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What Causes A Popping Sensation Near The Ear?
Posted on
Fri, 3 Apr 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 3 Apr 2015
Answered on
Mon, 27 Apr 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : Last night i had a slight "popping" sensation about 2" above my left ear.
Felt like it was JUST underneith my skull- not deep in at all.
90% felt it - maybe 10% "heard " it
Felt like a jellybean popping.
No pain, no spreading feeling of warmth etc... no other symptoms whatsoever (aside from mild anxiety about it)
I had been to the dentist that morning for a deep teeth cleaning- (novocaine , mouth forced open for long period of time, etc)
Had a slight headache throughout the day as well as sore neck which i assumed was due to the dentist stuff.
My intuition is that its nothing to worry about but my mind is searching for an explanation of some sort.
Any help would be appreciated greatly.
Felt like it was JUST underneith my skull- not deep in at all.
90% felt it - maybe 10% "heard " it
Felt like a jellybean popping.
No pain, no spreading feeling of warmth etc... no other symptoms whatsoever (aside from mild anxiety about it)
I had been to the dentist that morning for a deep teeth cleaning- (novocaine , mouth forced open for long period of time, etc)
Had a slight headache throughout the day as well as sore neck which i assumed was due to the dentist stuff.
My intuition is that its nothing to worry about but my mind is searching for an explanation of some sort.
Any help would be appreciated greatly.
Brief Answer:
i would need some info
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to Health Care Magic,
I am Dr.Muhammad Ahmad, I have read your message and will try to help you in best possible way.
I would like you to give me some more info in this regard.
Here i will ask you some questions to guide our conversation
1) Did it ever happen before?
2) Any difference in hearing?
3) does ear feel blocked?
4) Any pain discharge?
5) Any flue in last few days?
6) Do you have any flue or throat issues often?
7) any allergies?
Waiting for your input.
Dr.Muhammad Ahmad
M.B.B.S
Resident M.D.
i would need some info
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to Health Care Magic,
I am Dr.Muhammad Ahmad, I have read your message and will try to help you in best possible way.
I would like you to give me some more info in this regard.
Here i will ask you some questions to guide our conversation
1) Did it ever happen before?
2) Any difference in hearing?
3) does ear feel blocked?
4) Any pain discharge?
5) Any flue in last few days?
6) Do you have any flue or throat issues often?
7) any allergies?
Waiting for your input.
Dr.Muhammad Ahmad
M.B.B.S
Resident M.D.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
No it has NEVER happened before.
I do NOT think it is related to my ears or eustasian canals
It felt like it was at least two inches ABOVE my ear
there were NO other symptoms before or after the event.
I am curious to know what possible causes could result in this sensation.
A light "popping" sensation that felt very close to the inside of my cranium.
I do NOT think it is related to my ears or eustasian canals
It felt like it was at least two inches ABOVE my ear
there were NO other symptoms before or after the event.
I am curious to know what possible causes could result in this sensation.
A light "popping" sensation that felt very close to the inside of my cranium.
Brief Answer:
It doesn't sound like anything serious
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back,
I have read your response and will mention possible causes here.
I want to assure you that this doesn't seem like any thing serious.
1) Middle ear congestion:
Sometimes some blockage in middle ear can cause popping sensation, middle and inner ears are deep structures and sometimes sounds perceived from them don't feel like coming directly from ear. Brain perceives it differently sometimes. This is most common cause of popping sensation which settles down itself with time.
2) Popping under Temporalis.
Temporalis is a muscle which connects jaw and skull it has a border above the ear, when one moves one's jaw specially when clenches it, the structures around temporalis can produce popping when they move in apposition to each other this is also benign ans settles by itself.
3) Apposition clicks of scalp muscles:
There are muscles in scalp when they contract sometimes they can produce popping sensation this is benign and settles by itself.
I would suggest you not to panic there is no way that popping can be produced from inside the skull bone so you don't have to be concerned much.
In my opinion you will not have this episode again even if you have one or two , they will settle by themselves and with time frequency of such episodes will decrease.
Don't panic and don't think much about it.
I Hope this answers your question, if your have more queries feel free to ask, otherwise close the discussion and rate it. Wish you the best of health.
Regards,
Dr.Muhammad Ahmad.
M.B.B.S. (Licensed Family physician).
Resident M.D.
It doesn't sound like anything serious
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back,
I have read your response and will mention possible causes here.
I want to assure you that this doesn't seem like any thing serious.
1) Middle ear congestion:
Sometimes some blockage in middle ear can cause popping sensation, middle and inner ears are deep structures and sometimes sounds perceived from them don't feel like coming directly from ear. Brain perceives it differently sometimes. This is most common cause of popping sensation which settles down itself with time.
