My ear! Help

[RexDangerVest]

Got an ear infection & the pain is horrendous. It's throbbing from my ear through my brain 😭. I'm on antibiotics and taking regular painkillers - what else can I do??! Dr wouldn't prescribe strong painkillers because 'the antibiotics will help' but after 2 days I feel 0% better 😖

Could you wrap a hot water bottle in a towel and place it on your ear?

I can try that, I've got one with a fluffy cover so could just lie on it actually. Counting down the minutes until kids are asleep so I can lie down!

I would definitely go back to see your doctor, I had the same problem after tests after tests found out I had tearing of the eardrum!!

Oh god, serious sympathy. Ear pain has to be one of the worst ones! Alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen, try to sit in a steamy room- while another household member having a shower or running a bath (don't get water in your own ear) lie on your sore ear on a hot water bottle. Also, this one is hard to describe but try to push your jaw into a parallelogram shape if that makes sense with lower molars pushed towards sore ear. Avoid any fizzy drinks as burping is painful! Keep up other fluids. Wishing you a super swift recovery you poor thing!

Could they do anything for it @Bellabooz ?

Thank you @kitk!! I'm normally quite tough but feeling very sorry for myself

I get these a lot. Definitely the hot water bottle but take off the furry cover and wrap in something thinner as the hotter the better IMO (although obviously not hot enough to burn the outside of your ear). Very often it seems to loosen something or help something burst inside the ear?

Honestly OP (MN won't let me tag you for some reason) is rather have a baby than an ear infection. Huge sympathy and hope antibiotics kick in ASAP x

Doctor just told me to take painkillers and it healed itself over a few weeks , but try not to get water in your ears . I can't understand what caused it but I blame ear buds !!

See gp again. Maybe on the wrong antibiotics?

My dad had ear problems all his life and he absolutely swore by hot salt in a sock held against the ear. Said it helped to draw out the infection and eased the pain better than anything else. Another thing that's helped me in the past is garlic oil - crush a clove of garlic, let it steep in some warm olive oil for half an hour or so, then strain out the lumps and put a few drops of the oil into your ear (making sure it's not still hot first). You will stink but garlic is a powerful antibacterial.

Please go back. You could end up with the infection spreading to the bone - you may need different antibiotics.

Fucking hell I hate ear infections!

A salt sock is your friend. Fill a sock with table or rock salt. Tie the end. Microwave until very warm (not hot - be careful). Hold it against your ear.

Hope it eases soon. I've just recovered from one and I swear I could have happily clawed my ear off.

Also, take ALL THE PAINKILLERS. I was alternating nurofen plus and paracetamol every couple of hours. Still within safe doses, but it did help.

Also high five to @spiderlight's dad, fellow salt sock advocate

Roast an onion in the oven and when cooled a little bit put Middle in your ear.
Leave overnight

I'm on my second ear infection in 2 months. Really bad pain, deaf in one ear and bleeding from the ear too.
I'm on the strongest antibiotics plus regular pain relief. Using a hot water bottle helps too. If you sleep on the infected ear try to sleep propped up a bit.
I found by day 4 the antibiotics kick in.

Don't put garlic or onion in your ear.

Remember the poster who burst her DHs eardrum following advice posted?

Ring 111 if you need more painkillers.

I love you all, thank you! Will definitely try the salt sock. It feels so much worse today so going to try and get a drs appointment after work ☹️

Don't put ANYTHING in the ear!

Hope the salt sock helps OP.

Go back to the doctor. I had this a couple of months ago (with perforated eardrum). I had antibiotics but it turned out I didn't have the usual kind of infection.

Within 24 hours of taking the right kind, there was a huge improvement, pain reduced and the puss had stopped leaking 🤢

Why does mn health advice always involve putting random stuff from the kitchen or bathroom in places it really shouldn’t go?

Don’t use onion or garlic except if you’re making dinner.

Sleeping propped up can help with the pain. You can buy stronger painkillers over the counter at the pharmacy. You could take codeine on top of paracetamol and ibuprofen. The pharmacist can advise. You also don’t need to “alternate” ibuprofen and paracetamol-they’re safe to take together.

You have my sympathy. Ear pain is horrible.

Should have said, doctors appointment is definitely the right course of action given it’s got worse no better.

As per pp no onion garlic or oil.in your ear.
Please use regular pain relief and see your g.p as soon as possible.
I lost my hearing after an ear infection as it lead to serious complications.
Do not fuck about with your ears people!

Roast an onion in the oven and when cooled a little bit put Middle in your ear.
Leave overnight

^
*Do not do this.
*

Roast an onion in the oven and when cooled a little bit put Middle in your ear.
Leave overnight

Dont do that.Go back to your gp,and if you are not happy ask fr another Dr.Gps seem to not take ear pain seriously.Ask fo different pain killers.And wrap a hot water bottle in a towel and place aginst the ear.Or do what i used to,place your pillowcase in the dryer or on your rad and use that.