Ear Pain with Throat Cancer

This likely isnt much help but I also had chronic ear pain from tonsil cancer. And it took seven months to get a correct diagnosis. Tylenol worked best for me as well.
I also had throat pain and very tight jaw muscles. I saw a PT for exercises and dry needling to loosen my jaw muscles which made me feel better but didn’t directly impact the ear pain.
The pain went away post treatment which was awesome.

When I had my initial diagnosis for tonsil cancer I had severe ear pain that made me cry. It radiated up and down my throat into my neck. Since I am post treatment, (it’s been about two years) I still have slight ear pain, but not nearly like I did before. Keep your head up-it will get better. It doesn’t go away, but it’s subsided to the point where I don’t actually notice it so much.

Thank you. I'm so sorry you had to go through that. I am trying gabapentin and hoping!

I tried that, but it didn’t work for me. If it doesn’t work for you kick and scream until you get a pain management specialist that will give you something that will work. Be your best advocate. Sometimes they don’t listen. Do not suffer in silence 😘

Oh my goodness. The gabapentin made a HUGE difference. First time in 3 months I haven't awakened at 3am with stabbing pain in my ear. I still feel it a little, but not to the point of feeling like someone is jabbing an icepick in my ear. Thanks be.

Thank goodness! So happy for you 👏👏👏

i had stage 4 tonsil cancer 2011. chronic ear pain still. I went everywhere for help. dentists, pain drs, hearing specialists, TMJ drs, ent etc.. about 1 year ago, i started Tylenol arthritis OTC for my back, and botox in the back of my neck . it took the ear pain away except for when i moved my head all the way to the right. I also notice that covering my ear stops the pain. No ear buds but headphones are good covers.
please get scoped every 3 months lifetime to be sure your throats ok.
I'm currently in recurrence from the first radiation treatments in 2011. Had a hard time swallowing in December 2024. went for a throat stretch in March 2025 and cancer was found in the hypopharynx caused by the radiation I had in 2011. . It was in situ but shows on PET scan, CT, MRI, and has hit the esophagus. its considered stage 4. Bad location to treat. (Ive been scoped every 3 months for 14 years).
im 79 so no surgery. Im being irradiated with the MRLinac that targets the tumor and saves the good tissue.
Going to be an interesting journey as Im doing 2 rad treatments a day,low dose for 2 days and then back at it again in a month. Amazing that now its possible to be irradiated same areas becuase years ago, not possible.
Please know that must continue with your ent for life.