Seeking Assistance for Unusual and Persistent Symptoms
I am a 37-year-old female, standing at 5’3” and weighing 150 pounds. For the past nine days, I have been experiencing a troubling array of symptoms. It all began last Friday night when I suddenly felt something unusual in my neck, specifically on the right side at the base of my skull. I initially thought it might be a muscle strain or a knot. Unfortunately, this discomfort escalated into a migraine, forcing me to take pain relief medication and rest. The following day, the pain shifted to my right ear, where I began to feel intense discomfort. This has since turned into a continuous pain in my right ear and head that has not subsided. Additionally, my neck and shoulder muscles have become extremely tender, requiring daily massages from my husband to alleviate some of the soreness. I visited urgent care yesterday, where the physician diagnosed me with an outer ear infection and prescribed ear drops. However, I left feeling uncertain about the diagnosis. Although I was experiencing tenderness in the ear canal, the doctor noted I had no other indicators typical of infection, such as pain while tugging on my ear, discharge, or pus. Last night and throughout today, I have been beset by severe nausea and a sensation of swelling in my throat, although my breathing remains normal. I have not exhibited any fever, dizziness, faintness, or confusion, nor have I noticed swelling in other parts of my body. The persistent headache is significantly exacerbated by movement, particularly when I rise from bed, though taking 600mg of ibuprofen offers considerable relief. Is it advisable for me to return to urgent care? I'm feeling quite overwhelmed by these ongoing issues.
Answers (1)
6/23/2025, 11:01:14 AM
OpenHealth AI
You're experiencing a range of concerning symptoms, including persistent pain in your neck, ear discomfort, severe headaches, and nausea, which understandably feels overwhelming. Given the complexity and duration of your symptoms, it's important to address your concerns thoroughly, especially since you have received a diagnosis but are still feeling uncertain. Let’s break this down.
Explanation:
-
Symptom Overview: Your symptoms started with neck discomfort, resulting in a migraine and then progressing to discomfort in your right ear. You are also experiencing shoulder tenderness, nausea, and a sensation of swelling in your throat. Although you have been diagnosed with an outer ear infection, the lack of typical infection signs raises questions about whether this is the complete picture.
-
Possible Causes: The constellation of symptoms can arise from several issues, including:
- Tension headaches or migraines related to muscle strain (which could explain the neck and shoulder soreness).
- Referred pain from the neck or shoulders causing ear discomfort.
- Potentially a viral infection affecting multiple areas, even without typical symptoms.
- Other possibilities include TMJ disorders or other underlying conditions that could affect your symptoms.
Next Steps:
-
Monitor Your Symptoms: Keep a close watch on your symptoms over the next day or two. Take note of any changes, such as increasing pain, new symptoms, or worsening nausea.
-
Return to Urgent Care: Given the persistence of your symptoms and your feelings of uncertainty, it would be advisable to return to urgent care or consider a follow-up with your primary care physician. Share all your symptoms clearly, including the swelling sensation in your throat and the persistent headaches, which could lead to further investigation.
-
Relief Measures:
- Continue taking anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen for pain relief, but ensure to follow the recommended dosage.
- Stay hydrated and rest as much as possible; try to avoid excessive movements that aggravate your headache.
- Warm or cold compresses on your neck or shoulders might alleviate some muscle tension and discomfort.
-
Emergency Signs: If you experience worsening nausea, difficulty breathing, fever, or changes in consciousness, seek immediate medical attention.
Your symptoms deserve careful evaluation, and it's completely valid to seek clarity and reassurance. Please prioritize your comfort and health—don't hesitate to seek help until you feel a resolution.
Related Questions
Strange Stomach Sensation Leading to Waking Up
Greetings. I'm a 36-year-old male, standing at 172 centimeters and weighing 90 kilograms. I don't take any medications, nor do I smoke. I've been living with diastasis recti for several years now, and I may also have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Additionally, I deal with fatty liver and kidney stones, though I assume these last two conditions are not related to my current concern. Occasionally, I experience a peculiar sensation that jolts me awake; it feels like a quick pulsing in my stomach. I’ve noticed it tends to affect the left side when I’m lying on my left side and the right side when on my right. Remarkably, it can occur even when I’m on my back. This strange feeling often escalates into a surge that fully rouses me. Alongside this, I sometimes feel prickling sensations throughout my body and fleeting lightheadedness. When this sensation disturbs my sleep while I’m turned to my side, shifting onto my back or the opposite side might alleviate it, but not always. In instances where I awaken while lying on my back, I discovered that gently pressing my hands on either side of my stomach can help, as can rising to a sitting or standing position. However, during my last two episodes—one a couple of weeks ago and another tonight—those techniques weren’t effective right away, which made me feel a bit anxious, prompting me to seek advice. Does anyone have insight into what might be going on? By the way, I’ve undergone routine ultrasound examinations of my abdomen by two different physicians during check-ups, both of whom assured me that everything appears normal, including my abdominal aorta and internal organs. They didn’t identify any issues at that time.
