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Hi Doctors,
I live in Canada and enjoy running outdoors for exercise. However, whenever I run in cooler temperatures (which for me is anywhere from about 10 to -10 degrees C), I get extreme pain in my ears soon after I start running (maybe 10 minutes into the run - sometimes less!). I always warm up and don't have issues in any other muscles or parts of my body, and I dress warmly, including a fitted headband that completely covers my ears.
The pain is debilitating and usually causes me to need to stop running and head home. It does not occur when I run indoors or in warm spring/summer weather. Sometimes it feels like intense pressure in my inner ear, and sometimes it feels like it is just behind my ear. Usually, my jaw also locks and tends to "pop" when I open my mouth. The symptoms take about 20 minutes to resolve. I should also mention that other than this pain, I feel fine while running - to my observation, it is not linked to fatigue.
I was wondering if there's anything I can do to stop this? I really love running but the pain is extreme.
Thanks!
Gender: Female
How old are you?: 21
How long has this been going on?: More than a year
Check all symptoms you are currently experiencing:
Ear/ Nose / Throat
Describe associated symptoms not listed above:
Pain/pressure in both ears on exposure to cold weather while running, even when well-dressed. The pain is debilitating and has at times been severe enough to cause nausea. Does not occur if I am outdoors in the same temperatures while not exercising. However, ears are sensitive to cold in general and I am most comfortable in a hat or headband from November to March. A locked jaw accompanies the pain in my ears. Both resolve in ~20 minutes after coming indoors.
What have you done so far to remedy this condition? Please include tests and relevant studies here.
Wear a headband or skullcap while running. I have been told that I should put cotton balls in my ears but I am confused about why this would help and am more interested in understanding the cause of this issue.
Please list any medications you are currently taking (and dosage if known) :: None
When was your last menstrual cycle?: 3 weeks ago
Are you currently using or do you have a history of tobacco use?: No
Are you currently using or do you have a history of illegal drug use?: No
Please describe your alcohol consumption :: Rarely
HOW QUICKLY DO YOU NEED THIS TO BE ANSWERED?: Within the next few days
So that we can serve you best, please try to tell us your top three things you wish to be addressed in our response. You will likely get more than you ask for, but we wish to understand your priorities.
1. What is this?
2. Why does it happen?
3. What steps can I take to reduce or eliminate the symptoms?
_________________________________________________________
Dear Canadian Runner,
I am struggling with this one. I did fine a link on WEB MD but I think the explanation, for what appears to be a fairly common syndrome, is less than satisfactory. My feeling is that your problem may be a combination of extreme sensitivity (because of your particular ear anatomy) of a Cranial Nerve, or, a cold-variant migraine, or, perhaps, some combination of these. Dr SWB is going to weigh in on this a little later today, and since this is right in his wheelhouse I think we will both learn something. Stand by, and thanks for your question.
MDSTAT DOC 1
Hi Doctors,
I live in Canada and enjoy running outdoors for exercise. However, whenever I run in cooler temperatures (which for me is anywhere from about 10 to -10 degrees C), I get extreme pain in my ears soon after I start running (maybe 10 minutes into the run - sometimes less!). I always warm up and don't have issues in any other muscles or parts of my body, and I dress warmly, including a fitted headband that completely covers my ears.
The pain is debilitating and usually causes me to need to stop running and head home. It does not occur when I run indoors or in warm spring/summer weather. Sometimes it feels like intense pressure in my inner ear, and sometimes it feels like it is just behind my ear. Usually, my jaw also locks and tends to "pop" when I open my mouth. The symptoms take about 20 minutes to resolve. I should also mention that other than this pain, I feel fine while running - to my observation, it is not linked to fatigue.
I was wondering if there's anything I can do to stop this? I really love running but the pain is extreme.
Thanks!
Gender: Female
How old are you?: 21
How long has this been going on?: More than a year
Check all symptoms you are currently experiencing:
Ear/ Nose / Throat
Describe associated symptoms not listed above:
Pain/pressure in both ears on exposure to cold weather while running, even when well-dressed. The pain is debilitating and has at times been severe enough to cause nausea. Does not occur if I am outdoors in the same temperatures while not exercising. However, ears are sensitive to cold in general and I am most comfortable in a hat or headband from November to March. A locked jaw accompanies the pain in my ears. Both resolve in ~20 minutes after coming indoors.
