The Inside of My Ear Hurts, Why?

9 ear canal pain conditions

This list does not constitute medical advice and may not accurately represent what you have.

Middle ear infection

Middle ear infection, also called acute otitis media, is a bacterial or viral infection of the air-filled space behind the eardrum. An ear infection is usually secondary to a cold, allergy, or influenza.

Young children are most susceptible due to weaker immune systems and to the small size and shape of the Eustachian tubes in the ears. Children in group care settings are more exposed to colds and flu and therefore more prone to ear infections.

Symptoms include ear pain due to inflammation; drainage of fluid from the ear; and sometimes hearing difficulty. Children may cry, run a fever, and pull at the affected ear.

If symptoms last more than a day, a medical provider should be seen. Long-lasting or repeated ear infections can lead to hearing damage and to speech and learning problems.

Diagnosis is made through physical examination.

Middle ear infections often clear up on their own and antibiotics may only be needed for infants and severe cases. Warm compresses and over-the-counter pain relievers can be used. Do not give aspirin to children.

Rarity: Common

Top Symptoms: fatigue, sore throat, new headache, fever, ear canal pain

Symptoms that always occur with middle ear infection: ear canal pain

Symptoms that never occur with middle ear infection: vertigo (extreme dizziness), face weakness, facial numbness

Urgency: Primary care doctor

Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa)

Swimmer’s ear, or otitis externa, is an infection of the canal which runs from the eardrum to the opening of the ear.

It is caused by anything that introduces bacteria, fungus, or a virus into the canal. Water that stays inside the ear after swimming is a common cause, as are cotton swabs used for cleaning or earpieces that create irritation.

Most susceptible are children, because they have narrower ear canals that do not drain well.

Early symptoms include redness, itching, and discomfort inside the ear canal, sometimes with drainage of clear fluid.

Even mild symptoms should be treated because they can quickly get worse. The infection can spread and intensify, becoming very painful with increased drainage, swelling, fever, and loss of hearing.

Diagnosis is made through patient history and physical examination of the ear canal. Lab tests may be done on a sample of the discharge from the ear.

Treatment includes having a medical provider clean the ear canal of debris and discharge, and a prescription for antibiotic and/or steroid eardrops.

Rarity: Common

Top Symptoms: fever, ear canal pain, ear fullness/pressure, jaw pain, ear pain that gets worse when moving

Urgency: Primary care doctor

Temporomandibular joint (tmj) dysfunction disorder

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction is often caused by a variety of factors, including daily habits, your teeth alignment, and even stress. It usually affects one side of the jaw, but in some people it can affect both sides. People with TMJ dysfunction will typically experience pain on one side of the face that is worse with chewing, yawning, or other movements of the jaw. With some simple changes in your daily habits and other at-home treatments, most people with TMJ dysfunction will experience relief of their symptoms within weeks.

Treatment for temporomandibular joint dysfunction usually includes avoiding eating hard foods or foods that require a lot of chewing. Good posture and relaxation techniques may help relieve tension in the muscles that connect to your temporomandibular joint. In people who clench or grind their teeth, a mouth guard worn at night (and fitted by your dentist) may also help relieve your symptoms. Pain relievers, like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), can also help.

Rarity: Common

Top Symptoms: dizziness, pain, restricted movement, and clicking sounds from jaw, history of headaches, jaw pain, pain in the back of the neck

Symptoms that always occur with temporomandibular joint (tmj) dysfunction disorder: pain, restricted movement, and clicking sounds from jaw

Urgency: Primary care doctor

Earwax blockage

Ear wax production is a normal process, as the body makes wax to protect the ear from infection. Sometimes ear wax can build up and cover the eardrum, which is a thin layer of skin that stretches across the end of the ear canal and picks up sound from outside. Ear wax buildup has nothing to do with poor hygiene, and it is not possible to prevent a build-up by washing.

Rarity: Uncommon

Top Symptoms: dizziness, dry cough, ear canal pain, ear fullness/pressure, ringing in the ears

Symptoms that never occur with earwax blockage: swollen ear, fever

Urgency: Phone call or in-person visit

Chronic earwax blockage

Earwax production is a normal process, as the body makes wax to protect the ear from infection. Sometimes ear wax can build up and cover the eardrum which is a thin layer of skin that stretches across the end of the ear canal and picks up sound from outside.

Rarity: Common

Top Symptoms: dizziness, dry cough, ear canal pain, ringing in the ears, ear fullness/pressure

Symptoms that always occur with chronic earwax blockage: ear canal pain

Symptoms that never occur with chronic earwax blockage: swollen ear, fever

Urgency: Phone call or in-person visit

Cholesteatoma (a non-cancerous growth in the ear)

Cholesteatoma is a type of skin cyst that is located in the middle ear and mastoid bone in the skull. It can be a birth defect though more commonly occurs as a complication of chronic ear infection.

Rarity: Rare

Top Symptoms: ear fullness/pressure, ringing in the ears, pain in one ear canal, vertigo (extreme dizziness), hearing loss in one ear

Urgency: Primary care doctor

Burst ear drum

The ear drum is a thin membrane that vibrates as sound hits it, transmitting that vibration into signals that the brain understands! When it bursts, your hearing is affected. It typically happens after some force to the ear drum, such as a blow to the ear, an exploding firecracker, a fall onto water, or even a sharp object in the ear.

Rarity: Rare

Top Symptoms: ear canal pain, constant ear pain, ringing in the ears, vertigo (extreme dizziness), hearing loss

Symptoms that always occur with burst ear drum: ear canal pain, recent ear injury, constant ear pain

Urgency: Primary care doctor

Ear plug made of skin cells

Keratosis Obturans is a rare disease where materials that make up the skin create a plug in the ear, causing pain, discharge, and hearing changes.

