I have chronic excruciating ear pain primarily in my left ear.

It often but not always accompanies a cold or flu, and can last more than two weeks at a time.

Unfortunately, the majority of times I have seen a physician, a basic ear exam rules out infection and I am told my ears look fine. The first ENT I met with believed it was a dental issue, however, a visit to my dentist ruled that out. The second ENT I saw believed it is due to slight friction problems in my jaw and prescribed hot compresses, soft foods, and robax platinum, an over the counter medicine containing a muscle relaxant and Ibuprofen. I recently visited my dentist, who showed me scans of my jaw and said they looked normal , and unfortunately, in the aftermath of a recent flu due to which I am still dry coughing like crazy, I am in excruciating pain and nothing the ENT recommended provides the relief I need. The pain is in both ears, but it is twice as bad in the left as in the right.

On a scale from 1 to 10, I put the pain at at least a 9.

I went to a clinic today in pain so severe I could barely speak, and once again, a general practitioner ruled out infection. I was prescribed 10 mg of Ketorolac and instructed to take 2 per day with meals, and, if the pain was severe enough, 1000 mg of Acetaminophen 4 times daily. Unfortunately, neither medication is providing any significant relief, and I have had to add 2.5 mgs of Supeudol which I have from a shoulder injury to the mix in order to be able to think beyond the pain. However, even this only takes the edge off. The emergency room is not an option, as the hospitals in Montreal do not have the resources necessary to fully explore and determine the source of a patient's problem and pain in order to determine the best possible treatment.

I am 32 years old, female, relatively healthy aside from occasional migraines, and of Southeast Asian and Eastern European descent.

I am on the following medications:

Modafinil - 200 mgs in the morning

Dienogest - 2 mgs - for endometriosis

Valtrex - 500 mg daily for prevention

Cellcept - This was prescribed to treat my severe hand eczema, but at the first sign of a cold or flu, I stop it for 2 weeks

Hydroxyzine - 25 mg tabs - 2 to 4 as needed - These were prescribed for severe eczema itch, but I also use them as an occasional sleep aid

Nasal Spray for Seasonal Allergies

I also take calcium, magnesium, omega3s, B12 and a multivitamin

My questions is as follows: What is it the doctors I have seen are missing that could cause ear pain this severe?