I have blocked ears for the past few months. Will steam inhalation and nasal drops help?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 70-year-old male. I have suffered from a blocked feeling in my right ear for the past ten months. I consulted an ENT doctor who suggested steam inhalation, nasal wash, and Otrivin nasal drops on an SOS basis. None of these provided any solution to my problem. The local doctor then suggested a minor operation of inserting a grommet in the eardrum. Before I could do anything, the Coronavirus pandemic happened. I have been living with the problem and using saline nasal wash regularly since then. However, in the last few days, I have a dull pain inside the ear and in the back of the neck and upper shoulder on the right side. I am currently on Olmark 20 (for BP), Rosuvas 5 (for cholesterol), and Urimax D (for prostate). I was prescribed these as a preventive measure and did not have any symptoms related to these issues.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

The symptoms elucidated by you and the treatment suggested by the doctor to you are in sync, and the treatment appears to be appropriate to me. When there is a collection inside the eardrum which is not relieved by conservative methods, we sometimes perform this small surgery called myringotomy and grommet insertion. The surgery is the same as what your doctor has told you. Due to the pandemic, if you want to try some other management methods or some more vigorous medical management, I can help you with that. Is that what you want?

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

You need to take an anti-inflammatory dose of Clarithromycin along with some steroids. You need to take a mucolytic. The nasal drops should be used in a particular way, followed by steam. An antihistaminic with Montelukast is also needed. This course will help you. If this also does not help, we can go for surgery even after three to four weeks. For details on the course, please book an online voice or video consult so that we can explain it clearly to you.