Rarity: Rare

Top Symptoms: hearing loss, pain in one ear canal, ear discharge, hearing loss in both ears, severe ear canal pain

Urgency: Primary care doctor

Glue ear (otitis media with effusion)

“Glue ear” is caused by fluid built up in the middle ear (under the eardrum). It happens more frequently in kids than adults because of having frequent colds and less developed tubes in the ear. In adults, it’s caused by acute or chronic sinusitis in 66% of cases. It may also be caused by cigarette smoke, allergies, reflux, genetics, or bacteria, all of which stimulate the production of the fluid.

Rarity: Common

Top Symptoms: ear fullness/pressure, constant hearing loss, hearing loss in one ear, trouble hearing that is better in noisy environments, ear canal pain

Symptoms that always occur with glue ear (otitis media with effusion): ear fullness/pressure, hearing loss in one ear, constant hearing loss

Symptoms that never occur with glue ear (otitis media with effusion): ear canal pain, fever

Urgency: Wait and watch

Ear infections – Better Health Channel

The ear is made up of three parts. The outer ear includes the part you can see and the canal that leads to the eardrum. The middle ear is separated from the outer ear by the eardrum and contains tiny bones that amplify sound. The inner ear is where sounds are translated to electrical impulses and sent to the brain.

Any of these three parts can become infected by bacteria, fungi or viruses. Children are particularly prone to middle ear infections (otitis media). It is estimated that around four out of five children will experience a middle ear infection at least once.

Symptoms of ear infections

The symptoms of an ear infection depend on the type, but may include:

• earache
• mild deafness or the sensation that sound is muffled
• ear discharge
• fever
• headache
• loss of appetite
• itchiness of the outer ear
• blisters on the outer ear or along the ear canal
• noises in the ear – such as buzzing or humming
• vertigo (loss of balance).

The function of the Eustachian tube

The ear is connected to the back of the nose via the Eustachian tube. This tube equalises air pressure inside the ear, and funnels secretions from the middle ear into the throat. The walls of the Eustachian tube lie flat against each other to prevent the migration of bacteria or other germs into the ear from the nose and throat.

Whenever we swallow, a small muscle flexes and opens the tube, allowing air pressure equalisation and the drainage of secretions. If the Eustachian tube is blocked, secretions and associated bacteria build up inside the middle ear. This can cause ear infections, mild deafness and an increased likelihood of a ruptured eardrum. 

Causes of ear infections

Some of the many causes of ear infection and contributing risk factors include:

• upper respiratory tract infections
• sudden changes in air pressure – such as during airline travel
• smaller than average Eustachian tubes, or a blocked Eustachian tube
• cleft palate
• young age – babies and children are more prone to ear infections
• swimming in polluted water
• failing to dry the outer ear properly after swimming or bathing
• overzealous cleaning of the ears, which can scratch the delicate tissues.

Types of ear infections

Ear infections are diagnosed by physical examination and laboratory analysis of pus or discharge. In some cases, CT scans may also be taken.

Types of ear infection include:

• otitis externa 
• otitis media – acute or chronic
• serous otitis media 
• infectious myringitis 
• acute mastoiditis 
• vestibular neuronitis 
• herpes zoster of the ear.

Otitis externa

Otitis externa is an infection or inflammation of the ear canal between the eardrum and the outer ear. It can be triggered by exposure to dirty water or by mechanical damage due to overzealous cleaning. The infectious agent can be either fungal or bacterial.

Treatment options include:

• professional cleaning of the ear canal, although syringing the ear should usually be avoided
• eardrops containing antibiotics and steroids, if the infection is bacterial in origin
• oral antibiotics
• ear drops containing antifungal medications and steroids, if the infection is fungal in origin
• pain-relieving medications
• keeping ears dry.

Otitis media

Otitis media is an infection of the middle ear, which can be either acute or chronic. Children are most commonly affected by acute otitis media because it is caused by colds and blocked Eustachian tubes – both typical ailments of childhood. The infectious agent can be either viral or bacterial, with research suggesting that viruses are responsible for most cases.

Sometimes the eardrum will burst, leading to pus in the ear canal, but usually the eardrum will heal up again by itself. Treatment options include:

• pain-relieving medications
• antibiotics – if the infection is bacterial in origin
• eardrops – if there is pus in the ear canal.

Frequent bouts of acute otitis media or one lingering attack can lead to chronic otitis media. Without medical intervention, the chronic infection can burst the eardrum or damage the delicate structures within the middle ear.

Other possible complications of untreated chronic otitis media include meningitis, infection of the balance organs within the ear (labyrinthitis), sensorineural deafness (permanent hearing loss) and paralysis of the face.  

Treatment options include:

• thorough cleaning of the ear and use of topical antibiotic drops (with or without steroids)
• medication to treat the infection
• surgical repair of the perforated eardrum
• prevention strategies to reduce the risk of another infection.

Serous otitis media

Serous otitis media is known as glue ear. Children aged between six months and two years of age are most vulnerable to this type of ear infection. Glue ear commonly develops after a middle ear infection, and is characterised by the build-up of fluid and pus within the middle ear. Treatment options include antibiotics.

If antibiotics fail, or if the child is plagued by repeated attacks of glue ear, surgery to insert small drainage tubes (grommets) may be needed.

Infectious myringitis

Infectious myringitis is inflammation of the eardrum, caused by infection from either viruses or bacteria. The eardrum responds to the inflammation by forming small blisters. This can be quite painful. If fever is present, the infectious agent is almost certainly bacterial.

Treatment options include:

• antibiotics
• pain-relieving medications
• professional rupturing of the blisters

Acute mastoiditis

The bone that can be felt immediately behind the ear is called the mastoid. Acute mastoiditis is infection of this bone, caused by prior acute otitis media. The symptoms include reddened and swollen skin over the mastoid, fever, discharge from the ear and intense pain.

This is a serious condition. Untreated, acute mastoiditis can lead to deafness, blood poisoning, meningitis and paralysis of the face. Treatment options include:

• intravenous antibiotics
• surgical drainage of the infected bone.

