Expert: Harriet B Jacobster, Au.D. - 8/19/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
About a month ago I started to experiencing vibrations/fluttering in one of my ears.  I went to my ENT and he says I most likely have a middle ear muscle spasm.  He said to get more rest...nothing more.  Well, at home I found information online (such as magnesium helps, and it did help me) but also about how a mild (low dose) muscle relaxant may help.  I still have the vibrations and my ENT visit was a month ago.  I want to know what are the drug names for these muscle relaxants are?  Also do they really work...or do they simple calm a person down yet you still feel the vibrations.

Thanks so much,
Linda

ANSWER: Hi Linda,
Your ENT suspects that you have stapedial or palatal myoclonus, a rapid contraction of one of the little middle ear muscles.  Sometimes the myoclonus will go away as quickly as it came, sometimes it stays. One of the standard treatments is the use of muscle relaxants - there are many of them, so I cannot give you the name of any specific one - that helps the muscle to relax and stops the myoclonus. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't.  If however, the vibrations begin to interfere with your life, I would certainly recommend that you return to your ENT and discuss this option with him.  

Hope this helps.
Dr. Harriet B. Jacobster, AuD
Board Certified in Audiology

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: One more question:  I noticed around the same time my right ear myoclonus began, my left eye began twitching.  This is ongoing and I am still experiencing it everyday (on and off).  I am not so concerned about the eye twitching but I wanted to know if there's a connection?
Thanks again,
~Linda

Answer
Hi Linda,
Without knowing much more about your history, medications, age, etc., it really is difficult to give you any type of definitive answer.  However, it is very possible that the two are related.  The common factor may be something as simple as stress, but without a thorough examination, that is very difficult to determine.

I suggest that you return to your ENT and tell him about your blepharospasms (the medical term for eyelid twitches) as well as the middle ear myoclonus. If you are not satisfied with his treatment, your next step would be a neurologist.

Hope this helps.
Dr. Harriet B. Jacobster, AuD
Board Certified in Audiology