i have ear cartlidge pain while i sleep every night for two years

hi there, i think i have the cause and solution to your problem. I have also suffered from severe ear pain at night when applying pressure or sleeping on my side and it has also caused me to wake up. It definitely involved the outer ear cartlidge and when inspecting it; i found 2 small black heads inside the folds of the cartlidge. I used a warm face cloth to wipe the cartlidge folds clean and it eventually softened the blackheads (which were considerable large and caused the gathering of fluid in that area.) The black heads were then squeezed and I no longer had ear pain when sleeping on my side. However not all pimples are visible and some are "blind pimples" so you may not be able to see or locate them at all. The best method is to slowly apply pressure to the different areas of the cartlidge until you can pin point the pain. Then everyday apply some pressure until a small pimple head forms and it can be popped. Gross i know, but it's really common problem. hope this helps. Don't waste money on expesive doctors that won't be able to give you answers! remember your ear is covered is SKIN after all and needs to reguarly cleaned.

Chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis is what I was told I have.  There is a small hard nodule in the cartilage on my right ear from pressure from a foam pillow and poor circulation.  You can have it treated in several different ways. Oddly, it took several years to find a doctor who knew what it was. Even the dermatologist did not know.  It was actually a PA that told me. They hurt like heck and are annoying.....good luck to all who get these.