Vestibular neuronitis

The inner ear contains the organs of balance – the vestibular system. It includes three fluid-filled loops (semi-circular canals) which respond to the rotation of the head. Near the semicircular canals are the utricle and saccule, which detect gravity and back-and-forth motion. When the head is moved, signals from these organs are sent via the vestibular nerve to the brain where it is processed

Vestibular neuronitis is inflammation of the vestibular nerve, probably caused by a viral infection. The main symptom is sudden and dramatic vertigo, which may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The eyes may also involuntarily flutter towards the affected side of the head. 

Treatment options for vestibular neuronitis include:

• medications, including antihistamines
• anti-nausea medications
• vestibular physiotherapy – to help your brain to compensate or retrain.

Herpes zoster of the ear

Sound is sent as electrical impulses to the brain via the cochlear nerve. Herpes zoster of the ear is an infection of this auditory nerve by the herpes zoster virus. Symptoms include ear pain, vertigo, and small blisters on the outer ear and ear canal and perhaps on the face and neck.

The main nerve that services the facial muscles may also become infected, leading to swelling and partial paralysis. Treatment options include:

• antiviral medications such as steroids and acyclovir
• pain-relieving medications.

Where to get help

Boil (Furuncle) in the Ear Canal. Symptoms and treatment

A small boil (furuncle) that occurs in the ear canal can be very painful. It usually clears without treatment. However, painkillers and antibiotic medicines are sometimes needed. Tips on how to help prevent further episodes are given below.

What are the symptoms of a boil in the ear canal?

Boil in the ear canal

The main symptom is pain. This pain may become quite severe even though the boil is usually small. This is because of the location of the boil.

Other symptoms may include itch, irritation and sometimes a temporary hearing loss whilst the infection is present.

If the boil bursts, you may have a sudden discharge from the ear. If this happens, the pain often eases dramatically and the symptoms soon settle.

What causes a boil in the ear canal?

Dr Sarah Jarvis MBE

Mostly they occur ‘out of the blue’ for no apparent reason. They are like most spots or small boils that can occur on any area of the skin. In some cases the infection develops on damaged skin. You can damage the skin in the ear canal if you poke your ear with such objects as a cotton wool bud. Slightly damaged skin can quickly become inflamed and infected.

What is the treatment for a boil in the ear?

Like most small spots or tiny boils, a furuncle is likely to go without any treatment. The body’s immune system can usually clear germs (bacteria) that cause small boils. However, the pain may be bad until it goes.

The following may be used as treatment:

• You may need painkillers.
• A cloth (flannel) soaked in hot water and then held against the ear may relieve the pain.
• Antibiotics, such as flucloxacillin, are sometimes needed if it does not clear on its own or if the infection is severe.
• Sometimes the boil becomes larger and more painful. You may need to be referred to an ear specialist if this happens.

Can I prevent infections in the ear canal?

Some people find that water, soap, shampoo, hair spray, etc, which gets into their ears can cause irritation or itch. The itch may cause you to poke or scratch the ear canal with a finger or a cotton wool bud. This may damage the skin in the ear canal and cause inflammation. Inflamed skin can quickly become infected.

Some people try to clean out their ears with cotton buds. This is not only unnecessary but may damage the skin in the ear canal.

Therefore, you may prevent infections of the ear canal by the following:

• Try not to scratch or poke the ear canal with fingers, cotton buds, towels, etc.
• Do not clean the ear canal with cotton buds. They may scratch or irritate and may push dirt and wax further into the ear. The ear will clean itself, and bits of wax will fall out now and then.
• If you have sensitive ears, keep the ear canal dry and avoid soap or shampoo getting in. You can do this when you shower by placing a piece of cotton wool coated in soft white paraffin (for example, Vaseline®) in the outer ear. Do not use corners of towels or cotton buds to dry any water that does get into the ear canal. This will only push things further in. Let the ear dry naturally. When you swim try to keep your ears dry. You can do this by wearing a tightly fitting cap that covers the ears. Some swimmers use silicone rubber earplugs. However, only use them if they do not irritate the skin in your ear canal.

Ear Infections | The MetroHealth System

There are three different types of ear infections:

• Outer Ear Infections
• Middle Ear Infections
• Inner Ear Infections

Treatment for each of these varies depending on the type and location of each infection.

Outer and middle ear infections are seen commonly. Inner ear infections are less common.

Outer Ear Infections

Outer ear infections are sometimes referred to as swimmer’s ear, because it can be caused by water or moisture in the ears. Although some outer ear infections may be caused by swimming, most are caused by a combination of heat, moisture (e.g., sweat) and local trauma (e.g., scratching the ear canal).  

Many outer ear infections actually start as a type of heat rash, starting with itching of the ear.  When the ear starts to hurt or feels blocked, typically you may try to clean the ear with cotton swabs (Q-tips) or irrigate it with solutions like hydrogen peroxide. Unfortunately, this tends to make the issue worse. As the swelling in the ear canal worsens, the pain may become severe. The ear becomes more tender to the touch and may become red and swollen. The ear canal swelling can lead to pain, drainage from the ear and sometimes trouble hearing.

Earwax serves a protective function and can actually help prevent outer ear infections. But beware, ear wax may build up and block hearing. If you attempt to remove it yourself, it may lead to infection, damage, or chronic dermatitis of the ear canals.

Treatment for Outer Ear Infections

Treatment of an outer ear infection requires a careful examination by a physician, a thorough and gentle cleaning of the ears, and usually some sort of ear drops. Antibiotics by mouth are occasionally required and severe cases may require hospitalization and medication through an IV. Although most cases of outer ear infections are caused by bacteria, some may be caused by fungi or viruses, such as H. Zoster (shingles). In these cases, your physician may suggest more specialized treatment.

Middle Ear Infections

A middle ear infection is an infection of the space behind the ear drum. This type of infection is very common in children.  However, middle ear infections can and do occur at any age.

Some middle ear infections may follow a cold or sinus infection, while others may follow a quick change in pressure that can happen, for example, when flying in an airplane. Severe middle ear infections usually cause quickly worsening ear pain and muffled hearing. The pain may worsen over just a few hours, and in some cases, the pressure may cause the eardrum to rupture or burst with sudden drainage from the ear, this may be pus or blood. Unlike outer ear infections, moving the ear itself (pulling on your ear) is not usually painful.

