If the right side of your head hurts and radiates to your ear

Causes of pain in the ear in adults

When you have ear pain, it is important to remember what conditions may have recently existed for the appearance of discomfort. When an adult's ear hurts, the cause can be either a serious illness or a problem that can be eliminated in just a few days.

The most common causes of ear pain are:

inflammatory processes: acute otitis, mastoiditis, myringitis, abscess, perichondritis;
mechanical damage to the eardrum;
sulfur plug;
a bite of an insect,
foreign body;
frostbite;
burn;
injury.

To accurately determine the root cause of pain, consult a doctor. He will conduct an examination and ask about details that could provoke one or another cause of the discomfort that has arisen. After this, he will analyze the information received from the patient, evaluate the results of the examination, make a diagnosis and make a list of how to treat the pain.

Note! Pay special attention to the problem if the pain began after swimming in a dirty pond, as well as if the discomfort occurred against the background of a cold and general weakness. In this case, it is recommended to contact an ENT specialist for examination.

What is possible and what is not

If you experience ear pain, you can take painkillers. Vasoconstrictor nasal drops are also often used. Warming up and using ear drops is strictly prohibited. If the ear pain is associated with damage to the eardrum, there is a risk of seriously aggravating the situation.

In addition to standard methods of therapy, it is quite possible to use folk remedies. However, self-medication is strictly prohibited. If such recipes are used incorrectly, there is a risk of complications.

How to relieve pain, first aid

The best thing to do before consulting a specialist is to take a pain reliever and protect the affected area from moisture, dirt, as well as from mechanical stress, hypothermia and overheating.

One of the most unpleasant sensations, which almost every person has experienced at least once in their life, is ear pain.

Pain in the ear can be different: shooting, sharp, radiating to the head or jaw, aching, it not only instantly makes you forget about everything in the world, but can also be a symptom of many diseases with serious consequences.

The most common cause of ear pain is otitis, which is an inflammatory process in the ear, occurring, depending on the circumstances, in a limited, diffuse or moderate form. A limited form of otitis is a consequence of inflammation of the sebaceous glands (furunculosis) resulting from mechanical damage (picking in the ear with a hairpin or stick).

This disease is caused in most cases by weakened immunity and occurs against the background of diabetes mellitus, vitamin deficiency, gout, etc. The addition of a staphylococcal infection causes inflammation.

Ear pain can also be caused by a number of other reasons:

Various inflammatory diseases (inflammation of the sinuses, tonsils, jaw).
Hypothermia, frostbite and burns. Sometimes ear pain can be accompanied by itching.
Periochondritis, which is an infectious process in the tissues that cover the ear cartilage.
Acute disease of the outer ear. If you experience ear pain after swimming, it means that dirty water has entered the ear canal. Movement of the jaws leads to increased pain.
Furunculosis, which is a progressive inflammation in the hair follicles of the ear canal. When moving the jaws, the pain intensifies. When you press on the hard process located in the front part of the auricle, a feeling of weakness occurs.
A foreign object entering the ear canal can cause a serious inflammatory process. This cause is most common among young children.
Sulfur plug. Too much wax buildup in the ears can cause severe ear pain, accompanied by ear discharge and hearing loss.
Mastoiditis. Severe ear pain can be caused by inflammation in the mastoid cavity of the temporal bone located behind the ear. In this case, the pain is pulsating in nature and is accompanied by weakness, deterioration of the person’s general condition, increased body temperature, decreased hearing, thick discharge, and the appearance of edema in the mastoid bone.
Blocking the air flow passing through the Eustachian tube. This disorder causes a feeling of pressure in the ears. In some cases, pressure in the ears may be associated with inflammatory processes in the sinuses, as well as rhinitis and sinusitis of allergic origin.
Dental caries. The pain in this case is pulsating and radiates to the ear.
Ear injuries.

Pain inside the ear - the nature of the pain and its location

It is no coincidence that ear pain is considered one of the most terrible sensations. The symptoms that appear can be so painful that they do not allow a person to be distracted by something else. Even the strongest painkillers are often unable to stop it. The pronounced severity of painful sensations in this area is not accidental - the auditory canal is penetrated by a huge number of nerve fibers connected to other organs located in the head, and, directly, to the brain.

Important! When severe pain appears in the inner part of the ear, it is necessary to seek qualified medical help and not try to stop it yourself. Moreover, consultation with an otolaryngologist is necessary for any intensity of pain, since it is directly dependent on the cause that provoked the occurrence of the pathological phenomenon.

Pain as a symptom of otitis media

Sharp pain, increased temperature, discharge from the ear canal - all these signs signal the presence of inflammatory processes in any part of the hearing organ.

Main ear pathologies:

External otitis - develops when the hearing organs are damaged by staphylococci, Proteus, fungi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; the cause of the disease can be frequent and improper cleaning of the ears. The disease is accompanied by the appearance of boils, the pain intensifies during chewing, when pressing (pressing) on the auricle, hearing deteriorates, tinnitus occurs, the ear canal swells and turns red. Sometimes the temperature rises and discharge appears.
Otitis media is a disease often diagnosed in children; due to the anatomical features of the structure of the auditory tube, pathogenic microorganisms from the nasopharynx penetrate into the hearing organs. In newborns, the development of pathology can be provoked by frequent regurgitation, when milk enters the auditory tube and leads to disruption of drainage functions. Characteristic features of the disease are acute, shooting pain in the ear, which can radiate to the teeth, temporal region, eye sockets and brow ridges, discharge of pus, temperature 38 °C and above.
Internal otitis - the disease is accompanied by hearing impairment, pain, dizziness, vomiting, it is difficult for a person to maintain balance, the gait becomes unsteady, and an obsessive ringing in the ears appears.
The ear often aches, there is congestion, pain of a pulse nature with excessive secretion of earwax.

