Very painful ear keeping me awake - help!

[PaperBlueCornflower]

I think this has developed from a mild cold I've had for a couple of weeks.

I feel as if I've been hit on the side of the head, my ear , jaw and scalp feel bruised and the gland under my ear very tender.

Heat helps a bit. I'm taking Ramiptil so not sure lemsip or ibuprofen are a good idea.

It's very localised pain but, like toothache, impossible to ignore and the last 3 nights my sleep has been badly affected.

What could cause these symptoms? How long is it likely to last/what can I do at home to manage it? Help!

@PaperBlueCornflower I’m awake with exactly the same thing after having the flu last week. Watching to see if anyone comes along either advice.

One possible cause (no one can diagnose over the internet) would be an ear infection.

NHS page tells you when to see the GP and how a pharmacist can help:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ear-infections/

I'm so sorry to hear that @CantWaitForSpring26 it does help to hear someone else has the same problem though.

Thank you for the link @verycloakanddaggers. I don't quite tick all the ear infection list. I am now wondering if I've had a very mild version of the current flu, I had a couple of tired and shivery days where I had to lie downwith a hot water bottle a week ago. I usually have the flu jab but didn't this year (ill on the day) but I could have some immunity from being quite ill with flu last winter.

Hope you're ok@CantWaitForSpring26.

My day wasn't too bad but ear really uncomfortable again now

If you have ever had chicken pox then this could be shingles affecting the ear, look up ramsay hunt. If it us this then you need to see your GP quickly as you will need antivirals.

A cup that you have put boiling hot water in then quickly poured out. Place that over your ear like a vacuum.

You poor thing! Ear inflammation of any sort is the pits and is liable to make you feel awful as well as interrupting sleep.

Unfortunately I think you are correct about ibuprofen if you are on Ramipril (??).. it can interfere with the Ramipril.

it could well be an ear infection secondary to respiratory infection, but those are generally viral and come good eventually. ABs only eork if it’s bacterial.

There are other things that can cause pain in the ear, skull and jaw. Ear carbuncles are one - immensely painful and hard to get rid of but antibiotic drops are a godsend.

I think you've misunderstood the point of the page, you don't have to tick all of the list.

The main thing is it clearly says after 3 days of ear pain, see your GP.

Thank you @verycloakanddaggers I had another look at the page and I see your point. I missed the link giving more detail about inner, middle and outer ear infections.

It was bad enough last night that I thought I will have to try and contact my gp today.

Thank you everyone for your information and suggestions.

Hope you're feeling better @CantWaitForSpring26.

(Edited for weird autocorrect typo - hope no offense caused!)

Try a hot water bottle or heat pad. If the problem is more like an earache, inside the ear, this usually helps.

GP is a good idea.

Sounds like a classic ear infection to me but GP will know when she looks in your ear.

As a long-time sufferer of ear pain try the following:

• A warm hot water bottle held over the area is relieving;
• sucking hard boiled sweets
• lots of warm drinks
• wear a scarf even indoors
• warm steamy baths BUT avoid getting water in your ears for at least a month (block with cotton wool when you wash your hair)
• sleep slightly propped up on the “worst side” to help ear drain, you can also sleep on the hot water bottle that way
• also can try medical-grade olive oil in a little blob of cotton wool (get the olive oil from the pharmacy), but if you’re given ear spray or other ear medication check before you use olive oil

Kind GP, antibiotics and spray steroid and painkillers. Fingers crossed for a better night's sleep. I was incapable of getting anything done beyond the school run and absolutely basic domestic tasks today.

Many thanks for the handholding, wisdom and company to all 🎄

Nothing to add except huge sympathy as ear pain is awful. Hope you feel better soon.

Check it's not TMJ, and inflammation of the Tendon Mandibular Joint. Presents like earache but it originates in the jaw.

Same here - saw a doctor last week who thought probably an infection and gave me amoxicillin, but unsure as I have a lot of wax apparently. So AB tablets as spray wouldn’t get past the wax. ABs did nothing so I went back, she got her colleague in who said no infection, just impacted wax causing the pain, but then said I had an inflamed lymph node and gave me the AB spray and said not to do anything until it settles - until what settles, not sure, given that I don’t have an infection but also have an inflamed lymph node due to an infection that I haven’t got, that is being treated with a topical spray that is pointless because it won’t get past the wax 🤷‍♀️

Their reasoning for no infection was a) ABs didn’t work and b) no temp although I had taken paracetamol. But I am a bit confused, I must say.

Anyway, I am going to an audiologist tomorrow for wax removal, hope that helps, the pain is awful, constant throbbing 😣

I will try a hot water bottle tonight, thanks to PPs suggesting this.

I'm glad you've seen the GP, how are you getting on?

@verycloakanddaggers you for thank you for asking. I'm somewhat better but the scalp/lymph node/ jaw pain is still quite troublesome. It all feels very tender to the touch and a bit puffy but really no swelling or heat. Very much a bruised sensation.
I just came back to post a question about painkillers as I woke up an hour ago in quite a lot of pain. If it wasn't Saturday I'd contact my GP again but will cross my fingers and try to wait until Monday.
I might post this separately. I'm not sure whether to take paracetamol, cocodamol or ibuprofen. I have Ramipril prescribed recently so I asked the GP who said paracetamol or ibuprofen or naproxen would be ok short term but the pharmacist said I couldn't buy naproxen otc. I have a few cocodamol left over and also lemsip in the cupboard. Any thoughts?

I have similar right now, I'm wondering if mine is dental although I can't seem to pinpoint where it's coming from, just hurts under my jaw/in the lymph especially when tilting my head or lifting my head after sleep, rubbish timing with work and Christmas, hope you feel better soon

I would try and stick to paracetamol and ibuprofen if they are working at present. You should only take cocodamol for 3 days.

I've got no good advice on the painkillers, but I'm glad to hear you are a little better although still in pain. It all sounds horrible!
Don't be worried about going back to the GP if the antibiotics don't seem to be clearing things up.
Does heat help?

My daughter has had an ear ache twice in the past few months and both times I took her into boots. They checked her ear and once prescribed antibiotics, ear drops to reduce the inflamatuon the second time so perhaps you could call into a pharmacy?

@Geranium1984 unfortunately the nhs website says pharmacies can only treat children for this problem.

I am trying to sit it out until Monday planning to contact GP then. Heat does help @verycloakanddaggers thank you for reminding meto get another hot water bottle. I don't think there's any kind of help available out of hours that I can get to without a car.

The painkillers are keeping it manageable but still very uncomfortable. I think the antibiotic/steroid spray has has a positive effect on the area sprayed but I have to admit overall I'm not really getting better and some symptoms are slightly worse eg fairly deaf in left ear and some really nasty (new) head pain occasionally.

I'm functioning at a basic level but other than providing food have left DS to himself today and managed very little of my planned Christmas prep.

On the positive side I have been able to make a virtue from necessity up to a point and do very much appreciate the advice and sympathy here.

Good luck @Newdoggoand anyone else suffering similarly.