I have been experiencing this same outter ear pain for years maybe once every couple of months, however this last year has been almost every night. I wake up several times a night, and like others have posted, I almost hate picking my head up to reposition it because the pain gets worse before it gets better. Because of back issues I can not sleep on my back or stomach, and have been through 4 new pillows in the last 2 months to see if that was the problem. Trying to explaine this problem to anyone, including my Dr. Is so frusterating because I am always told it is something like inner ear infection, or something else that I know it isnt. I was so happy to see (of course not happy others feel this pain) that I am not the only one with this bizarre pain. I am going to try the pillow suggested with the small hole where your ear goes, but I am such a picky pillow sleeper (everything hurts my neck) i dont have high hopes. I hate to think this is it for the rest of my life. *sigh*