Ideas to soothe ear infection pain

[kallia]

Anyone up? It’s 3am and I can’t sleep due to horrific ear infection pain.

Diagnosed with outer ear infection (swimmers ear) on Friday. Been taking antibiotics since but they haven’t helped and the pain is getting worse and worse. I’ve maxed out on all the painkillers I’m allowed and have a hot water bottle glued to my head, but it still feels like a fox is eating my face.

Can anyone give me some tips to soothe the pain or distract me with a silly Christmas story until morning?

Ooh, sounds awful. Can you sip a hot orange squash? Or a hot water and lemon? There's something about the acidity and heat that helps.

Poor you. Ear pain is horrendous. However, outer ear infections are usually skin- related, and would expect irritation/itching. I’m a doctor (although not a GP!)

This sounds off the scale for even an inner ear infection - antibiotics (if correct) should be having some effect by now.
We’re seen face to face, and by a doctor?
Which painkillers and how often?
Which antibiotics?

Sorry, were you (not we’re)

Call your GP who may need to prescribe you different more effective antibiotics

Perhaps try cold pack instead of heat

What painkillers are you taking?

Try and sit up rather than laying down.
Drink plenty of water.
Try and do an activity to take your mind off of the pain. When we are in pain our muscles tense up which can increase pain.
Try steaming with vicks. Put hot water and vicks in a bowl and breathe in with a towel over your head.
Try humming constantly.
Try a hot shower and massage your head and neck in it.
Think that's all I can think of just now. Sorry op, earache is horrible. Hope you get better soon 💐

Sit upright. Strongest painkillers you have and got water bottle in painful ear and sleep. Call Drs asap and request change if antibiotics .

Did they give you ear drops? That's the only thing that worked for my husband when he had it, along with oral antibiotics

Thanks all. I’ll try the lemon and hot water this morning, sounds lovely.

I saw a GP Friday who prescribed an ear spray (otimize) and then another Saturday because the pain was so bad who prescribed Fluxclocillin (that’s spelled horrendously, sorry). Headed back this morning as it doesn’t appear to be working!

Painkillers, taken cocodamol and naproxen. I’ve been prescribed tramadol too but the cocodamol makes me feel woozy so they said only take it if everything else fails, and I’m not sure I want to take it if it’s going to make me more out of it!

Just opened a jigsaw puzzle to try and take my mind off it…

I should also add I’m a huge wuss when it comes to pain. Feel a bit pathetic going back to the doctor again for an ear infection, but it really is very sore!

Pain needing tramadol isn’t typical for an outer ear infection, which usually has itching and irritation too, with some discharge.

Yours sounds more like a middle ear infection, which has much more severe pain, often a raised temperature, and needs a different type of antibiotics. You can get both types of infection together, occasionally.

Did you have your ears examined by the GP today/last week? Have they changed your management after being seen today?

Thanks so much for your help @quince2figs :)

Was seen today and the GP confirmed an outer ear infection, although he couldn't see the eardrum. No fever. He sent a swab off for analysis just to be sure and to check I'm on the right antibiotics.

Today has been a little better in terms of pain - cocodamol & naproxen have actually managed the pain properly, hooray! - so here's hoping the night will be okay too!

Lemon water was lovely though, so I'll definitely stick with that, thanks for the tip.

Glad you are improving!

I also really recommend ibuprofen for ear pain. It's oddly the one that works the best. I've had some horrible ear infections and I just alternate cocodamol and ibuprofen at max doses around the clock. Personally, I'd also take the tramadol if that is an option. Being out of it isn't necessarily a bad idea if it gets you through.