Hello r/tinnitus!! So happy to have found this community. I can agree with most in this subreddit that this is the number one ailment in my life.

Let me start by saying that my tinnitus is a clicking/popping sound in my right ear. I've had this intermittent pop for about 5 years now. It seems to follow my heartbeat and when it started it only happened when I was walking or moving. now it happens randomly even when sitting still.

I've seen 3 ENT specialists about this and they say everything appears normal. I've had a CT scan, MRI and a scope, all have shown normal findings, less a slight mastoid liquid which the doc prescribed antibiotics that were ineffective in relieving my symtoms. My hearing is also unaffected. The last ENT said it's likely a spasm in the muscle that connects to either the anvil or stirrup in my inner ear. I've also heard that I may have eustachian tube dysfunction or ETD. The sound in my ear is the MOST ANNOYING thing I have ever experienced. I rarely find relief from executing the Valsalva maneuver, moving my jaw until it pops which also makes me think this might be TMJ related. I've tried almost all nasal sprays (no relief) I've been prescribed a Benzo (no relief).

I am out of options and it seems to only be getting worse, can anyone relate or offer any advice for how to get this symptom relieved???

Some more information: The click sounds like it is ON or behind my eardrum, I have constant slight congestion in my cheek sinus (I always feel like I have mucus I can "snort" from the right side). when I execute the Valsalva maneuver, sometimes I hear a high pitched squeak like air has made it past an inflamed passageway to my inner ear and that's the only time I get serious relief. I do feel like it's a pressure differential between my ear and eustachian tube that causes the clicking to start, I also think there is something in my inner ear like foam or a hair that causes the clicking.

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I heard of a procedure called Eustachian tube Balloon dilation, but there are no doctors close to me and my first ENT doc said it wouldn't do anything for me so I was reluctant to pursue further. Has anyone had this procedure???

I appreciate any and ALL feedback especially if it's just a guess or speculation as it might help me narrow down a remedy. I hope something I've said above can also help anyone that may be going through something like this.