I have never suffered with ear problems until the last few years when wax build up and subsequent ear blockage has neccessitated me privately paying for microsuction approximately every 2-3 months. I do have very narrow ear canals which doesnt help matters. Along with this about six months before I was diagnosed with PMR I developed severe itching inside one ear. After diagnosis and starting on Prednisolone the itchiness suddenly dissappeared. I did think that there might be some connection between the itchiness and PMR but recently have wondered if there might be a connection between the excessive wax build up too. It seems strange that it all started around the time my PMR was getting ready to show. I am slowly reducing my Pred and am currently down to 7.5mg and in the past couple of weeks the itching ear has reappeared!!
Am I being stupid or could there be some sort of connection? I know excessive wax build up can increase with age but it does seem a coincidence that this problem started suddenly along with Polymyalgia symptoms.
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jaycee444
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Me too! I’m 3 years on pred (started on 30 now on 2) for pmr - one year in I went deaf in one ear! Dr wouldn’t help so paid for micro suction. (£100+ - best Valentine gift ever at the time). I have no idea if pmr exacerbated the buildup but personally feel it did! Tinnitus was another big problem which has gone at lower pred levels. Best wishes to you.
Hi there. I'm not an expert on ears but I have some experience from my nursing days. Others more informed will be along. However....you say; "I have never suffered with problems until the last few years...". "....six months before I was diagnosed with PMR I developed severe itching...", and; "....after diagnosis and starting on prednisolone the itchiness suddenly disappeared..." I personally don't know of any direct link between this medication and itchy or waxy ears. I think it's more likely you have something like a kind of eczema in your ear canal, which the steroids probably cleared up for a while until you had a recurrence! Your excess wax is probably partially related to your narrow ear canal and your age. Don't ignore pain in your ear or discharge that isn't wax!....infection in the ear canal can manifest in different ways and will probably require medical intervention and antibiotics.
If others know of a link between steroids and excessive wax production or itchiness, I'd be interested to hear about it though.
I certainly had problems with ear wax when my PMR first started - but I can't remember if had started before the first noticeable stiffness in my shoulders/arms. It improved markedly after pred. It also happens occasionally now and probably coincides with a flare of PMR symptoms - but not having kept a diary I couldn't say for sure. If my ear is itchy - I expect to find some soft excessive wax if I scratch it ...
And it is found in some autoimmune disorders such as lupus and RA:
Thanks for your replies. I dont think the Prednisolone causes any ear problems but as the Polymyalgia onset itself appeared at this time I was just wondering if there was any connection. I agree that age and wax production are connected but to the extent that I am having to have both ears cleared every couple of months seems excessive. It’s a case of pay for them to be done or be completely deaf.! Not something I want happening especially during lockdown when I feel isolated anyway. Can imagine anything worse.🙁. I guess its probably just coincidence.
I'm not sure it IS necessarily coincidence. For example, I had scalp tenderness and jaw claudication for a while during the 5 years I had PMR without pred. The consensus is I had a period of GCA (cranial) or LVV (trunk arteries) that affected blood flow to the head but it burnt out/aborted. It is known it can happen. If blood flow in that region is affected or if there is some autoimmune problem around the ears as my other post mentions - then it may lead to excess wax.
Well, if you had some eczema in there, the Pred will have calmed down the inflammation. I had ear wax problems for the first time in my life when on Pred and had to have it removed because it became impacted. Then when general allergies arrived on low dose they became itchy which resolved when the allergies died down. Others have reported emergence of increased or new allergies on low dose, and if this is you it might explain why it is back now you are under 10mg.
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Achilles tendinitis and neuropathy in feet 
Is this a flare?
Do I have PMR? This is getting ridiculous.
Don't like this much