Otitis externa is a common ear disease.

If the inflammatory process is localized inside the ear and is caused by a bacterial infection, there is a high probability of hearing loss; often, even after recovery, problems with movement coordination remain.

Inflammatory processes in nearby organs

Often, unpleasant sensations in the hearing organs occur due to inflammation of the organs that are in close proximity to the ear, due to injuries, tumors.

Why your ear may hurt:

Mastoiditis is an inflammatory process of the mastoid process of the skull, which is located behind the auricle; the pathology develops against the background of purulent otitis media. The disease is accompanied by an increase in temperature to subfebrile levels, weakness, migraine, and insomnia. Intense pain occurs more often on one side, is localized behind the ear, radiates to the parietal region, upper jaw, and a strong pulsation is felt in the temporal part.
Lymphadenitis is an inflammation of the lymph node located behind the ear. This disease develops as a complication of dental and ENT diseases.
Abscess of the post-auricular area - a purulent formation can be located under the periosteum or subcutaneously. Removal is possible only through surgery.
Mumps is an inflammation of the salivary gland, the pain is localized under the ear.
Giant cell arteritis is a rheumatic disease that causes pathological changes in the ear artery. The disease is often diagnosed in women in old age.

What to do if your ear hurts

You should not self-medicate for ear pain until the cause of its occurrence has been determined. This can lead to complications, fraught with deterioration and even hearing loss.

The most common cause of ear pain is inflammation in the ear canal. Most often it can be otitis media.

For external otitis, treatment begins with removal of the boil. To do this, the surface of the ear is treated with an antiseptic, and the boil itself is cauterized with iodine. This form of the disease also involves the local use of Sofradex for ear instillation. In order not to aggravate the inflammation, during this period it is necessary to limit exposure to the street in cold weather.

Treatment of otitis depends on its form and severity of symptoms. The earlier therapy is started, the higher the effectiveness of the methods used. You can cope with the disease as quickly as possible with the help of medications.

Paracetamol and Otipax ear drops are prescribed as painkillers.

To improve the outflow of pus from the middle ear and relieve swelling in the ear canal, nasal drops are prescribed (Santorin, Naphthyzin, Nazivin, Tizin). In some cases, antiallergic drugs are used for the same purpose.

Since the cause of inflammation of the middle ear with a purulent course is an infection, the patient is prescribed a course of antibiotics. After a minor surgical operation to remove the pus, which is performed by a doctor, quickly healing and antibacterial drugs are instilled into the ear. It should be noted that you should not drip onto the eardrum.

Amoxicillin is considered the most effective drug for both children and adults. In some cases, it can be replaced with Augmentin or Cefuroxime. The course of antibiotic therapy for otitis should not be less than 8-10 days. Interrupted treatment can provoke a relapse of the disease and the occurrence of hearing loss.

Treatment of ear diseases

Pain is often treated with drops . They can be buried if:

the ear canal is clogged with a significant amount of sulfur, which can be corrected by softening the plug with a special solution;
there is otitis, which requires treatment and removal of sulfur without forced mechanical intervention, with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs containing an analgesic component;
the ear canal is clogged with overgrown fungal spores, requiring treatment with appropriate drops to remove the fungus
The patient has aerootitis disease, which is treated with ephedrine or naphthyzine.

Rules for ear drops

In order for the medicine to be beneficial and to reach the complex ear canal as intended, you need to know how to instill drops correctly:

before instillation, the external passage is cleared of sulfur using cotton wool sticks;
before use, the drops are heated to the temperature of the human body; they cannot be heated to a higher temperature or used cold; the bottle warms up best in the hand for some time;
after laying the patient on his side, the ear is pulled back and upward;
release 2-4 drops from the pipette, then release the ear and lightly press on the hard growth in front of the ear;
do not raise your head for a while to allow droplets to drain deep into the ear canal.

Anti-pain drops

Drops are used to relieve pain:

otinum;
Aurisan;
otipax;
otofa.

Otipax is used as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic in case of otitis media. If there is damage to the eardrum, then Otipax drops cannot be used. The first reduction in pain occurs after a few minutes, the attack completely stops after 30 minutes. Otipax contains lidocaine and phenazone, which actively relieve pain. a mild rash and itching may appear .

Otinum drops relieve the patient of an overgrown fungus in the ear canal. The medicine treats microbes and inflammation, but can be used for no more than 10 days. If an overdose of the drug occurs, then as a side effect you can get tinnitus, headache, increased and frequent breathing, as well as nausea and vomiting.

Aurisan ear drops are recognized as popular, inexpensive and active. The medicine antisepticizes the surface of the ear canal, simultaneously ridding the patient of harmful microorganisms, fungi and bacteria. Used for the treatment of acute otitis media with fungal complications. What adds to its popularity is that it is allowed to use drops during pregnancy, the main condition being the use of a precisely calculated dosage .

If your ears hurt, then otofa drops are an effective remedy. They contain rifampicin, which actively inhibits staphylococcal and streptococcal infections; the product can be used for no more than three days.