What have you done so far to remedy this condition? Please include tests and relevant studies here.
Wear a headband or skullcap while running. I have been told that I should put cotton balls in my ears but I am confused about why this would help and am more interested in understanding the cause of this issue.
Please list any medications you are currently taking (and dosage if known) :: None
When was your last menstrual cycle?: 3 weeks ago
Are you currently using or do you have a history of tobacco use?: No
Are you currently using or do you have a history of illegal drug use?: No
Please describe your alcohol consumption :: Rarely
HOW QUICKLY DO YOU NEED THIS TO BE ANSWERED?: Within the next few days
So that we can serve you best, please try to tell us your top three things you wish to be addressed in our response. You will likely get more than you ask for, but we wish to understand your priorities.
1. What is this?
2. Why does it happen?
3. What steps can I take to reduce or eliminate the symptoms?
_________________________________________________________
Dear Canadian Runner,
I am struggling with this one. I did fine a link on WEB MD but I think the explanation, for what appears to be a fairly common syndrome, is less than satisfactory. My feeling is that your problem may be a combination of extreme sensitivity (because of your particular ear anatomy) of a Cranial Nerve, or, a cold-variant migraine, or, perhaps, some combination of these. Dr SWB is going to weigh in on this a little later today, and since this is right in his wheelhouse I think we will both learn something. Stand by, and thanks for your question.
MDSTAT DOC 1
4 comments:
I've done a lot of jogging in winter weather and eperienced asthma due to the cold, however hsve had icicles form on my earlobes without any particular pain.
There is a website on causes of mystery ear pain
(otalgia): www.fauguiernt.net/otalgia.htm which covers a lot of causes including one that is associated with temporo -mandibular joint (jaw) pain.
If you google "ear pain" it also gives a number of other sites'
If the pain is related to a nerve (e.g. 5th cranial nerve involving jaw and ear) sensitivity similar to the pain one can get in the sinuses after eating ice cream, it would possible to try a ski mask that covers face and ears ( but allows you to see )
Maybe medstat doc 7 could help with her wilderness etc. training..
Obviously it would be helpful to see an ear-nose-throat M.D. if symptoms continue.
Good Luck, Space Doc.
Hi Space Doc,
Do you think that the issue could actually be resolved? I am hesitant to go to the trouble of seeing a specialist if this is something that is related to my anatomy. I just thought of this and don't know if it's relevant or not, but I was extremely prone to ear infections as a child. My parents scheduled a surgery for me when I was three to have my adenoids removed, but the pediatric surgeon advised them to wait six months... the ear infections ended up clearing up on their own, but I wonder if this is related?
I have been pondering this for a few days, reading up on some things.... You have a very strange issue!! :)
The way you describe your ear pain sounds very much like the type of "squeeze" injury or pain some people experience while SCUBA diving (myself included). When you added the history of frequent ear infections as a kid, my supposition (I.e, I am only making an educated guess!) is that you have significant eustachian tube dysfunction, and when you are running the pressure builds behind your ear drum and you are not spontaneously equalizing the pressure.
Of course, if this is the case, I am not sure why it is a problem only in cold weather- perhaps because the muscles in your neck don't loosen up as much, perhaps because of barometric pressure, or perhaps because your sinuses swell more in the cold aggravating the eustachian dysfunction.
Have you ever tried to "clear" your ears (pinch nose, close mouth and "blow" out of your ears- like on a plane or when swimming underwater)? Do you have similar problems on airplanes??
While I don't think there is any emergent need to see a doctor, I'd suggest that setting up an appointment with an ENT is a good idea. The ENT would be the one who can best ascertain if this is just a weird fluke that keeps you from running in the cold or something that should be fixed in order to preserve your ear function (including hearing) in the future!!
Dear Canadian runner'
Tough to know how easily this problem can be resoloved.
I agreee with Doc 7 that a visit to an ENT specialist would be a good idea. They can assess your eustachian
function as well as see if there are any anatomical abnormalities of the ear canals, sinuses etc.--(they don't just treat infections).
My bias still leans toward a very sensitive reaction to cold by the nerves involving face, jaw, and ear which might respond to protecting face and ears with a ski mask (and hood). If this doesn't do the trick and resolve the conditionit would be a good idea to head to an ENT specialist.
Good Luck! Keep us posted!
Space Doc
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