2) Popping under Temporalis.
Temporalis is a muscle which connects jaw and skull it has a border above the ear, when one moves one's jaw specially when clenches it, the structures around temporalis can produce popping when they move in apposition to each other this is also benign ans settles by itself.
3) Apposition clicks of scalp muscles:
There are muscles in scalp when they contract sometimes they can produce popping sensation this is benign and settles by itself.
I would suggest you not to panic there is no way that popping can be produced from inside the skull bone so you don't have to be concerned much.
In my opinion you will not have this episode again even if you have one or two , they will settle by themselves and with time frequency of such episodes will decrease.
Don't panic and don't think much about it.
I Hope this answers your question, if your have more queries feel free to ask, otherwise close the discussion and rate it. Wish you the best of health.
Regards,
Dr.Muhammad Ahmad.
M.B.B.S. (Licensed Family physician).
Resident M.D.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Could you please give me the specific reasons why you do not think the popping sensation i had wednesday night was anything to be concerned about?
I researched ruptured aneurysms and did not find any descriptions of symptoms that matched mine. So that was good.
Also, nobody who has actually had one that i read about has described the sensation that i had. Also comforting.
So the evidence ive read DOES NOT suggest that i had an aneurysm.
Still, if you could perhaps describe to me in detail, why you do NOT think what i experienced was an aneurysm, (or anything else to worry about) it would help put my mind at ease some more.
Again, it was not painful.
It was not followed by a headache.
And ive NOT noticed any symptoms since the moment it happened.
The 2nd and 3rd suggestions that ypu provided as to what actually Might have been the cause of my popping sensation seemed quite possible to me, but still, it didnt feel like a popping bone or ligament or muscle or anything ive ever experienced. I dont remember clemching my jaw at that moment.
For this reason, i am still a bit unsettled and hoping to have a better understanding (from a medical standpoint) of why you are not concerned
I appreciate your time and help and consideration very much!
I researched ruptured aneurysms and did not find any descriptions of symptoms that matched mine. So that was good.
Also, nobody who has actually had one that i read about has described the sensation that i had. Also comforting.
So the evidence ive read DOES NOT suggest that i had an aneurysm.
Still, if you could perhaps describe to me in detail, why you do NOT think what i experienced was an aneurysm, (or anything else to worry about) it would help put my mind at ease some more.
Again, it was not painful.
It was not followed by a headache.
And ive NOT noticed any symptoms since the moment it happened.
The 2nd and 3rd suggestions that ypu provided as to what actually Might have been the cause of my popping sensation seemed quite possible to me, but still, it didnt feel like a popping bone or ligament or muscle or anything ive ever experienced. I dont remember clemching my jaw at that moment.
For this reason, i am still a bit unsettled and hoping to have a better understanding (from a medical standpoint) of why you are not concerned
I appreciate your time and help and consideration very much!
Brief Answer:
Here is detail about aneurysm
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back,
You have read about aneurysm and you yourself said you didn't find anything like that in you ,
I think then you shouldn't worry about it.
An aneurym means, dialation of an artery any where in the body ...berry aneurysm is usually in brain ,
It can kill a person if it ruptures , but it doesn't produce a popping sound if present and it doesn't produce a popping sound when it ruptures.
When berry aneurysm ruptures one gets a stroke and usually he is no more there to listen to a popping sound ,
He is either dead or unconcious so you don't have to worry and oanic about this.
I wasn't much alarmed by this symptom because a popping sound heart CAN NOT from from inside of cranium it can be ear of external structure both of which usually get better without any med.
I will suggest you not to panic and get alarmed by this problem, And i will assure you that in my opinion this is nothing dangerous just keep calm and let things settle according to their natural course.
Stay blessed and healthy :)
Regards .
Dr.Muhammad Ahmad.
Here is detail about aneurysm
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back,
You have read about aneurysm and you yourself said you didn't find anything like that in you ,
I think then you shouldn't worry about it.
An aneurym means, dialation of an artery any where in the body ...berry aneurysm is usually in brain ,
It can kill a person if it ruptures , but it doesn't produce a popping sound if present and it doesn't produce a popping sound when it ruptures.
When berry aneurysm ruptures one gets a stroke and usually he is no more there to listen to a popping sound ,
He is either dead or unconcious so you don't have to worry and oanic about this.
I wasn't much alarmed by this symptom because a popping sound heart CAN NOT from from inside of cranium it can be ear of external structure both of which usually get better without any med.
I will suggest you not to panic and get alarmed by this problem, And i will assure you that in my opinion this is nothing dangerous just keep calm and let things settle according to their natural course.
Stay blessed and healthy :)
Regards .
Dr.Muhammad Ahmad.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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