Sensitivity to sounds early in the morning and pain lying on ears

Hello @beat16. Do you have any external cracks or raw spot/spots on outer ear? I had a very painful raw spot on my outer ear crease that would not heal. The doctor used Cryotherapy (freezing) and that did not work. Steroid cream also failed to help. The doctor wanted to take a biopsy, but I researched it online. Thank God for Google! I found the following condition is common in older people. Chondrodermatitis Nodularis Helicis (CNH) is a painful nodule that often interferes with sleep and occurs on the helix or antihelix of the ear in older patients. The cure is Nitroglycerin Cream. So, I asked my doctor if she would call some in, which she kindly did. Basically, the doctor knew about this condition but obviously wanted to have me go through expensive testing when the cure was a simple tube of cream. It took about six months of use, but I can finally sleep on my right side again...it was THAT painful. Maybe this is not what you have, but maybe it may help you. By the way, copy and paste the condition name into Google Images to see photos of the ears with this condition. Also, type in your symptoms to Google Gemini AI for answers to. Best Wishes to you!

Hello @thomason and thank you very much for your reply. I am happy to hear you managed to address your issue and able to sleep on your side without any associated pain. I have checked both ears and can not see anything like the photos I searched on Google Images. I wonder if mine is related to the ear infection although I recall having discomfort while sleeping on my side a little while before that all started...

Yes Google is a godsend in some ways as the ENT following the healing of the ear drum haven't been too helpful. I wonder if I might have hyperacusis although the sensitivity to sounds is most apparent early in the morning and I could go to a theme park later in the day for example and not notice it...

Waking every few hours is probably the worst part of it and spending out so much on various pillows in hope its just discomfort waking me up and nothing more serious...

@beat16, I was curious so plugged it into AI. Here is what it says about your symptoms:

"It is not uncommon to experience these symptoms following a ruptured eardrum. The pain, sleeping difficulties, and sound sensitivity you are describing are all potential side effects as the ear heals.

Difficulty Sleeping and Pillow Pain
Sleeping after a ruptured eardrum can be a challenge. The pain you're feeling is likely due to pressure on the delicate, healing tissue.

Pressure is the problem: Placing pressure on the affected ear, even with a special pillow, can be painful. You should sleep with the affected ear facing up to minimize this pressure and allow any fluid to drain.

Alternative positions: The best positions are sleeping on your back or on the side of your unaffected ear. Elevating your head with an extra pillow can also help reduce pressure and promote drainage.

Healing time: A ruptured eardrum typically heals on its own within a few weeks to a couple of months. However, if the pain persists or worsens, you should consult a doctor as it could indicate a complication.

Sound Sensitivity (Hyperacusis)
The sensation of sounds being more shrill and high-pitched is a recognized condition called hyperacusis. It is a hearing disorder characterized by a reduced tolerance to everyday sounds, which may seem uncomfortably loud or even painful.

Why it happens: The precise cause of hyperacusis is not fully understood, but it is often associated with damage to the auditory system, including the cochlea or the central auditory system. When the eardrum ruptures, it can't vibrate normally, which can disrupt the entire sound processing pathway.

Shrill sounds: The sensitivity to high-pitched sounds, in particular, may be related to the specific part of the inner ear that is affected.

What you can do: While it might seem counterintuitive, you should not completely avoid all noise. Over-protecting your ears can actually make hyperacusis worse over time. Instead, try to gradually re-introduce yourself to sounds at a comfortable volume. It's best to consult with an audiologist or ENT doctor for a proper diagnosis and guidance on sound therapy.

When to Seek Medical Attention
It's important to monitor your symptoms. While these issues are common, you should contact a doctor if you experience any of the following:

The pain is severe or does not improve.

You develop a fever.

There is a significant increase in hearing loss or dizziness.

You have new symptoms, such as facial weakness.

If your symptoms are persistent or causing significant distress, a healthcare professional can provide a proper diagnosis and recommend a treatment plan to help manage your condition and promote healing."

Well....me here! Unless I am not understanding correctly, AI is telling you to sleep with affected ear facing UP to avoid pressure. Although that part makes sense, it then goes on to say that the fluid needs to drain. Obviously, this cannot happen if the affected ear is facing up! Maybe try a heating pad for a short while with affected ear facing down during your waking hours, and sleep with affected ear up? I try to sleep more on my left side now, since my favorite side is my right. That is why I developed the painful condition. Too much pressure on one side. Good luck!

@thomason that's very useful, thank you for providing those details! Annoyingly my ears both hurt so I end up alternating sides or lying on my back which of course isn't as comfortable...the heating pad is a good suggestion I could definitely look into using that!

I think my ruptured ear drum took around 2 months to heal which I believe is fairly typical so i am definitely surprised that a month or so later the symptoms persist.

Additionally, I do on occasion have symptoms of Pulsatile Tinnitus but they seem to have stopped being as continuous as they previously were. The beating sensation usually was quite irregular and didn't seem to be insync with my pulse. If i moved suddenly upon waking it would last for the morning and sometimes part of the afternoon at 30 second intervals or more. All the ENT said at the time was yes it can be irregular but there's not much we can do for it. Hopefully this doesn't worsen anytime soon.