Drops for the treatment of otitis media

With otitis media, the ear hurts a lot. What to do at home? An incorrectly selected drug for instillation can aggravate the consequences, and the disease will end with a decrease in the ability to hear or a complete absence of hearing. The choice of therapeutic methods and drip drug depends on the severity of the inflammation and the presence of a rupture or crack in the eardrum. are used to treat otitis media :

medications with antibiotics and hormones of the glucocorticosteroid group consisting of sofradex, candibiotic, anauran;
drugs with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - otipax, otinum;
products containing antibiotics – Normax, Tsipromed.

Sofradex contains:

dexamethasone, which actively eliminates allergic itching and inflammatory processes;
antibiotic neomycin and gramicidin, which prevents bacterial pathogens from multiplying and kills gram-positive organisms.

Used for acute and chronic otitis, but not recommended for the treatment of fungus and viruses.

Candibiotics reduce inflammation and pain, inhibit bacteria and fungi. The composition of the drug includes:

antibacterial substance chloramphenicol with a bacteriostatic effect;
clotrimazole, which actively destroys fungi;
beclomethasone dipropionate to reduce allergic manifestations and inflammation;
lidocaine for pain relief.

The drug is not used in children under 6 years of age or in cases of damage to the eardrum.

Normax ear drops relieve pain caused by inflammation; they contain the antibiotic norfloxacin of the fluoroquinolone group. Used to treat internal and external inflammation of the ear, infectious lesions of the Eustachian tube, and in acute cases of the disease. In addition, drops are used as prophylaxis in surgery and for traumatic ear injuries.

Anauran ear drops are used for various pathologies , chronic and acute inflammation, otitis media and inferior, inflammation with perforation and serous congestion of a non-purulent nature.

How to treat ear pain at home

If ear pain is not accompanied by an increase in body temperature and suppuration, then the first thing to do is to keep the sore ear warm, while avoiding drafts and hypothermia.
The second necessary rule for ear pain is to drink plenty of warm drinks and introduce honey and lemons into the patient’s diet, which help weaken the disease by increasing immunity. Honey diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio is used as drops in the affected ear.
Alcohol tincture of propolis in the form of ear drops will help get rid of ear pain.
Warming vodka and camphor compresses are used as an anesthetic.
An effective remedy in the fight against the disease is rinsing the ears with a warm infusion of chamomile.
In severe forms of otitis, a compress based on fresh aloe juice placed in the ear will help relieve pain.
Drops of essential oils (almond or clove) will help cope with shooting pain in the ears.
You can get rid of ear pain with crushed Kalanchoe leaves, wrapped in gauze and inserted into the ear canal.
Onions and garlic have excellent healing properties for ear pain. These products are crushed and wrapped in gauze, placed inside the sore ear. A heated mixture of grated onion and butter is also used for ear compresses.

Ear pain can be caused by various reasons. Sometimes it is associated with infection, changes in air pressure, infection, or injury. Therefore, before starting treatment, it is necessary to determine the cause of the pain syndrome.

First aid for acute ear pain

If otalgia occurs in an adult or child in the evening or at night, you need to apply a warm compress. The next day, it is important to consult an ENT doctor. It is forbidden to apply a compress if the body temperature is above 38 degrees and pus is released from the ear canal. Sequencing:

Apply any vasoconstrictor drug to your nose. This will relieve swelling of the mucous membranes and restore ventilation of the ear canals.
Mix boiled water and boric alcohol, ratio 1:1.
Make a hole in fabric or gauze folded several times so that the ear canal and pinna remain open.
Treat the skin in the area of the compress with Vaseline or alcohol.
Moisten the cloth/gauze with the mixture. Place it on your ear, don't forget to open the auricle. Apply dry cotton wool to the ear canal and wrap it with a scarf.
Keep the compress for no more than 60 minutes. This method helps to numb the problem area for several hours.

If the eardrum is intact, you can instill the drug Otipax. It contains lidocaine (a local anesthetic) and phenazone (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). In case of purulent discharge, you are only allowed to take an antipyretic and analgesic tablet. The external auditory canal should be cleaned with cotton wool soaked in boiled water.

Diagnosis at home

At home, an inspection should be carried out in order to:

detect signs of infection,
identify
check availability .

No special preparations are required for the inspection. The best option is when there is another person at home who can conduct an inspection. It is better for an adult complaining of pain to sit with his head tilted to the side. The examination should begin with the healthy ear. This will make it easy to identify if there is a difference.

If you have an otoscope, hold it so that the tip of the funnel is directed towards the person's nose. Slowly change position so that you can see the walls of the canal and the eardrum. You can suspect a problem if the ear canal is swollen, there is,. In this case, any touch to the outer ear will cause pain.

When diagnosing, pay attention to the eardrum. Evidence of the disease is the presence of:

redness and swelling,
amber liquid or bubbles,
holes in the membrane
whitish scars.

If an otoscope is not at hand, the diagnosis can be made by correctly differentiating the pain. For example, with mastoiditis, throbbing pain appears, complemented by thick discharge, high fever, etc.

First aid is to take NSAIDs, for example, Nise, Paracetamol, Ibuprofen. Vasoconstrictor nasal drops and ear drops with anesthetics will help.

Among the folk remedies used are mumiyo and sea buckthorn oil. They are mixed in a ratio of 1:10. Place three drops in the ear twice a day. Do not try to clear any discharge from your ear. You only need to remove it from the ear.

After injury

It can occur after a bruise, a sharp increase in pressure inside the eardrum, or the presence of a foreign body. If the cause of pain is injury, then cold can be used on the first day. It can relieve swelling and inflammation.

On the second or third day, carry out warming procedures, for example, an iodine net or a warm compress. In case of severe injuries, go to the emergency room.

