Please can anyone help me make sense of these symptoms?

[Blackcurranttoberry]

About 2 weeks ago I had a weird cold with severe coughing, pertussis style. Hurt my head and neck and woke me up at night, Then the cough disappeared and now the right hands side of my skull and neck are stiff and sore as well as my right ear. The right hand side of my throat feels tingly, numb and swollen. No other symptoms but the numbness is worrying :( any ideas what it could be?

Sounds like the coughing has triggered a neck spasm in your scalene muscle and that has pinched a nerve. Try hot packs on your front side neck and a really good massage or osteopath. If you really cant shift it, muscle relaxants might help. Ibuprofen is also a possible short term fix

Makes a lot of sense, didn't occur to me! Thank you!!

Ear infection or tonsils

I would go with an infection or inflammation in your Eustachian tube. It kinda links your nasal/throat to your ears. Treat it as you would a sore throat. Strepsils, saltwash gargle, drink fluids, paracetamol , time.