Understanding Tuberculosis Exposure Risk
A 26-year-old male, who neither drinks alcohol nor smokes, seeks to understand the implications of exposure to tuberculosis (TB). As an anesthesia technician, I became concerned after I encountered a TB-positive patient about a month ago. I had to enter the patient’s room several times to perform blood gas tests. On my first entry, I mistakenly wore my N95 mask incorrectly due to the hectic nature of attending to multiple rooms. From my research, it appears that TB is quite transmissible; direct exposure can pose a serious risk of infection. Transmission usually requires prolonged contact with an infected individual, particularly in a close or face-to-face setting. In this case, the patient was lying face down and appeared to be sleeping when I entered. I have already undergone testing for TB, but I am eager to deepen my understanding of the risks involved in these situations.
24M | Unexplained Fainting Incident
**Note:** I previously shared this story, but it was inexplicably removed. I’m a 24-year-old male without any medical diagnosis or prescription medications. While I do consume alcohol occasionally, I hadn’t been drinking before this happened. Around 3 a.m., I got up from bed to use the restroom. As soon as I began to urinate, I suddenly felt a wave of dizziness. The next moment I was aware of was regaining consciousness in the bathtub, startled awake by the sensation of something dripping on me—only to discover it was my own blood. This was my first experience with fainting. When I came to, confusion set in. I was disoriented and couldn’t comprehend why I was being dripped on while in what I thought was my “bed.” Strangely, I also imagined that I was lying on a collection of marbles (which I actually don’t own)—this turned out to be the shattered glass of my shower door lying around me. I’m uncertain whether I lost consciousness first and then fell, or if the fall caused my brief blackout. It took me a few moments to understand why I was in the bathroom at all. I’m not sure how long I was out; I only remember it was around 3 in the morning when I initially got up, and about the same time when I regained consciousness. I dialed 911, and the ambulance arrived promptly. They checked my vitals, performed an EKG and measured my blood sugar, finding nothing unusual. At the emergency room, they repeated the vital checks, conducted a CT scan, drew blood, and took x-rays—yet still no abnormalities were detected. I had several cuts on my face and left arm (curiously, this is the arm that would have been turned away from the door), along with bruising around my ribs. Since the incident, I’ve been suffering from headaches and pain in my ribs. I received stitches on both my face and arm. The nurse suggested I could have stronger pain relief, but I opted for just Toradol. They eventually discharged me, stating, "We’re unsure what caused this, but return if it happens again." What might have triggered such an incident? How can I safeguard against it reoccurring if they remain uncertain about the cause?
Healing Progress Post-GBS: Toe Concerns
I am a 28-year-old male, measuring 5 feet 10 inches and weighing 131 pounds. My current medications include Fomadatine and Zyrtec, prescribed due to my ongoing battle with Chronic Gastritis and SIBO. I maintain a healthy lifestyle, abstaining from both smoking and alcohol. My health concern revolves around the toe adjacent to my pinky toe on my left foot, as well as my pinky toe on the right foot. Since August of last year, I have been on the mend from Guillain Barre Syndrome. Recently, I've noticed that at night, the skin on my feet tends to turn a reddish pink, although this usually improves after I walk around. However, two of my toes have remained red, with one appearing slightly swollen. Generally, my pinky toes are quite thick, but the condition of my left foot's toe is worrisome for me. It seems that I'm unable to upload an image to illustrate my issue.
Swelling Beneath My Chin Near the Jawline
18-Year-Old Male: I'm reaching out to any medical professionals who might provide insights into my situation. I've been using marijuana since I was 14, but now, at 17, I'm making an effort to stop and have been clean for 18 days. Recently, I've discovered an unusual swelling located just beneath my chin, behind my jaw. It causes some discomfort when I move, yet it doesn’t feel painful continuously. I'm somewhat anxious that this could be indicative of a more serious issue, especially considering it's positioned near my chin's lymph nodes. Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated as it might help alleviate my worry.