Small areas start to stiffen such as right behind my ear.
Pain and stiffness then happen going into my
neck and
up into my head, tension, headache, eye pain, etc. I've also had inner ear tube, or Eustachian tube dysfunction which causes dizziness, ear fullness, etc. And honestly, some of what you describe sounds like it could be related to anxiety. Any of that sound plausible to you?