Physical Assistant Sonya is incredible!! Beyond 5 stars! She's so patient in listening to all my problems, and even more patient in educating me on possibilities. She slowly helped cancel out until left with 4 possibilities of my issue. Most doctors start pushing you to other specialists and busy work but she actually cared to get down to possible root of the problem.
Office is located upstairs of the building. Bathroom in the lobby. Parking: Structured lot nearby. It's also impossible to expect parking right in front of their building.
I came in for extreme headaches for past 2 months (no history of headaches before then), right ear inner head type pain (pressure, muffled with sounds of something instead, then later sharp pains), Right head felt swelling. Right toe tingling, numb with no feeling, right hand, right next tension, allergies, etc. But with autoimmunity, can never tell if everything is connected or it's a different issue.
Solution Attempts with my PCP, I've already tried prescription ear drops in case there is an infection, allergy pills and muscle relaxant for 1 a week. Nothing worked. Getting concern...
So visited this office with PA Sonya. She listened to everything going on. Her thoughts and explanations made sense. I still need a specialist for my autoimmunity but she was still willing to care for me. Again, most doctors try to dump you onto another doctor...she didn't. She really cared!!
After this appointment. Actions I need to take/given to me:
1. MRI on right side. Need to get blood work done within month of appt of it.
2. Neurologist referral. Who will determine if spine/neck issues.
3. Hearing audio test to check where I am. Then I can ask further about other issues.
I have sensitive hearing with lost of location. I've done this hearing test before. I also think I have APD Auditory Processing Disorder which I plan to ask after my test results. I forgot to bring up APD but she thought my lost of location cutoff be a nerve/brain issue, or I need to re-train my hearing to identify location with sound better.
PA Sonya's explanation on my possible reasons for my headache, inner ear pain/swelling feeling (not dizzy)
- allergies. Nasal swells = lack of air going into ear area which can cause pressure, dizzy and more.
- TMJ Temporal mandibular joint syndrome. Chewing, to night grinding can cause these headaches, pressure, swelling pains. My teeth are grinded down a bit (but I eat alot of grinding type food, chew alot, and do know I have light grinding pass, etc). But since I have no lower jaw soreness, it could be my joint causing tension to affect everything. Very possible because of my autoimmunity (sometimes arthritis related/joints).
- changing of teeth in location, or areas could cause it due to displacement or changes. Example are wisdom teeth taken out, braces, etc.
- neck muscles, muscle tensions.
Not a concern:
- Laying ony sided/ears to sleep or long time shouldn't cause problems.
- Ear wax should come out naturally or else can come to them for cleaning. Do no use qtip.
History:
2015? Dr. Tsai took out my extreme chronic tonsils surgery, and helped with lip biopsy for sjogrens. Great surgery experience. read more