Pain also occurs if you push the wax plug closer to the eardrum. Under the influence of various factors, for example, increased humidity, it may begin to swell. Hydrogen peroxide 3% or 3% will help get rid of it.

What pain syndromes are there?

“Ear pain” is a rather vague concept. The soreness of this organ can have different shades, so it is sometimes difficult for a person to say exactly how he hurts inside the ear. It is most difficult to explain your feelings to young patients.

Experts identify several types of pain in the organ of hearing:

Pain accompanied by itching. These unpleasant sensations most often occur after an insect or water enters the ear canal, but they can also be triggered by an inflammatory process developing in the middle ear cavity.
Pain and swelling. Such clinical signs are observed when a neoplasm develops in the area of the middle or outer ear, which can be either benign or malignant.
The ear hurts when pressing on the auricle. In this case, otolaryngologists speak with almost one hundred percent certainty about the development of otitis media, especially if signs such as high temperature and the appearance of discharge from the ear canal are present.

When the pain radiates to the ear

Not all cases require immediate treatment. Ear pain can occur due to other diseases:

Caries. It often provokes intense pain in the ears. This condition also develops against the background of incorrectly identified diseases.
Diseases of the temporomandibular joint. In this case, the pain is associated with arthrosis, arthritis, and dislocations. An otolaryngologist may not always be helpful in such a situation; the dentist will offer the best solution.
Diseases of the cervical spine. There are common nerve connections between them and the ears, so neck injuries often lead to ear pain. The latter do not go away when taking local painkillers.
Sore throat. In this case, there will be additional pain when swallowing. If there are neoplasms, then such pain when eating is usually absent. With this pathology, usually only one ear hurts.
. Severe pain radiating to the ears is caused by inflammation of the trigeminal or glossopharyngeal nerve.
Sinusitis. This is the most common reason that leads to mucus accumulating in the ear canal. They exert pressure and lead to pain. Additionally, general weakness may appear.

Advice from Dr. Komarovsky in our video:

Ear pain causes discomfort and reduces performance. In some cases, the pain is unbearable when it comes to the inflammatory process. Of course, in this case you need to immediately visit a doctor for examination. But in some cases, the pain increases at night, so every person should know how to provide first aid for severe pain in the ear. We'll talk about the causes and treatment in our article.

If your ear hurts, the cause can be many factors, which in turn have different localization and nature of pain. Let's look at what diseases ear pain can signal:

Mastoiditis The cause of this pathology is otitis media, which was not treated on time or was treated incorrectly. This disease is characterized by inflammation of the mastoid process. Basically, the disease occurs in adults, since in children this process is not fully formed, and therefore is not prone to inflammation. A patient with mastoiditis feels a sharp pain in the ear. Sometimes, as accompanying symptoms, there is severe, unbearable pain in the head, body temperature is in the subfebrile range;
Otitis of various etiologies Otitis is an inflammation of the ear. Depending on the type, shape and degree, the pain can be localized inside or outside the ear. Otitis media means an inflammatory process in the ear cavity, which is almost always accompanied by acute pain. According to statistics, in 90% of cases, ear pain signals inflammation of the ear. Typically, inflammation occurs due to low immunity, against which the infection easily penetrates the ear canals and develops successfully. Otitis is typical for both children and adults. However, in childhood, inflammation is a little more difficult to tolerate and is more dangerous. This is due to the fact that the baby’s ear canals and auditory tube are in the developmental stage and are not fully formed, that is, they are very short. Therefore, an infection or virus can easily enter the ear. Today, there are many drugs for the treatment of otitis, so with timely treatment, complications occur quite rarely;
Lymphadenitis The disease is an enlargement of the lymph nodes to a critical level. Typically, the occurrence of lymphadenitis is influenced by concomitant diseases, which in turn are caused by infection. These include otitis media of various etiologies, sinusitis, tonsillitis and others. In fact, lymphadenitis is a disease that is treated by a therapist, but since the disease is characterized by severe ear pain, the doctor is obliged to examine the ear for the presence of pathological processes and recommend remedies for ear pain relief.

The above are diseases that are characterized by ear pain, and which are most often diagnosed at a doctor’s appointment. If one of the pathological processes is present, treatment should be prescribed by a qualified specialist, since if the treatment is incorrect, there is a high risk of complications.

Folk remedies for ear pain

Using alternative medicine recipes to treat ears is very risky. A person cannot be sure of the causes of otalgia. Traditional medicine methods are used to temporarily numb the problem area. They can be used if the pathology is at an early stage and the eardrum is intact.

Warming the jaw and ear is contraindicated in the presence of purulent discharge.

Compresses

Gauze soaked in the active composition is applied to the ear for 20–60 minutes. During this time, the active ingredients penetrate the ear canal and relieve pain. The most effective compresses:

Mix 10% alcoholic propolis extract with warm corn/olive oil, ratio 1:2. Soak gauze bundles with the mixture and insert into the ear for 2–4 hours. Repeat 1-2 times/day. Course – 15–20 procedures.
Moisten gauze folded several times with vodka and spread honey on top. Apply the cloth to your ear, place cotton wool on top and wrap the sore area with a bandage or scarf. Leave for 30–60 minutes. Repeat the procedure with two-hour pauses until the pain disappears.
Dilute camphor alcohol in warm water, ratio 1:1. Soak the gauze in which the hole for the ear is made with the mixture. Apply the material to the affected area, place a plastic bag on top, and secure with a bandage. Leave for 1-2 hours. Repeat the procedure until the symptoms of the disease disappear.

