Long term unidentified earache

[HappydaysArehere]

I have had a burning, painful ear for about four months. Been back and forwards to the GP. Have had ear spray, antibiotics (just in case) been given antihistamine nose spray which I have been using for the last two months. Last Friday I had an appointment with a consultant at a hospital which is run on the lines that if the NHS takes to long they will help. The consultant was very thorough. When he looked in the ear he said he could see something. I can't recall what he called it but basically the ear drum shreds skin and there was a piece which was side on so he could see it. He said he could get rid of it and I was ecstatic with relief. In no time he produced a small piece of dried up and rolled up piece of skin which he showed me. He asked me if it felt better but as the pain had gone before I went in I couldn't really tell. He checked my jaw and looked down my throat and made no more appointments. All was well until the evening and the pain returned. It has felt even worse, burning and aching. The journey to this hospital involves a long journey and I am at a loss to know what to do. The GP wasn't going to refer me to NHS at the time I asked her and told me to continue with the nose spray. I have purchased some more of this Beconase over the counter. I was showing signs of improvement a couple of weeks ago but now it is persistent. Sorry about the length of this. I am depressed and Mumsnet has always been so supportive in the past. Thank you in advance for any help available.

[sadie9]

Hi Happydays,
Which ear is it? Is it the ear you normally either hold your phone up to?
If it is the side you normally hold the phone up to, check and see if the pain is worse or returns after you have been using your phone. I know it sounds weird but it is worth considering. The heat or contact with the phone could be causing a contact dermatitis or the heat could be causing this pain in your ear. Or if the pain is caused by the phone pressing down of the 'sticky out bit' that is the door of your earhole for want of a better word.
I was abroard for 10 days, didn't use my phone at all, came home used my phone for a long call and bang! my inner ear was really inflammed and irritated just after the call. I use Betnovate steroid ointment just inside my ear and that sticky out bit that gets pressed with the phone.
See if longer time spent on the phone is proportional to the extent or return of the ear ache. A simple remedy could be using an earpiece or over the ear phone rather than hold the phone to your ear.

[HappydaysArehere]

Thank you so much Sadie. It used to be the ear I used for the phone but because it is so sore and painful I have been using the other ear. I will experiment with the phone but at the moment it feels inflamed. Seems worse since I visited the consultant. Then it was coming and going. Now it's continuous. I am pleased you are dealing with your ear problem. Thank you again.