There is another type of middle ear infection that involves infection of fluid caught behind the ear drum (much like mucous trapped in a sinus). This condition may not cause pain, but you may experience a significant hearing loss and feeling of your ear being blocked. This is because the fluid prevents good movement of the eardrum and hearing bones, affecting your hearing.

Treatment for Middle Ear Infections

The number of ear infections and the number of children with repeated ear infections are both on the rise. Antibiotics have been the treatment of choice for middle ear infections, but bacterial resistance is increasing and has required longer courses of treatment and more potent antibiotics. Surgery, in the form of ear tubes, removal of the adenoids and or tonsils, are sometimes necessary. Untreated middle ear infections can result in temporary or permanent hearing loss and other complications. Medical evaluation, treatment, and monitoring are therefore necessary and appropriate. In children, exposure to smoking is an important risk factor that can lead to an increased number of infections. Parents and caretakers are strongly urged to quit smoking.

Inner Ear Infections

Inner ear infections are actually not usually infections at all. While true infections of the inner ear can occur, they are quite rare and are usually associated with severe illness such as meningitis. Most conditions diagnosed as inner ear infections involves inflammation or irritation of the balance centers in the ear. These episodes of inflammation usually result in the very sudden, severe dizziness, often with nausea and vomiting. Any sudden change to your hearing should quickly be evaluated as well, whether or not it is also accompanied by severe acute dizziness.  

Treatment for Inner Ear Infections

There are several possible causes for these types of spells and medical attention and evaluation are definitely warranted. Antibiotics are usually not necessary for these episodes, since very few are actually caused by bacteria. Many cases are thought to be the result of prior or active viral infections. If you suffer an acute attack of dizziness or change to your hearing, timely medical evaluation is important.

If you think you might have an ear infection, and would like to make an appointment to see one of the ENT physicians, please call MetroHealth Medical Center at 216-778-8890.

Ear Swelling – Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

The sensation of swelling in, on or around your ear may cause it to feel warm, inflamed and tender. Many causes of swelling and inflammation are attributed to an infection, which occurs when bacteria, viruses or other microorganisms enter your body. Your immune system mounts a response to the microorganisms. It is this response by your immune system that produces the typical symptoms of infection, such as redness, warmth and swelling.

An ear swelling is often attributed to otitis media with effusion, in which the Eustachian tube of the middle ear becomes blocked with fluid and infected. The Eustachian tube connects your ear to the throat and permits the drainage of fluid from your middle ear. If fluid builds up, it can cause the middle ear to become infected with bacteria or viruses, causing pain and swelling.

Another source of swelling is otitis externa, commonly known as swimmer’s ear. This condition, which results from water getting into the outer ear canal, is often accompanied by burning, swelling and itching. Water remaining in the ear creates a warm, moist environment that encourages the growth of bacteria, such as Pseudomonas. Other causes can contribute to otitis externa, including an infection of the bone at the base of the skull, a foreign object lodged in the ear, and irritation from itching or cleaning the ear. Allergies to earrings or skin conditions, such as eczema, can also produce symptoms similar to swimmer’s ear.

Swelling accompanied by fever and redness around the outer ear and the skin around your ear can be indications of a serious infection that should prompt you to contact your health care provider right away. If your experience tenderness in the bone behind your ear, along with pain and swelling, you could have mastoiditis (infection of the mastoid bone behind the ear).

Although most ear infections either resolve on their own or with antibiotics, some symptoms warrant immediate medical attention, as they can point to an infection of the bones behind the ear. Ear swelling may also be a symptom of anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction.
Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you have any serious symptoms, including swelling of the throat or difficulty breathing; high fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit; severe pain or severe headache; swelling and redness of the skin around the ear; or throbbing or tenderness behind the ear, especially over the bone.

Blocked Eustachian Tubes | PeaceHealth

Condition Basics

What are blocked eustachian tubes?

The eustachian (say “you-STAY-shee-un”) tubes connect the middle ears to the back of the throat. The tubes help the ears drain fluid. They also keep air pressure in the ears at the right level.

When you swallow or yawn, the tubes open briefly to let air in to make the pressure in the middle ears equal to the pressure outside of the ears. Sometimes fluid or negative pressure gets stuck in the middle ear. The pressure outside the ear gets too high. This blockage causes ear pain and sometimes trouble hearing.

What causes them?

Swelling from a cold, allergies, or a sinus infection can keep the eustachian tubes from opening. This leads to pressure changes. Fluid may collect in the middle ear. The pressure and fluid can cause pain. You also can have ear pain from changes in pressure while you are flying in an airplane, driving up or down mountains, or scuba diving. Fluid in the ear can lead to an infection (acute otitis media). Young children have a high risk of ear infections, because their eustachian tubes are shorter and more easily blocked than the tubes in older children and adults.

What are the symptoms?

Blocked eustachian tubes can cause several symptoms, including:

• Ears that hurt and feel full.
• Ringing or popping noises in your ears.
• Hearing problems.
• Feeling a little dizzy.

How are they diagnosed?

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms. He or she will look in your ears. The doctor also may check how well you hear.

How are blocked eustachian tubes treated?

Blocked eustachian tubes often get better on their own. You may be able to open the blocked tubes with a simple exercise. Close your mouth, hold your nose, and gently blow as if you are blowing your nose. Yawning and chewing gum also may help. You may hear or feel a “pop” when the tubes open to make the pressure equal between the inside and outside of your ears.

If you have allergies, the doctor may prescribe a steroid medicine that you spray into your nose. Decongestants that you take by mouth or spray into your nose may be helpful. You may need antibiotics if you have an ear infection.

A warm washcloth or a heating pad set on low can help with ear pain. Put a cloth between the heating pad and your skin so you don’t burn your skin.

In some cases, people need surgery for a blocked eustachian tube. The doctor makes a small cut in the eardrum to drain fluid and to make the pressure the same inside and outside the ear. Sometimes the doctor will put a small tube in the eardrum. The tube will fall out over time.