Burying

Folk remedies require instillation of ear drops every 4–6 hours. Before use, make sure you are not allergic to the active substances. Home remedies to help relieve ear pain:

Grate the ginger on a fine grater and squeeze out the juice. Place 2 drops in each ear.
Chop 1 clove of garlic and squeeze out 2-3 drops of juice. Add them to 1 tsp. olive oil. Place 2-3 drops into the ear canal.
A good remedy for ear pain with purulent otitis media is horseradish juice. It should be instilled in 3-4 drops.
Bake the onion at 200 degrees until soft. Squeeze out the juice. Apply 2-3 drops.

Special exercises

To relieve ear pain, you can perform self-massage. You need to press on 4 points:

The listening place (T1) is a point located outside the auricle in the recess near the ear canal.
Auditory gate (T2) – located 1 cm above T1.
Hearing reconnection (T3) – located 1 cm below T1.
Wind barrier (T4) – located behind the earlobe.

Place your middle finger on T1, your index finger on T2, your ring finger on T3, and your index finger on T4. Press on all points simultaneously on both sides for three minutes. Perform the massage until the pain subsides, but no more than 10 minutes. Other effective exercises that will help relieve pain in the problem area (perform morning and evening):

Lightly tap the ear shell for 30 seconds.
Cover your ears with your palms, hold for 1 minute, and sharply remove your hands.
Cover the auricle with your palms and make circular movements clockwise for 60 seconds.

Associated symptoms

There are several other indirect factors that are not ear pathology, but can cause pain in the ear. Depending on the cause, accompanying symptoms may occur. Let's take a closer look:

If a person carelessly took a bath or dived into bodies of water and water got into the ear, this factor usually does not cause pain. But if the water in the ear does not drain out on its own and the person goes for a walk in windy weather, the ear will definitely hurt. This is due to the onset of the inflammatory process. In addition to ear pain, pain in the head is added, there is a feeling of fluid flowing in the ear, and against the background of the development of the inflammatory process, a runny nose and sore throat may occur. First aid in this case can protect against developing otitis media;
Often, ear pain occurs when a person’s wisdom tooth becomes inflamed. In this case, in addition to ear pain, there is a severe headache, sore throat, and, naturally, toothache;
Pain can occur when the ear is injured. Depending on the injury, ear discharge, itching, or ear congestion may occur;
Neuralgic pathologies of the trigeminal nerve. Characterized by pain in the ears and head;
Caries, periodontal disease. Accompanied by toothache radiating to the ears;
Presence of adenoids. In addition to ear pain, there is discomfort when swallowing;
In some cases, a slight, aching pain may be observed when there are wax plugs in the ears. There is a feeling of congestion and hearing loss.

Pain not associated with diseases of the ENT organs

But not only because of the inflammatory processes that affect the ENT organs, a person’s ear hurts unbearably. Quite healthy people can also experience unpleasant and, in some cases, painful sensations in the auditory cavity.

Most often, the ear canal hurts in a completely healthy person due to the influence of a number of negative factors on it:

presence of wax plug in the ear;
water getting into the ear canal;
prolonged exposure to cold wind;
mechanical (shock) or acoustic (exposure to loud sound) injuries.

Ear pain caused by these factors is often no less severe than the pain that occurs due to infectious lesions, but they are eliminated using slightly different methods. Also, many patients with ear pain note that it occurred in conjunction with the appearance of pain in the teeth (caries or growth of wisdom teeth) or in the cervical spine.

There are quite a lot of listed reasons, under the influence of which the right or left ear most often hurts, so it is not recommended to independently look for the preconditions that provoked the appearance of unpleasant symptoms. The best decision if pain appears inside the ear is to immediately visit a doctor.

More information about ENT diseases

Having listed the main causes of pain in the ears and symptoms of related pathologies, we need to dwell in more detail on the types of ENT diseases, because in 80% of cases they are the cause of unpleasant sensations inside the ear. There are many such pathologies; they can be acute, chronic or hereditary, which for the time being did not make themselves felt.

Perichondritis

Causes of whistling in the ear

This is an inflammation of the perichondrium located in the auricle. Pain develops when it melts and the skin nerve endings are compressed by pathological contents. If perichondritis occurs in a purulent form, the pathology is characterized by duration and severe pain not only inside the ear, but also in the neck and temples.

The auricle becomes swollen, wrinkled, and hot to the touch. The skin turns red and then becomes bluish. The body temperature remains at 38–39 °C, the patient has a headache, and the external auditory canal is greatly narrowed.

Otitis externa

If limited otitis develops due to a formed boil, then the pain is provoked by pressing of the cartilage into the periosteum. Indentation occurs with active growth and suppuration of the boil, and pain is caused by compression of the nerve bundles located in the tissues of the outer ear.

The temperature rises to 37 °C, the pain in the ear becomes intense when chewing and swallowing food, or when pressing on the tragus (a fold of skin near the shell). Hearing perception is not distorted, but the external passage may be narrowed due to the boil.

In the acute form, suppuration develops, adjacent lymph nodes are enlarged. The chronic form is less painful, but can lead to the development of conductive hearing loss.

Otitis media

With inflammation of the middle ear, the main symptom, in addition to pain inside the ear, is the flow of purulent or serous contents from the external meatus. Pain occurs due to the accumulation of exudate in the middle ear cavity, which leads to irritation of the trigeminal and glossopharyngeal nerves. The feeling of discomfort can be so strong that the patient cannot eat or sleep peacefully.

