Patients describe this as “I feel like I have been on an airplane and I need to pop my ears and I feel full or congested. These symptoms are mainly caused mainly because of muscular dysfunction in the muscles that surround and support the eustachian tube. These muscles are called the tensor tympani and the levator veli palatini. The eustachian tube equalize the pressure between middle and outside ear by opening intermittently. If muscles supporting the eustachian tube become dysfunctional, the ears start to feel full, become congested and may feel the need to pop them. If the muscles calm down, we can get that feeling to go away.
The jaw bone is literally suspended in a sling of muscle which is why it is highly responsible for postural changes. The temporal bone houses the vestibular apparatus of the internal ear which is in charge of balance. If this unit i.e. the muscles and joint is dysfunctional it can lead to vertigo and dizziness that comes and goes.
Patients often describe this pain as a sharp lancing, stabbing type of pain or dull aching type of pain. Ear pain is often worse at night or in the morning. Some patients even tell us that their ear pain is worse when they chew or yawn.
