Question
Hello,

I'm a 20 year old female, 5'5 & 207lbs. I don't have health insurance currently dealing with an issue. For about a month now, I've been dealing with pain in my ears. It feels like it could be some sort of pressure related issue because when I move a certain way, yawn, or even breath, I can hear/feel a dull "pop" sound. I assumed it would go away after taking some basic cold medicine. About 2-3 weeks ago, a girlfriend of mine came over with a runny nose, coughing, body aches & headaches. I assumed it was the common cold. Shortly after that, I started developing the same symptoms, including my on-going ear pain. Last week, I woke up with horrible pain in my neck, behind my ears, and on the top of my shoulders. It's to the point now where if I sit down and my arms hang, I become so stiff and start to ache. My head feels heavy sometimes and my shoulders/neck are still hurting. I can make full circles with my arms, but I can feel discomfort the whole way.

I'm thankful that the stuffy nose & cough has gone away, but I'm stealing dealing with this pain behind my ears, down my neck, back of my neck, and shoulders.
Any ideas? Thank you!

Answer
Paris,

many times with a symptom complex such as you describe there can be several situations that you will need to deal with. I highly suggest that you visit a reputable chiropractor in you town and describe these symptoms to him or her.

First you need to make sure you do not have anything in the ear canal (outside of the ear drum) You also have to make sure you do not have an ear infection (inner ear) a chiropractor is trained to seek out these exact types of problems.
Next you will need to determine if you have pinched nerves in your neck. The upper neck vertebrae can get out of place and produce symptoms like you are having. Most of the nerves from the neck go directly down the arms and if you have a subluxation or a vertebra out of place these can also give you symptoms like you describe.

I suggest that you get a chiropractic examination to rule in/out the ideas I have discussed with you. Call the respective chiropractor and find out what he/she charges for an examination.