How can you prevent them?

If you have allergies, talk to your doctor about how to treat them so your sinuses stay clear and your eustachian tubes stay open.

When you are in an airplane, you can chew gum, yawn, or drink liquids during takeoff and landing. Try the exercise where you gently blow while holding your nose shut.

Dr. Roach says sore ears could be caused by inflamed cartilage

Dear Dr. Roach: Please, please help me. I’ve visited my allergist, the ear-nose-throat specialist and my own internist. None of them has ever heard of my problem and don’t know how to help me.

Starting in 1990, every couple of months I would get an awful pain on one of my ears if I had been lying on it during the night. It would happen to either ear, whichever one I lay on.

I went to an ear-nose-throat specialist then, who did not know what to make of it.

The pain is so intense that it wakes me. It is not inside the ear but around the edges of the entrance to it. It is so painful that I can’t touch it. It will be throbbing. The only thing that will make it go away is when I stand up. Within 30 minutes, it is gone. I even tested it by massaging behind the ear (once I could bear to touch it), and it seemed to make the pain go away faster. The ENT said my ears are healthy.

I am very much afraid that the day will come when I will no longer be able to lie down in my bed to go to sleep.

I just had an MRI done, and the reading shows no “growths,” according to my doctor’s office.

This ear pain, however, is starting to affect my daily living, since I don’t seem to be able to get the restful sleep I need.

L.T.

Without doing an exam, obviously I can’t be sure, but I wonder if you have relapsing polychondritis. “Relapsing” means that it comes and goes, and “polychondritis” means there’s inflammation of different cartilage in the body. The firm, flexible tissue in the ears is cartilage, as is the firm tissue in your nose and your windpipe. Relapsing polychondritis is a rare disease, often with a long delay in diagnosis due to its rarity and intermittent nature. It can affect just one or two areas, as might be the case with you, but it also can affect joints and critical organs, like lungs, heart, kidneys and blood vessels.

It appears to be an autoimmune disease, one in which the body’s defence system attacks its own cartilage. Usually, there is some redness or swelling of the cartilage.

Treatment varies with severity of the disease. Sometimes anti-inflammatories work wonders; other times, people need very powerful immune-suppression drugs. A rheumatologist is most likely to be familiar with this condition. I found a nice support group at health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Rpolychondritis/.

Dear Dr. Roach: I have major back pain. I’ve been to the emergency room and seen many doctors. One gave me hydrocodone then stopped and accused me of being an addict.

I can’t do anything strenuous: just cleaning house leaves me in tears. Is an operation my only choice?

S.G.

In general, there are three kinds of treatment for low-back pain: medication, therapy and surgery. Medications include anti-inflammatories, Tylenol and narcotics, but narcotics like hydrocodone are the least preferred due to both side effects and recent data showing that they don’t help over the long term.

I am sure it must be very frustrating to try to find a medication to help you and be wrongly labelled an “addict. ” It can take patience to find a medication that helps.

By therapy, I mean physical therapy, but also acupuncture and chiropractic treatments, which are helpful in many cases.

Surgery is an option, but only for particular types of back pain (confirmed by MRI or other imaging) that aren’t getting better with other treatments.

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to [email protected]

© Copyright Times Colonist

90,000 Inflammation of the ear, causes, symptoms and treatment

On hot summer days, many of us want to plunge into cool water. And we rush who – where: some to nearby ponds, rivers, lakes, and some to distant seas. But few people think that their ears, noses and throat may be affected.

In the summer, the number of patients seeking help from otolaryngologists increases sharply. Most often, people are worried about ear pains, and most often these are pains of an infectious nature.

How so? – you ask. On the pages of our site, we have already talked a lot about various infections, including those found in various waters. So it turns out that you swam, dived, the infection, along with a small amount of water, got into your ear, the liquid stagnated, the inflammatory process began to develop. This disease is called otitis media.

Otitis media is a disease based on the inflammation of the mucous membrane of the middle ear.

Otitis media is of several types, depending on which part of your ear it struck: external and middle.

Symptoms of otitis media

• Acute pain in the ear, usually constant, which gradually increases and is especially worse in the evening;
• high temperature;
• weakness, decreased appetite;
• If the purulent process melts the eardrum, then liquid discharge begins to flow from the ear. Allocation does not always occur outward, in some cases the inflammatory process can go to the bone tissue of the temporal region.In this case, urgent surgical intervention is required.

ATTENTION!

Otitis media with improper or untimely treatment can cause deafness, mastoiditis, paresis of the facial nerve, labyrinthitis, less often – intracranial complications.

Otitis media

To avoid complications, treatment of otitis media should be prescribed only by an otolaryngologist.

Treatment of otitis externa involves a set of measures aimed at eliminating signs of inflammation and swelling of the external auditory canal.

Otitis media is an indication for the appointment of painkillers, antipyretic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs. Physiotherapy methods, external compresses are also used. In difficult cases, you even have to cut the tympanic membrane.

The main thing in the treatment of otitis media is not to delay the visit to the doctor and DO NOT TREAT YOURSELF!

Otitis media can also occur with:

• infection with a sharp object (hairpin, toothpick),
• upper respiratory tract infections (tonsillitis, runny nose, pharyngitis, tracheitis, laryngitis),
• accidental household injuries,
• hypothermia.

Everyone knows that a certain secret is produced in our ears – sulfur. If sulfur is produced in large quantities, a wax plug may form in the ear. If water enters the ear, the wax can leak into the deeper parts of the ear canal, from where it will be difficult to extract. Therefore, if after bathing you find that your hearing is poor or you feel tinnitus, do not try to clear the ear canal yourself. See a doctor!

The ingress of not entirely clean water into the nasopharynx is also fraught with inflammation of the throat and nose, especially if your immunity has been repeatedly exposed to the onslaught of various infections during the previous winter-spring period.

