I’ve been having this problem for several years. It is the worst pain ever. It feels like someone just clocked ya right in the ear. It feels deeply bruised and traumatized. Don’t even try to touch it! I thought my pillow was too rough for my ear. Actually it was very soft. I got ( some, not much) relief from wrapping a fuzzy soft sock around my ear.
I finally gave up. I blame it on old age as just another one of those things they neglect to tell you.