In the purulent form of otitis, the pain radiates to the jaw and temple, intensifying during talking, sneezing and coughing. After the membrane is pierced, the pain subsides slightly. A temperature of 38–39 °C is accompanied by congestion, hearing loss and, in some cases, the development of meningeal symptoms.

Eustachite

Ear pain occurs due to inflammation of the Eustachian tube and compression of the nerves in the ear canal. The mucous membrane of the ear swells, the process is accompanied by noise, congestion, hearing loss, and acute headache. Inflammation can be localized on one or both sides.

First aid

Regardless of the cause, the patient needs first aid to help reduce the intensity of the pain. Experts categorically recommend not putting drops inside the ear until the doctor examines the condition of the ear canals and eardrum. Therefore, first aid consists of taking painkillers orally, or applying compresses to the ear. Let's take a closer look:

For severe ear pain, you need to take an anti-inflammatory drug orally. The most harmless remedy that almost everyone has in their medicine cabinet is Paracetamol.

This is important: Before using any medication, carefully read the instructions for use, especially the contraindications to the drug.

You can take Nimesulide tablet internally, which works great for acute ear pain. The dosage depends on age, so it is necessary to use the product in accordance with the official instructions.
As mentioned above, it is not recommended to put drops in the ears before a medical examination. But the same drops in the ears will help reduce the intensity of pain, only as a turunda. We twist a small piece of cotton wool into a rope, drop drops onto the cotton wool and squeeze thoroughly. We insert it into the ear overnight. Drops should be used that contain painkillers. Today, the most popular drops are Otipax, which can be purchased at any pharmacy.
If you can’t get to a pharmacy, you can use traditional medicine. Many people have alcohol in their medicine cabinet: camphor or boric. The cotton wool is moistened in the solution, wrung out and inserted into the ear canal. In addition to alcohol products, you can use oils or tinctures: propolis tincture, propolis oil, camphor oil, almond oil. All of these remedies have an anti-inflammatory effect and will help reduce the intensity of pain.

This is important: Please note that the above describes first aid measures that help reduce pain for a while. The described methods are not suitable for treatment.

A decoction made from bay leaves will help reduce the intensity of pain. Half a liter of water with 5-6 leaves must be boiled. The decoction is taken orally and at the same time a lotion is applied to the ear.

When treating otitis, use the following recipes:

a) Cut a hole in a large onion and add 1 teaspoon of cumin there. Cover the hole with cotton wool and bake the onion in the oven. Using the resulting juice, drop 2-3 drops into the ears for a child, 5-7 drops for an adult (depending on the severity of the disease) 2-3 times a day. b) Apply bags of elderberry, chamomile or centaury flowers steamed with boiling water to your ears. c) Instill 2 drops into a child’s sore ear, and 7-10 drops of juice from fresh basil leaves into an adult’s ear (2-3 times a day). If you don’t have fresh basil on hand, you can buy this oil at the pharmacy plants. This oil is an excellent pain reliever; you should definitely have it in your home medicine cabinet. It will help not only with ear pain, but also with arthritis and radiculitis. Just rub the oil into the sore spot and within a few minutes you will feel relief. Instillation into the ears is performed only in the first stage of otitis media. Sometimes it happens that such procedures are enough to extinguish inflammation and avoid the formation of pus. General requirement: any drops must be warm, approximately 37 degrees Celsius

Review of medications for ear pain

Since there are many causes of pain in the ear, we cannot write about a specific treatment. This is due to the fact that each type of pathology may require different treatment, which will depend on the nature, location of the pain and the individual characteristics of the body. For this reason, in this section we will consider a list of effective remedies that will help relieve ear pain for a certain time.

Ear pain relief drops

It should be noted right away that the drops are allowed to be used only after consulting a doctor. At home, she can make lotions based on them. Consider the list of drugs:

Nise. An anesthetic that, in addition to relieving pain, has an anti-inflammatory effect, which is important for ear pathologies. There is a cheaper analogue of the drug - Nimesulide. Many experts argue that this product should be in everyone’s first aid kit as a handy tool. A huge advantage is that the drug can relieve pain for a day. That is, for ear pain, it is enough to take one tablet a day. You should not get carried away with the product, as the product has a strong effect on the liver and stomach;
Ibuklin. A popular pain reliever based on Ibuprofen and Paracetamol. Reduces pain in a short time, has an antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effect on the body. For ear pain, it is recommended to take one tablet. The effect lasts about 8 hours;
Ketanov. Designed to relieve pain of various etiologies. The drug is based on the substance ketorolac tromethamine. The product is used directly during severe ear pain. It is recommended to take no more than three tablets per day.

This is important: The names of medications and dosage instructions are provided for informational purposes only. These medications are best used once to relieve pain; no more than a day later, the patient needs to visit a doctor to prescribe further treatment.

Which doctor treats ears?

An otolaryngologist (ENT doctor) is a doctor specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic and infectious abnormalities in the head area: ear, nose and throat. As a rule, specialists have knowledge in neurology, virology, human structure, and pharmacology. If diseases of the hearing organs and upper respiratory tract manifest themselves, it is necessary to seek help from an otolaryngologist.

An ENT doctor will tell you what to do if you have ear pain.

Having figured out what to do if you have ear pain, it will not be difficult to provide first aid. The main thing to remember is that if during the first 2-3 days after the onset of pain and the start of self-treatment there are no positive results, then you need to consult a doctor for help.