But you can get sick in summer not only by relaxing and swimming. You can easily pick up all of the above while sitting at work, at home or in the car under the air conditioner. A sharp temperature drop has a very detrimental effect on you and me. If the heat outside is 30 degrees, and in the room or in the car the temperature does not exceed 20-22 degrees, our body does not have time to rebuild, acclimatize. But such changes occur several times a day. Hence the runny nose and sore throat, and other inflammatory diseases.

If a common cold lasts more than a week, be sure to consult a doctor, complications of colds are much more difficult to treat.

You can find out more details and sign up for a specialist consultation by calling +7 (495) 292-39-72

Why does your ear hurt?

With ear pains that are very intense, we most often suspect otitis media.And we begin to be treated with home methods. However, otitis media are different, and not only they are the cause of pain and discomfort in the ears. The otorhinolaryngologist of the Panorama Med medical center Lilia Evteeva tells about this in detail.

– Lilia Borisovna, what is otitis media and how does it develop?

– Otitis is indeed the most common cause of ear pain, especially in children. In addition to the fact that they are acute and chronic, otitis media are divided by localization, being less or more dangerous.You need to know this in order not to bring the situation to an urgent hospitalization.

Depending on the site of inflammation, otitis media are external, middle and internal. Most often, otitis media occurs, which in the overwhelming majority of cases occurs as a result of infection from the nasal cavity or sinuses. When a person has a stuffy nose, he seeks to free him from the contents, and when blowing his nose, especially strong, drives the infection inside, into the auditory (Eustachian) tube.As a result, the tube becomes inflamed and eustachitis develops. With Eustachitis, a person experiences pain, noise (ringing, squeaking) and congestion in the ear.

Less commonly, the infection spreads by the hematogenous and lymphogenous route – through the blood and through the lymph, or by contact – through the injured tympanic membrane.

Eustachitis can be cured without consequences. But, if the infection rises higher, there is a catarrhal (no pus) otitis media. At the same time, the temperature rises, there is a sharp shooting pain in the ear, especially when chewing.Symptoms of intoxication are increasing. This condition is already dangerous enough to be treated at home. Moreover, it is impossible to cope with it on your own. You need to see a doctor.

– What will happen if things are left to chance?

– Catarrhal otitis media without treatment turns into a purulent form. The temperature rises even higher, and the pain in the ear becomes constant and intense, so that it hurts a person even to turn his head to the sore side.This inflammation goes through two stages – pre-perforated, when the eardrum is still intact, and perforated, when it bursts. With spontaneous damage to the tympanic membrane, pus comes out and the pain goes away, and the temperature drops. By this time, the pressure in the ear reaches such a degree that the person does not even feel the cotton and pain from the ruptured membrane. But waiting for the membrane to perforate on its own is very dangerous, as the pus accumulated in the ear can damage the ossicles, leading to irreversible hearing loss.Pus should not be in the ear cavity for more than two days! Treatment of the perforated stage of purulent otitis media is surgical. Since tympanic membrane shunting is a rather traumatic operation, it is most often performed in a hospital and requires antibiotic therapy.

– What are the signs of otitis media and how dangerous is it?

Internal otitis media is rare, in which case the infection enters the cochlea of ​​the inner ear.Another name for the disease is labyrinthitis. Its symptoms are very severe dizziness with loss of balance, nausea, vomiting. The patient is shown bed rest, antibiotics, and often surgery.

– And otitis externa, can it be confused with an ordinary boil?

– Otitis externa can indeed proceed as a boil or abscess. Infection in the external auditory canal most often penetrates by contact, including due to damage to the protective covering of the ear when it is cleaned with cotton swabs.If this pitting inflammation is not treated, then pus spreads under the skin and affects the subcutaneous tissue. Otitis externa can also be accompanied by hearing loss. The danger of otitis media of the external ear lies in the fact that the lymphatic system is nearby and the inflammation can go to the brain. Treatment is surgical and sometimes also in a hospital.

– Apart from otitis media, what else can cause ear pain?

– Ear plug can cause pain in the ear, which presses on the ear canal and eardrum, causing discomfort, hearing loss, noise in the ear.If the plug has been in the ear for a long time and has already dried up, it cannot be removed using home methods.

– And hydrogen peroxide won’t help?

– No, the cork will only get wet, the hearing may erupt for a while, but when this cork dries up, the condition will worsen. Moreover, if there is a hole in the eardrum from past otitis media, which people do not always even know about. In this case, the instillation of peroxide is not only useless, but also dangerous. Peroxide can enter the middle ear and begin to eat away at the mucous membrane of the tympanic cavity, which will lead to new inflammation and the development of otitis media.

– How else can you not try to remove the plug?

– You cannot try to get it with improvised means – pins, matches, etc.

– Do not put phyto-candles in your ears

– Do not put geraniums in your ear.

– It is very dangerous to clean the ear with cotton swabs – there is a risk of injuring the skin or leaving pieces of cotton wool and provoking inflammation. Mothers often come to me who accidentally pierced a child’s ear.Many people do not even know that cotton swabs are not intended for cleaning the ears – they have a different purpose. There are special means for the ears, but it is better to come to the ENT doctor who will competently and safely conduct the toilet of the ear canals.

– What are the reasons for the development of cork?

– Sulfur plug formation is a protective reaction of the ear to environmental factors. Therefore, more sulfur with the formation of a plug is produced in people who work in polluted conditions associated with dust, shavings, etc.p. Junk food, a sedentary lifestyle also contribute to the release of sulfur in large quantities, which clogs the ear.

– How to properly care for your ears?

– Ears do not need to be specially cleaned at all. Sulfur is produced in the amount necessary to protect the ear, and leaves it by itself, unnoticed by a person. This happens while talking and chewing. It is enough for us to superficially wash our ears and blot them with a towel.And in case of discomfort and suspicion of a traffic jam, periodically visit an ENT doctor.

– Can severe ear pain occur due to causes other than ear disease?

– Pain from other organs can radiate to the ear due to their anatomical proximity. One of the reasons for this pain is arthrosis of the temporomandibular joint. In this case, in addition to pain in the ear, the person experiences pain with a strong opening of the mouth, clenching of the jaw, and even when talking.

