I've been suffering from this ear pain for quite a few years - it originated when my wife replaced our 'comfortable' pillows with very expensive goose-feather versions that were so pumped full of feathers no air could get to my ears and they 'over-heated' (subsequent discarding of the pillows has earned me little sympathy from my wife). Once started, the pain occurred every night and got so bad that I had to (try to) sleep on my back as the pain would start even as I turned my head a fraction to one side or the other - almost like the bubble in a spirit level moving off centre was enough to initiate it. Because of this, I began to doubt myself and think this must all be in my mind being some sort of self-induced psychosomatic pain ...... so it was a huge relief to find this site and these conversations (and, as others say, to realise I'm not alone and not going crazy!)

The reason for joining this conversation, however, is to report that one of the contributors (back in 2017) suggested a solution, which I tried, and found to work. They had taken a mix of vitamins (Calcium and Vit D) and had found, initially, that it worked - so I did the same, and the results are:
- Started taking off-the-shelf Calcium and Vit D in the middle of January 2021
- 10 days into it had to give up the Calcium as it was, for some reason, upsetting my tummy, but continued Vit D
- By mid-Feb, 2 weeks of Vit D brought an astonishing change and, although not completely eliminated, I found the worst of the pain had gone and I could, on occasion, lay on my side. It wasn't guaranteed not to hurt, but I did get some sleep-on-my-side nights
- Now, in the first week of March the situation is that I can get off to sleep lying on my right ear no problem, whilst the left is uncomfortable (but not really painful)
........I wake up about 2.00pm-ish (like clockwork) with no pain but then find it uncomfortable, at that point, to lie on either side, again
........I take a couple of aspirins, lay on my back, try and blank my mind, and then find I wake up in the morning having slept on either side, with no pain

Apologies for the length of this note but I really felt obliged to mention the success from Vit D and thank the correspondent who suggested it. It's not for me, off course, to persuade anybody of any quackery-solutions but I hope my positive experience suggests that there are ways around this awful pain (whatever it is)