

My ent consultant put me on very high doses of prednisone for three weeks ( that was upsetting )as I had managed to get down to 8mg for my PMR .

No change after 3 weeks, so In an attempt to save my hearing loss, he gave me an injection of cortisone directly through my eardrum into my middle ear ...

I have now a prescription for a hearing aid.

I am telling you this, you as it’s been suggested that long term use of prednisone ( and other medications)can cause hearing problems.

YuliK 😷

[Maisiek in reply to YuliK]

Thank you for taking the trouble to reply. Ironic as my 78 year old husband had a grommet inserted today and now has the TV so low I’m having trouble hearing it 😰

[SnazzyD]

Can’t remember. But, do you drop the dose klunk, or introduce the new dose in slowly?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Ear symptoms can be part of GCA - and the fact this happens repeatedly at the same dose as you reduce could suggest that you have got to slightly too low to manage the inflammation.

[Suet3942 in reply to PMRpro]

It's a bit scary as I was only diagnosed with pmr 8 years ago. Never gca.

[Flutterbies57]

I am trying to go down to 2.5mg. I woke in the middle of the night with burning pain near my left ear and jaw. It was extremely painful to swallow. The gland just below was slightly swollen.(according to physio). I have occasional bouts of pain without swallowing now. Doctors are so booked out I haven't been able to see one. The first day was the worst and of course my first thought was GCA as the pain was just the same as the first night I woke with searing pain from PMR. I have stayed on 3mg. The problem has improved immensely but has not gone away. ?????

[Suet3942]

Thank you for yr replies. I have taken 7mg this morning. Been awake nearly all night with intermittent stabbing pain. I wish I could see my rheumatologist but when I phoned I was told no appointments, not even a phone consultation.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Suet3942]

Not particularly impressive ...

[alvertta]

I have GCA. Have had post nasal drip, sore throat and tiny ear aches since starting prednisone two years ago. On and off. Very annoying. Doctors refuse to connect it to prednisone but I do. Just put up w it.

[Flosy in reply to alvertta]

Yes I have slight earache and sore throat,and a job to swallow sometimes.

[Suet3942 in reply to Flosy]

Really. Is it when you reduce?

[alvertta in reply to Flosy]

Me too.

[alvertta in reply to Flosy]

So good to hear. My docs make me feel

It is not happening.

[Suet3942 in reply to alvertta]

Thanks for replying. Hope gca isn't lurking

[Suffererc]

I had earache to start with and still get t now and again. Had it checked a few times but they said it was my imagination. Never bother to get it checked now. Also read on here others suffered the same

[Suet3942 in reply to Suffererc]

How long dones it last?

[Suffererc in reply to Suet3942]

Sometimes a couple of days. Not always that long. It was more up the side of my face by the ear and the normal pinging in the ear. I have hearing problems caused by a virus that went undetected for a long time.