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Extreme outer ear pain: What can it be?
Please....someone help me.
I’ve visited my allergist, an ear-nose-throat specialist and my own internist.
None of them have ever heard of my problem and don’t know how to help me.
Started approx 20 yrs ago, Every couple of months I would get an awful pain on one of my ears if I had been laying on it during the night. It would happen to either ear, whichever one I laid on.
To describe the pain. It is so intense that it wakes me. Pain is NOT inside the ear but around the edges of the entrance of it. It is so painful, I can’t touch it. It will be throbbing. It also hurts tremendously behind, towards the bottom back of the ear. Can’t touch that either. The only thing that will make it go away is when I then get up and stand and within approx 30 min it is gone. I even tested it by massaging behind the ear (once I could bear to touch it) and it seemed to make pain go away faster.
The last approx 3 years, I have no longer been able to even lay on either ear when in bed because now the pain will come every time. I have learned to sleep on my back. Sometimes I would still move onto my side during night, and wake up with pain.
For last 6 months, I’ve been having pressure and achy feeling around one of the ears, even while laying on my back. Then I started getting the pain even while sleeping on my back.
I am very much afraid that the day will come when I will no longer be able to lay down in my bed to go to sleep.
I am desperate to get to the bottom of this and perhaps for first time in 20 years be able to comfortably lay on my side in bed.
My ENT doctor said my ears are healthy .... i have no hearing loss.
This ear pain, however, is starting to affect my daily living, since I don’t seem to be able to get the restful sleep I need.
I will be forever grateful if someone could pinpoint this. thanks.
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my outer ear is red and i have a pain its started 5 yrs ago and keeps going and coming back im 13 now ive seen doctors they say its nothing
@cameronjarvis83, welcome to Connect. You'll notice that I moved your message to this existing discussion group about outer ear problems. Click VIEW & REPLY to see the discussion and scroll through past messages.
Did I understand correctly from your message that you are 13 years old and you've had pain and redness on your outer ear off and on for the past 5 years? Have you tried different pillows? Is it worse after sleeping?
No.. I'm not 13
Had this happen a few times now..The weirdest thing ever! Can't even touch or pull on outter ear without horrible pain. Then the stabbing earache. Earlier in day I couldn't chew without pain. Thought for sure needed a root canal. Then that evening ear pain hit suddenly! I tried heat, didn't work. I then took IB Profin, and tried my Flonase. Wanted to mention too, could bend over and turn head..could feel fluid shifting. Crazy I know, but desperate! Within 2 hrs, feeling better to sleep. I hadn't been sick, runny nose, nothing! I woke up the next morning and it was gone!! So I feel it has something to do with sinus, the fluid and pressure! Before when experiencing, was during day. I work at hospital, had 2 Dr look at ear and throat, everything normal! But that PAIN when barley touching the outside ear was unbearable. And then POOF, gone as quick as it came on. Try some Flonase and anti inflammatory. Going to make note for myself. Also noticed having some popping today. Going to try Flonase again. Good Luck!!
I wrote long note, but I think it has to do with the fluid, pressure, and sinus. I tried Flonase and it was gone the next day..just a thought
I found something that works !! The nurse at my primary doctor's office told me she had this pain in the cartilege , and so did her mother. She found out about a pillow.. called "The original pillow wiith a hole) Google it.. there is a video all about it. It is made in England, cost $66. I ordered it through Amazon. You sleep with your ear in the hole. I haven't had one incident since, and it's going on 3 weeks now.. In fact, for some odd reason, I sleep through the night, and don't even have to get up so often to go to the bathroom. Make sure when you Google it, or go to Amazon, you use the words "The ORIGINAL Pillow with a Hole". I am so thrilled to be able to pass this on..
Doesn't work. Very uncomfortable.
There are copy-cats out there. I said you have to buy the "Original" ...made in England. My ORIGINAL Pillow With a Hole, is very soft, and very comfortable. It took about 2 weeks to arrive at my home. Something is wrong, because it does work. I guarantee you did not order the Original.
I too have been suffering from the same pain for at least 10 yrs. I thought maybe it was because I have had 3 neck fusions. Nerve damage but no one had answers. I have just found out that I have Severe COPD. Lord it’s terrible to wake up in such pain every night. I can’t message my ear because it hurts so bad to touch it. Both sides hurt by morning from rolling over to get off the left ear. I’m at my wits end.
Try "The Original Pillow with a Hole". It costs $66 and you can Google it or purchase from Amazon. It's made in England, and I have not had ONE iota of pain since I've been sleeping on this pillow. My doctor's nurse and her mother had the same horrible pain as you, and me. Thanks to this pillow Ihave been pain-free.. about 3 weeks already. Be sure to order the ORIGINAL (there are copycats out there, and they don't work).. This one does. Good Luck.