Prevention

Fever, runny nose, sore throat and cough - we have all more than once encountered similar symptoms that regularly occur with the most common cold. Ear pain is another symptom that is also familiar to each of us and which periodically occurs with various colds. As a rule, pain inside the ears, as well as all other “additional” symptoms, disappear after completing a course of treatment, however, what to do if pain inside the ears arose spontaneously, without any apparent reason? And how dangerous can this be? In this article we will answer your question, why do the inside of your ears hurt?

Why do the ears hurt inside: reasons

So why might there be pain inside the ear? In fact, there are a large number of reasons due to which we can experience such painful sensations, however, most often pain inside the ears is caused by “ignoring” on our part any cold disease, which in turn later “grows” into more its severe form and more difficult to treat. In this situation, it is initially necessary to complete the full course of treatment prescribed by a specialist, after which all “additional” cold symptoms will go away on their own. However, not only the common cold can be the “culprit” for the occurrence of such pain. Below we list which diseases also cause pain inside the ear:

Otitis.

The essence of this disease is the presence of an inflammatory process directly in the ear itself, which in turn can “exist” in three of its forms: external, middle and internal otitis. As a rule, with all forms of otitis, the painful sensations are quite acute: the pain is intense, and taking painkillers does not provide the expected relief.

As for the reasons why this disease may occur, otitis media, as a rule, most often develops due to the penetration of any infection from other ENT organs: the nose, nasopharynx and larynx. Weakened immunity, frequent hypothermia and ear injuries can also cause otitis media;

Sinusitis.

With sinusitis, no matter what form it occurs, pain in the ears is an additional symptom, which can be of a different nature - some experience a dull and nagging pain of a mild nature, while others note that the painful sensations are acute and reminiscent of lumbago. The most common form of sinusitis is sinusitis, in which, in addition to pain inside the ear, very severe headaches also occur, which in turn cannot be eliminated with the help of any painkillers. As for the causes of sinusitis, as a rule, such a diagnosis is a consequence of the presence of some kind of cold or acute respiratory viral infection;

Tonsillitis.

With this disease, the essence of which is the presence of an inflammatory process occurring in the tonsils, such a symptom as pain inside the ear is additional. As a rule, the most pronounced symptom of tonsillitis is a sore throat. As for painful sensations in the ears, this pain is usually mild - patients report aching ear pain that is weak in intensity.

As for the causes of tonsillitis, in most cases this disease develops against the background of a sore throat, acute respiratory viral infection, and also as a result of the presence of any problems with the teeth - caries, periodontitis and other dental diseases;

Otomycosis.

The essence of this pathology is the penetration of a fungal infection into the ear, which can affect both the outer and middle ear. As a rule, otomycosis is practically asymptomatic: the patient usually complains of itching inside the ear, as well as mild ear pain, congestion and tinnitus. Another symptom of this disease is slight discharge from the ear canal itself.

As for the causes of this disease, otomycosis can develop against the background of increased sweating, any trauma to the ear, as well as against the background of frequent scratching of the ear in the presence of any allergic reaction (eczema, allergic dermatitis, pruritus, etc.);

Sulfur plug.

The presence of wax plugs in the ear canal is a fairly common cause of painful sensations in the ears. Having accumulated in the ear canals, earwax “presses” on the tissues, eardrum and blood vessels, which is why a similar pain syndrome occurs. In addition to pain in the ears themselves, in the presence of wax plugs, patients note a deterioration in hearing itself, as well as tinnitus. To remove the wax plug, you need to contact the appropriate specialist, namely, an otolaryngologist, who will relieve you of this “problem” by rinsing the ear canal with a water jet.

As for the occurrence of cerumen plug, as a rule, it is formed as a result of an excess of this secretion, however, the inside of the ear can also hurt due to a lack of earwax. In this case, such a “deficiency” causes dryness of the canal, which in turn causes the appearance of candida, which can cause a feeling of itching inside the ear, as well as pain and bleeding from the ear itself.

Types of pain in the ears

We all know that pain is a relative concept, and with each individual diagnosis we feel pain in the ear that is different in intensity. Next, we will tell you in more detail about what can cause a particular ear pain.

Pain and itching inside the ear.

If pain is accompanied by severe itching in the ears, then, as a rule, such symptoms indicate the presence of some foreign object in the ear - water, a tick, etc. The inflammatory process in the middle ear is another cause of pain and itching inside the ear;

Pain and swelling inside the ear.

Sufficiently severe pain may bother the patient as a result of the presence of a tumor in the ear itself. At the same time, the patient feels as if something is bothering him in his ear. Most often, the formed wen acts as a tumor, which must be removed only by an appropriate specialist. Remember that under no circumstances should you carry out such a procedure yourself, because there is a high risk of spreading the infection deep into the auricle, thereby worsening your situation;

Pain when pressing on the ear.

If painful sensations appear at the moment of pressing on the ear, then in this situation we can talk about some kind of inflammatory process in the ear canal. As a rule, any inflammatory process, in addition to ear pain itself, is also accompanied by additional symptoms - chills and increased body temperature. In this situation, it is recommended to seek help from an otolaryngologist as soon as possible;

Pain and discharge from the ear.

There are often cases when, in addition to the pain in the ear itself, colorless or pus-laced discharge also oozes from it. In this situation, we are most likely talking about the presence of eczema or acne in the ear canal. Most often, such “formations” arise against the background of non-compliance with hygiene standards;

Ear pain along with toothache.

