Extreme outer ear pain: What can it be?

@ellienewfan, what allergy medication are you taking and how often? I have had this pain (30yrs) on the outside of both my ears, I purchased the pillow with a hole. It works most of the time but I still get the pain sometimes. I currently don't have any allergies, as I've been tested for them. I'm wondering if Ibuprofen would work as it's an anti-inflammatory.

Meloxicam.

I tried ibuprofen several times . did not work for me....but could for you. I used feather pillows so I could punch hole where my ear would be. once a day I was taking two allergy pills cetirizine which is generic for Zyrtec. keep in mind that my idea that mine was allergy related is just my guess since nothing else changed in my routine or medical situations. my allergies started approx. 30 years ago so it would be logical that inflammation and pain was related to that. also, after the pain was gone, and I started to go to one pill a day instead of two, in couple of weeks my right ear (bad one) started to feel like it was coming back. I quickly went to 2 pills a day again. after a couple of weeks, went back to one a day. it has not come back since that time, last fall. I am so lucky. by the way I used to get up in middle of night when pain woke me and sit up for about 5 minutes or so. pain would go away. later I discovered if I massaged around outside of ear it would go away faster. started softly and increased pressure as I could tolerate it. I wonder if inflammation of cartilage can occur for many reasons. when I was at ENT and he mentioned about the inflamed cartilage, he said "buy the highest thread count of pillow casing, that should help". I could not understand how that could be but did buy it as he suggested. shortly after that all pain was gone. I can't imagine that the thread count could have done it. but it's wonderful to sleep on ...ha ha. good luck to you.

I do realize that this post is 4 years old but I had to take a chance and put my input in. I have this issue as well and I am wondering; do any of you that have this issue, have fibromyalgia? I do and I am wondering if this could be that?

Peace

Hi @hippygrandma, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. While this discussion was started 4 years ago, it is still active. I'm confident that @ellienewfan @nibor63 @lioness @celesteh77 and others will join me in welcoming you. While we wait for the others to join in, I also want to let you know about the fibromyalgia discussions in the Chronic Pain group:
- Feeling at my wits end with Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/feeling-at-my-with-end-with-chronic-pain-and-fibromyalgia/
- Fibromyalgia https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/fibromyalgia-3/

Hippygrandma, Do you feel that fibro contributes to the outer ear pain? What have you tried to relieve the pain?

@hippygrandma. Hi. Just thought I'd give u my experience w the ear pain. Had it since i was in my late 40's. Am now 76. As i got older it became worse. Also have allergies. Also started in late 40 s. Never made connection. Allergies would make me very sick day after flying. Allergist suggested i double up on my allergy pills. Was taking generic once a day. So i did. Could fly again without getting sick. For some reason i kept taking 2 pills. Last fall my left ear no longer hurt at all. A month later the right one stopped hurting. I've thought about it and the only thing different that i did was the allergy pills. BTW the doc said he thought my cartilage behind each ear was inflamed. But he had no cure. I had lots of tests done. No results showing anything wrong. I stopped doubling up on allergy pills. It started to come back. Resumed the two pills. Went away again. Currently on the 2 pills. Periodically I'll try the 1 pill. But it keeps coming back. This may not b the answer for u but i can lay on both ears ..no pain. It's wonderful. Good luck to u hope u find an answer.

I have this problem intermittently. But, massaging a cream behind and on the outer cartilage seems to prevent it. I’m wondering if glasses exacerbate it? Does anyone have the issue who does NOT wear glasses?

Hello and thank you so much for the warm welcome! I am honored to be part of such a loving, intelligent and thoughtful group.

In regard to your question on whether I feel that fibromyalgia contributes to the outer ear pain, I can only reply with "I have no idea sister" lol! I have many pains and aches that I wonder if they have to do with fibro. As far as what I have tried to do to relieve it, there is not much to do. I keep going from one side to the other, like one of the other ladies in the forum said; I try to put my hand under my cheek. I try to put my hand around my ear, nothing works. I can only imagine that it happens more than I know because I pretty much have to drug myself to sleep because of severe temperature issues and pain from osteoarthritis and osteonecrosis, fibromyalgia, Dercums Disease, etc etc...

I definitely will check out the fibromyalgia link as well thank you so very much I look forward to contributing and learning from you all.

Peace

Hello thank you for posting, that's very interesting. I wonder what is in the allergy pills, is there anything in the allergy pills that could be anti inflammatory? I am very happy to hear that you no longer have the pain.

Peace

Interesting question. I shall have to research. Will post if i find anything worth noting