Any inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity – caries of the back teeth, periodontitis, stomatitis – can also give off pain in the ear, not associated with ear disease.

Severe pain and ringing in the ear can cause diseases of the nasopharynx – tonsillitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, since the auditory nerves are very close. And, finally, the cause of ear pain is often osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.

– We forgot to mention one more external effect – an insect getting into the ear, which is especially important for summer?

– A mosquito, a fly, even a cockroach can get into the ear. There have been many such cases with my patients. The insect, as a rule, immediately discovers itself – it begins to squeak, crawl, and try to get out. And your task is not to pull it out of your ear, since there is a great risk of driving the fly deep into the depths and causing inflammation, but immobilizing it. To kill the insect, sunflower oil is poured into the ear. The rest will be done by the doctor!

As you can see, it is difficult for oneself to understand the true cause of pain and discomfort in the ear. This can be done quickly and professionally by an otorhinolaryngologist and other specialists, if required.

90,000 Ear pain, otalgia – causes, examination and treatment | Symptoms

Acute obstruction of the Eustachian tube (e.g. due to colds or allergies)
Minor to moderate discomfort. Hurgling, crackling or shooting noises, nasal congestion (not always the case). Decreased hearing in the affected ear.

Pressure changes (barotrauma)
Severe pain. A case of a sudden change in air pressure in the recent past (for example, while flying in an airplane or diving).

Mastoiditis
Recent middle ear infection. Redness and soreness behind the ear. Fever and / or discharge from the ear often.

Otitis media (acute or chronic)
Intense pain, often with cold symptoms. Especially common among children. Sometimes there is discharge from the ear.

Infectious myringitis (infection of the tympanic membrane)
Strong pain. The eardrum is inflamed.

Ganglionitis of the knee node
Severe pain, blisters, or pustules in the outer ear.May be accompanied by hearing loss or facial muscle weakness.

Trapped sulfur or foreign matter
Foreign bodies are almost always in children.

Injury
Usually occurs during ear cleaning.

Otitis externa (acute or chronic)
Itching and pain (itching is stronger than pain; with chronic otitis externa, only mild discomfort). Sometimes foul-smelling discharge. The external auditory canal is swollen, red, filled with infected, pus-like contents.

Cancer of the throat, tonsils, root of the tongue, vocal apparatus (larynx) or nasal passages and upper throat (nasopharynx)
Chronic discomfort. Often long-term use of tobacco and / or alcohol. Sometimes enlarged painless lymph nodes in the neck. Usually common in older people.

Infection (tonsillar, peritonsillar abscess)
The pain is worse when swallowing. Visible redness of the throat and / or tonsils.

Neuralgia (inflammation of the nerve, such as inflammation of the glossopharyngeal nerve)
Frequent attacks of severe acute pain (lasting less than 1 second)

TMJ diseases
The pain increases with jaw movement.Insufficient smooth movement of the temporomandibular joint.

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Many of us, when we have ear pain, immediately run to the pharmacy and ask for “something for ear pain. ” However, they do not take into account that ear pain can occur for completely different reasons, and, accordingly, should be treated in completely different ways. To avoid the sad consequences, before starting to treat a sore ear, it is necessary to correctly establish the cause of the pain.The safest way here is, of course, to visit a doctor. A doctor who deals with ear diseases is called an otolaryngologist, or simply ENT.

However, it is very important to understand here that most often ear pain is a consequence of a cold and a general drop in immunity. In all these cases, it is necessary to treat not only the ear and relieve ear pain as a secondary symptom, but first of all it is necessary to treat the cold itself and strengthen the body’s immunity as a whole. For this, you will mainly need antiviral drugs.All of them can be conditionally divided into two types, depending on the principle of their action. The first ones are aimed at increasing immunity in general, the second ones kill viruses that have already entered the body. True, now it is already possible to find medicines that combine these two abilities (for example, Ergoferon), but they are still very rare in our market.

Such drugs can and should be taken already at the first sign of a cold, without waiting for the disease to become severe. However, in this case, you must carefully follow the information written in the drug’s instructions.

A badly treated or let loose cold often leads to ear inflammation and accumulation of fluid in it – the so-called otitis media, and this, in turn, is often accompanied by pain in the auricle.Otitis media can also be accompanied by accumulation of pus in the ears or severe swelling inside the ear.

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Possible causes of ear pain can also be trapped infections or harmful bacteria that affect the inner tissues of the ear. You can provoke it if you go outside after the pool in cold weather and do not dry your ears well.In this case, the water remaining in them and chilled outside can cause pressure on the eardrum and inflammation.

Fly in the ear – What to do if an insect gets into your ear, advice from doctors LLC “Polyclinic on Avtozavodskaya”

What if there is a fly, beetle or mosquito in the ear canal? First, let’s reassure you: it’s not dangerous. Yes, it is unpleasant, especially, it can cause dizziness and headache. But the eardrum will prevent it from penetrating further.

First aid in case of an insect in the ear (flies, flies or mosquitoes)

A living foreign body inside the ear causes discomfort by wiggling. Therefore, first of all, you need to stop it. To do this, put a few drops of vegetable oil or alcohol into the ear canal and go to bed. The oil prevents the insect from breathing and it tries to get out of the ear canal. If after two hours this has not happened and the stirring has not stopped, drip the oil again.

If the movements have stopped, but the foreign body is still inside, you need to remove it. To do this, flush the ear canal with warm water using a syringe or syringe without a needle. If after several attempts you were unable to remove a beetle, fly, fly or mosquito from your ear, consult an otolaryngologist or call him at home.

What cannot be done?

• Never try to pick out a foreign body with hard objects such as toothpicks, cotton swabs or matches.This can damage your ear canal.
• Do not try rinsing your ear with water if you are not sure that you have a living foreign body in your ear canal, and not another small object – otherwise it may swell and be difficult to remove.
• Do not pull anything out of your ear with tweezers – this should be done by a doctor!

How does ENT remove a foreign body?

