I have the same issue and was looking at all the responses. I seen that some doctors are telling people it is caused from TMJ. I'm not sure they even know what is causing this and they like to blame something. I have TMJ and this problem, might be coincidence, might not... either way I have found that my bite splint does help, the one you get at the dentist. I tried the ones you buy at the store and they didn't help. Good luck everyone! Hopefully they will come up with something to help us all, as this is a very painful and sleep disruptive problem!
i too, am glad that im not the only one having this problem. i thought it was glass working its way out from a car accident that i was in when i was 16. at least thats what it felt like. ive had TMJ and its not that. i saw somewhere else that someone recommended making a horse shoe shape pad for your ear so it doesnt lay flat against the pillow. they told them it worked so maybe its worth a try in order to get the much needed rest. i only get it once in awhile but its annoying and wish someone out there would find out the cause.
YOU AREABOUT TO DEVELOP A BEDSORE ON THE SIDE YOU LAY ON. I HAD A SORE ON MY RT EAR AND THEY BIOPSIED IT. I HAVE A BEDSORE FROM SLEEPING ON THAT SIDE ALL THE TIME. DR. SD. TO BUY AN EAR PAIN PILLOW OR CONTOUR PILLOW W/A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE. THE CARTLIGE IN THE EAR DOESN'T RCV. ENOUGH BLOOD FLOW AND BECOMES PAINFUL AND EVENTUALLYDEVELOPS INTO ABEDSORE. SO DO ASEARCFOR THOSE PILLOWS...
When I massage the point suggested by samanbuyan I get the same pain as at night so there is definitely something happening in there . It's like something is in there and I can feel it crunching and moving about. Strange thing is, the same crunching is on the other ear but without the pain. It is not TMJ or any other nonsense, latin sounding inner ear problem. It is something in the ear cartilage, I don't need a doctor to tell me that. This has been increasing in pain for me for the last number of years, becoming almost nightly now. A foam pillow helps but that's not addressing the problem, just easing the symptoms.
I can't believe it. You are describing exactly what I've been going through. I get a burning pain in my ear at night that wakes me up. The pain does not subside until I take an allergy pill or Clartin D. My Dr. said it was a sinus infection that drained into my ear canal. No it does effect both ears, only at night when I try to sleep on my side. It doesn't matter left or right it still happens. I have spent a good portion of the last 9 months or so sleeping in a recliner or positioned into the sofa with two pillows, one at my lower back side and one angled from my right side of my head into the sofa and on my right side, so I am in an upright position. If I'm in the recliner I take a pillow and prop it under my chin on to my chest. For some reason it feels good and I can feel my ears drain or sinus drain. it is painful. I wait but resort to taking an allergy pill when the pain wakes me up two or three times a night. I do get headaches along with the ear ache but it does subside after the allergy pill takes effect. I use to resort to Ibuprofen when my legs cramped from trying to sleep in the recliner. however the ibuprofen causes blood pressure to rise thus giving you a headache. Dehydration is one of the problems as well so I am on a regement of drinking more water. I've also been trying to loose weight and get tired to the point of exhaustion. Another reason I wake up during the night when my body can't relax. I have taken estroven for hormone balance so maybe that is the key as well. Electrolytes such as in gatorade has helped too. Thanks for helping me with your comments. For awhile I thought I was going through the change in life and this was one of the symptoms. You have made me feel better already.
Hi "Guest"! I shared your information about your ear pain being a metabolic problem with my Naturopath and she is intrigued. Can you tell me which things were out of whack ? I have had this same ear pain for decades but it intensified now to an every night kind of thing. I have a lot of other health issues and was never sure if it was all tied in together. My doc would love to know more specifics so that she knows what to test for. Would really love more detail.
Today I took an old memory foam pillow and cut I up with sharp scissors. I cut out holes for ears and have slid those pieces inside the pillow cover to hold them in place. I am hoping to sleep through the night without pain for a change!
Hope to hear from you! Many thanks for writing and sharing your experience!
I believe you are right about this. I am already on Enbrel because of Reactive arthritis and it has done nothing to help my ear pain at all!
I have the same problem and told my doctor but they just said don't sleep on your ears :s sometimes I can't help how I sleep! I recently got the top of my right ear pierced which has forced me to sleep only on my left ear and the pain has gotten worse due to this (obviously I guess). I don't have any health issues that would cause anything like this, but I feel that my outer ears are quite hard compared to my boyfriends, I'm not sure if that means anything... But the cartilage seems a lot tougher than his. My ear is still hurting now from last nights sleep and it's 5pm! The pain is so intense I can't even touch my ear and it brings tears to my eyes! (I have a very low pain threshold). On the first page of posts someone mentioned a special pillow for this problem, so I am definitely looking into it. As for sinus problems, I can't see how this would affect the outer ear at all. The pain seems to be from pressure (I'm no doctor but I can't think why something internally would cause cartilage to suffer).
No help here I'm afraid, slight relieved to know that I'm not the only person suffering with this mysterious, agonising pain!
I too started getting stinging pain in on ear when lying on it now im waking early with pain in both ears.Been given ear drops but not helping. worry its something bad as my throat constantly hurts on one side too.
I also have this exact problem for about 7 years now. It is so painful. It hurts upwards to the side and back of my head a little also but the ear is the most sensitive part. My (neurologist) doctor has prescribed me Topamax for it and it works for this issue but she diagnosed it as a type of headache? She might have done that for a reason.
So I get this exact pain every now and again. I get up and grab a hot damp rag and then lay on it. It usually helps stop the pain. When I think about the feeling of this ear pain, I associate it with cramping. Do you ever wake up with a Charlie horse in your leg? Well, when you do, if you stand up and walk, it goes away instantly. Its painful, but thats how you make it stop. The cause...Usually lack of potassium. I am not a doctor, but I feel like I get them either from sinus issues or lack of some vitamin. I had one last night and thats what made me think of looking it up. It hurts like crazy, but I always know its going to go away after I get up and move around. Good luck everyone!
like many others, my ear pain only happens when I'm on my left side- I bought a contour foam pillow and cut a hole a little larger than my ear to fit into- problem solved! (except when I might happen to move around and shift position when I'm asleep and my ear is no longer in the opening, but that rarely happens)
I have the same problem with my ear and I can only sleep on the one side so I have to sleep sitting up now. What did you do to make your ears stop hurting.