As we have already said, ear pain often occurs due to the presence of some problems with the teeth, and sometimes ordinary caries is enough to cause quite intense and shooting pain in the ears. It is quite simple to calculate such a cause for the occurrence of these painful sensations - when you press on a sore tooth, you begin to experience pain in the ears. In order to get rid of such discomfort, it is initially necessary to treat the root cause, which means visiting a dentist. After healing the diseased tooth, all accompanying symptoms will no longer bother you.

Pain inside the ears: treatment

Of course, if ear pain occurs, it is necessary to consult a specialist, because only he can identify the true cause of this pain and prescribe adequate treatment. However, in most cases, such painful sensations overtake us at a time when we do not have the opportunity to visit an otolaryngologist, and in such a situation we need to take first aid measures ourselves. Of course, there can be no talk of any treatment, and in this situation all actions can be aimed only at temporarily eliminating painful sensations inside the ears. Next, we will tell you in more detail about what can be done to alleviate the suffering of the patient:

Salt compress.

It’s worth mentioning right away that this method is contraindicated if the patient, in addition to ear pain, also has an elevated body temperature. To prepare the above compress, you need to heat a small amount of salt in a frying pan, which should then be wrapped in a bag made of thick fabric. The resulting compress must be applied to the sore ear and held until the pain goes away;

Compress based on boric alcohol.

Perhaps this method is the most common, because boric alcohol is very famous for its analgesic properties. To prepare such a compress, you need to moisten a small piece of cotton wool in a solution of boric alcohol, after which this cotton wool must be inserted into the ear canal. It is also worth making sure that the cotton wool soaked in alcohol always remains warm;

Use of painkillers.

Above, we described two methods that will help reduce pain from ear pain if, in addition to this symptom, the patient does not have an elevated body temperature. If the temperature is elevated, then in this situation it is recommended to resort to the use of various painkillers, which can be medications such as Spazmalgon or Tempalgin. If ear pain bothers your child, then in this situation the above drugs must be replaced with Ibuprofen or Nurofen.

As you can see, there are quite a few causes of pain inside the ears, and it is not possible to independently identify the true cause as a result of which you feel such painful sensations. That is why, if you are bothered by pain inside the ear, you need to contact an otolaryngologist to establish a diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment.

Painkillers for otitis media in adults

Painkillers for otitis media are recommended to be taken with the permission of a doctor. It is recommended to use proven and safe means to relieve pain in the inflamed ear at home.

"Anauran"

Available in the form of drops. The drug has an antibacterial and local anesthetic effect. Drops are prescribed mainly in cases where a diagnosis of otitis media is made and to prevent purulent complications after surgery. Contraindications include intolerance to the active components of the drug and children under 1 year of age.

"Anauran" is characterized by side effects that you definitely need to be aware of. These include an allergic reaction, including itching, peeling of the skin in the ear area and hyperemia. All symptoms disappear some time after stopping the drug. When using Anauran in small quantities, no side effects were observed.

"Garazon"

Garazon drops are used to treat ear and eye diseases. Doctors prescribe the drug for otitis media of various forms, conjunctivitis, keratitis, barley on the eyes, injuries to the eyeballs from foreign objects and a number of other eye diseases.

Contraindications for drops include viral and fungal infections, herpetic keratitis, pregnancy and breastfeeding, tuberculosis, children under 8 years of age. It is also not recommended for people who wear contact lenses.

The use of "Garazon" for the treatment of otitis media in rare cases is accompanied by side effects. When instilled in the first minutes, a burning sensation, itching and other unpleasant sensations are felt, which pass after a while. In most cases, side effects occur when treating eye pathologies with the drug.

You need to lie down on your side before putting drops into your ears. This must be done 3-4 times a day. After instillation is completed, remain in a lying position for a few more minutes. In some cases, doctors prescribe placing a tampon soaked in drops in the ear. It is changed daily, and every 4 hours it is moistened with drops. Overdoses occur in rare cases.

"Normax"

Doctors prescribe Normax for the treatment of ear and eye ailments. Its action is aimed at eliminating microbes from the inflamed organ. The spectrum of action of the active substances of the drops is aimed at eliminating the symptoms of otitis media, trachoma, conjunctivitis and a number of other eye pathologies.

In addition, Normax is often used as a prophylactic agent in the postoperative period, preventing the development of otitis media.

The use of drops is not recommended for children (who have not reached the age of 12 years), pregnant women and breastfeeding women. Individual intolerance is also a contraindication. Side effects after using the drug are rare, but if they occur, they are often Quincke's edema, itching and burning of the skin. Anxiety, irritability, sleep disturbances and headaches also occur. Dizziness and fatigue appear less frequently.

The drug must be used for treatment with the permission of a doctor. He prescribes the dosage of drops and the period of their use. In case of an overdose of the drug, vomiting, nausea, severe headache, and dizziness are observed. Anxiety, sleep disturbances and diarrhea occur. In case of overdose, drink plenty of water and consult a doctor.

Ibuprofen for otitis media

In addition to ear drops, pain relief from otitis media can be relieved with the help of painkillers. Among these medications is Ibuprofen. The chemicals that make up the medicine help relieve the inflammatory process, and with it the pain syndrome. But Ibuprofen only relieves pain; it is not aimed at treating the underlying disease. Therefore, it is not advisable to use it often.

You need to take Ibuprofen with your doctor’s permission, or if otitis media begins suddenly and the pain is impossible to bear. Ibuprofen also helps relieve redness and swelling from the ear. Its positive effect in the treatment of otitis media is to activate and support the immune system. Adults and children are allowed to take it if they are not allergic to the substances of the drug.