To begin with, the otolaryngologist will examine you to determine exactly whether there is something left inside the ear and whether it is alive.If the doctor confirms that an insect (fly, fly or mosquito) has got into the ear, it will need to be removed. The removal method will be determined by the doctor.

Depending on how large it is and how deep it is, the doctor will either rinse your ear canal with water or remove the fly / beetle / mosquito with tweezers. If, before going to the doctor, you tried to remove the disturbing object from the ear on your own for a long time, the ear canal may be scratched. In this case, the doctor may recommend a topical treatment.

Inflammation of the ear in a child: how to avoid complications

Otitis media is one of the most common diseases in childhood. According to international statistics, 98% of children suffer ear inflammation at least once, 60% – face the disease twice. What is effective prevention and how otitis media is treated, said the otorhinolaryngologist of the Morozov Children’s Hospital, Candidate of Medical Sciences, holder of the status of “Moscow Doctor” Alexander Mikhailovich Ivanenko.

Why does otitis media occur?

Depending on the localization of the inflammatory process, otitis media can be external, middle or internal. Otitis externa is caused by microbes, most often manifested by lesions of the skin of the ear canal and furuncles in the area of ​​the auricle. Internal otitis media in most cases occurs with advanced otitis media.

Acute otitis media is an acute inflammation of the mucous membrane of the middle ear cavity.It develops against the background of respiratory infections. Ear infection occurs through the auditory tube, when mucus from the nasopharynx enters the middle ear and viruses, bacteria, fungal flora freely penetrate from the nasopharynx through the mouth of the auditory tube into the tympanic cavity.

Due to anatomical features, the smaller the child, the shorter and wider the auditory tube connecting the ear cavity with the nasopharynx. Therefore, in an infant who spends most of the time lying down, and a young child who does not know how to clean his nose, mucus can flow at any time.In adolescent children, the auditory tube is a sinuous, narrow tube, so infection from the nasopharynx into the middle ear is less likely to pass through.

Adenoid vegetations also contribute to the development of ear inflammation. This is a proliferation of the nasopharyngeal tonsil, which is the main focus of bacterial infection in the nasopharynx.

How does the disease manifest itself?

The main symptom of otitis media is ear pain. Children under one year old, as a rule, refuse to eat, because the sucking movements cause pain.Babies often touch the ear, rub it, cry. You can suspect otitis media by pressing on the tragus of the child’s auricle.

The key method for diagnosing otitis media is otoscopy – a doctor’s examination of the external auditory canal and tympanic membrane using a special instrument.

How to treat otitis media?

If the inflammatory process is at the initial stage, outpatient treatment is carried out. Therapy is selected by a pediatrician or otorhinolaryngologist, depending on the condition of the child.Necessarily used vasoconstrictor nasal drops.

If medical assistance is not provided in a timely manner, the inflammatory process turns into acute catarrhal otitis media, and then into acute purulent otitis media, characterized by the appearance of purulent discharge from the ear. In some cases, with an inadequate outflow of the contents or its absence, the child in the hospital undergoes paracentesis – an incision of the tympanic membrane. The intervention is performed under anesthesia. Then conservative drug treatment continues.

Which preventive measures are most effective?

Among many parents there is an opinion that otitis media can be prevented by “covering the ear with a cotton swab on the street” or “putting on a few hats for the child”. Such recommendations will not insure against otitis media.

Due to the fact that ear infection occurs through the auditory tube communicating with the nasopharynx, it is necessary to carefully care for the nasal cavity if the child has a runny nose. Otherwise, mucus flows from the nasopharynx into the middle ear, which leads to an inflammatory process in the ear.

In case of excessive growth of the nasopharyngeal tonsil, its removal is recommended.

90,000 How to recognize an ear disease? Types of ear diseases. Recording to the ENT.

Diseases of the ear can appear as a result of many reasons. Remember, ear health is the key to good hearing throughout your life. If the symptoms described below turn out to be familiar to you firsthand, contact the specialists of our medical center for help.

Types of ear diseases

Diseases of the hearing organs are divided into several types, these are:

– Diseases of the external ear.The outer ear is the auricle and the beginning of the ear canal.

In the presence of a sulfuric plug in the ear, people experience a lot of unpleasant sensations. The accumulation of hardened sulfur can be eliminated by rinsing. The medical center has a powerful and modern ENT harvester, which allows the doctor not only to conduct an examination, but also to carry out various medical manipulations.

Usually diseases related to this localization cover the area of ​​the skin and the ear canal. A furuncle of the ear canal is a pathology that affects the cartilaginous part of the auricle.The appearance of such a boil can be caused by infections.

Diffuse otitis media is also part of the disease of the external ear. The skin around the ear canal swells, becomes inflamed, and festering. This type of otitis media can go further – to the middle and inner ear. With otitis externa, the ear hurts a lot, it is impossible to touch it, and pus is released from the ear canal.

– Diseases of the middle ear. The middle ear consists of the tympanic membrane, the cavity, and the auditory tube.

In the presence of otitis media, the patient complains of severe pain, the most unpleasant sensations occur when pressing on the tragus.The pain can be given to the head, which is also one of the symptoms of otitis media.

Qatar, mastoiditis, glomus tumor are also diseases of the middle ear and require timely examination and treatment.

– Diseases of the inner ear. The inner ear consists of the semicircular canals, the vestibular cochlear nerve, and the cochlea.

Lack of timely treatment of diseases of the outer and middle ear leads to an aggravation of the situation. This is how diseases of the inner ear arise. In this case, you cannot do without medical assistance.Therapy in the presence of pathologies of the inner ear is mandatory, otherwise there is a risk of completely losing hearing.

– Other ear diseases. Ear injuries are also treated in an ENT clinic.

Causes of ear diseases

Ear diseases often appear due to hypothermia. Strong wind or light draft – all this can lead to pain in the ear and, as a result, hearing diseases. In cold seasons, be sure to protect your ears from the cold.

You should be aware of the rules of ear hygiene. It is better not to use cotton swabs to clean the ear canal. This can push the sulfur deeper, and this will lead to the formation of sulfur plugs.