Severe ear pain caused when I lay down at night.

Omg Ive had this problem since 2001 and I just thought to myself I know I have a tumor or something. I would leave the Drs office crying saying they are so stupid. They say theres nothing wrong with me...Well there isnt except I do grind my teeth and have the pain in both ears every single nite...ugh...but Thank GOD i found this...its helps to know im not by myself nor am I crazy. bout this anyways.lol

ANOTHER PILLOW IS THE CNH PILLOW! GOOD LUCK!

I am the Guest on 04/25/09 who went to the endocrinologist and was diagnosed with Hashimotos and Vitamin D deficiency writing a follow-up note more than one year later. My ear pain has been under control since my metabolic problems were treated. The pain still persists though much less intense than before. I failed to mention a prescription medication that I have been taking for over two years that helps to control the level of pain and intensity of the attacks. It is called Cyproheptadine (aka "Periactin" old brand name, now generic). It must be taken 3 times a day for 2-4 weeks until it starts to help, and it must be continued on a regular basis. Otherwise it won't help. I have been to many specialists, and they are all perplexed by the cause of the ear pain--each one with a different theory, but they all agree that Cyproheptadine has been around for years and is relatively safe compared to the newer meds, which have more side effects and risks. My doctor said that this medication, which is a kind of antihistamine, has an effect on neurotransmitters. It is not understood how or why, but just that it does. You will feel a little tired on it at first, but then your body adjusts and the tiredness diminishes. Cyproheptadine is also used to control itchy skin from eczema as well as migraines. I have not had a sleepless night since I have been taking it. I hope this brings relief to some of you.

I have suffered with hot, painful ears for sometime. I have recently been diagnosed with relapsing polychondritis.This is an auto immune disease that destroys the cartilage in your body. I advise everyone who is suffering with painful ears to seek medical help as soon as possible. It is a serious disease and needs to be treated as early as possible.

Polychondritis is a serious disease, I have also experienced the same symptoms for years and had a doctor suggest this auto immune disease. Except I had no other indications of auto immune dysfunction. Treatment for auto immune disorders include incredibly harsh auto immune suppression drugs and I was unwilling to undergo such treatment just for cartlidge pain, remember I had no other indications of an auto immune disorder.

Please be cautious and get multiple opinions if you suspect an AID, this is one disease where the treatment can be worse than the disease.

After having read all the post here, I am first if all thankful to see that I'm not the only one who experiences these baffling symptoms. I have been treated for TMJ for two Yeats and do not believe the ear pain is associated at all. My best guess is a metabolic imbalance as has already been suggested.

I'll continue to check back here to see if anyone comes up with a better DX, but am definitely NOT rushing out to take auto immune suppressing drugs for outer ear pain'

My ear pain is in right ear only and is worse when I lift my head up after being awakened by the pain. I had this for over 30 years with a dull throb during the day. A neurologist diagnosed this as glossophyrangeal neuralgia and I take Trileptal and Cymbalta for pain relief. No more pain for the last 8 years.

The thyroid and parathyroid thing makes TOTAL sense!!! I've had this ear hurting problem when I sleep for many many years. I just had a total thyroidectomy due to severe Grave's disease and did lose one parathyroid gland. The dr's are trying to get my meds balanced and I've noticed that even before the surgery, after the diagnosis of Grave's, when the meds were balanced and working I didn't have the pain that I was used to. They're outta balance again and am noticing my ears hurting again....kinda making sense now, this could very well be related to the hormones and everything along with it.

OMG, me too, I have had this 'ear thing' for years. If I lay on my side, which is mostly how I sleep, my ear is touching the pillow. I have the softest feather pillow I can get. What happens is, that various times throughout the night, I am awakened with pain in my ear, and when I lift my head off the pillow, the pain just gets so intense and throbbing, that it can almost make your eyes tear.....so I change sides, Then again I wake up cause my other ear is now throbbing in pain. It's awful to have this cause I never get a full nights sleep. I told my doctor once and he looked at me and said, I have no idea what we have, yes I have it too he said. I was surprised to hear he suffered the same thing and had no idea why or what causes it. I too, forget about it most times in the day, and have thought of those vaccination cups from along time ago, those clear plastic cups they used to tape to our arms after being vaccinated, as something that could be places on my ear to keep it from touching the pillow, but mostly just punch down a hole in my pillow right where my ear would rest in order for it not to touch the pillow when I sleep. I will try the pillow suggested by someone as well to see if it helps, but I must admit, I wish someone knew what it was and what we could take to stop the pain at night.

My story is a lot like others here - started about 2 years ago as an occasional thing and now it's every night. I get this pain more so on my left and occasionally on my right ear. The pain i experience can only be described as a pressure type pain that i feel through my whole ear and like others is worse when i first lift my head off my pillow, in some cases so bad i cant take my head off till the pillow goes down.
I have asked my doctor about this a number of times and he kept saying it was pressure and to sleep a different way, i sleep best on my side with the side of my head on a pillow to sleep another way would simply be uncomfortable. I had to see an Ears Nose and Throat specialist a few months back about having my tonsils taken out - i asked him and he said pretty much the same thing... so i thought i was stuck with it forever as i cant get comfortable any other way to sleep - now i should mention i only get this pain when i wake up, it doesn't actually wake me up so i have a great sleep, its the waking up that's bad.
I have read alot of stuff about diets and health and all that jazz and to be hones it hasn't made a difference for me. Over the last 24 months i have lost 40 kilos and changed my diet dramatically, i'm now one of the healthiest people i know - so no, diet and healthy eating wont fix this problem. Over this period the pain went form every few months, to every few weeks now its EVERY day!
Now, i did find something interesting the other day....I had my tonsils taken out last week and when i was in hospital and sleeping i didn't once get this pain and i thought it was related to having my tonsils out. The first night back home in my own bed, bam the pain is back...now having thought about what the doctors had said initially and the difference between how i slept in the hospital and how i sleep at home their whole pressure explanation sounds like it could be correct - see when i was in hospital i slept on one pillow (like i do at home) but the pillow was a regular shape pillow, at home i use one of those u shaped pillow but the biggest difference i think was that when i was in hospital i slept with my head elevated but still with the side of my head on the pillow. I can only think that because my head was elevated there couldn't have been a pressure build up in my ears to cause the pain. I haven't really seen what anyone has done ( that doesn't involve something like home made pillow modifications) that has solved this problem - im going to try a few different things over the next couple of nights. I'm going to sleep with the U shaped pillow but on top of another pillow to get that elevated effect, if that doesn't work i will try it with two normal pillows and see how i go. I will be VERY happy if i can work out a way to sleep the way i like without the pain. Will keep you all posted.

I have the same pain . For the past 3 years. I have to sleep on my back and I hate it. I'm looking for a pillow that's shaped like a donut so I can sleep on my side and not have my ear touched. I think I'll have to make one,.

Can some one please help me? ive been suffering from ear and cartilage pain for almost 17 years. When i shower and clean my ear with a wash cloth or just even touch the cartilage iam in bad pain for hours after. Ive been to every doctor you can think of for this. Sleeping on it also results pain. :'( :-(

I have had this same problem for years and thought I had the solution that did work for years. It was to sleep on those squishy pillows with thetiny little tiny foam balls in them, the ones that usually cost about 7 dollars and come in all shapes and sizes. These pillows have worked for me for years, totally STOPPING THE PAIN! Try them, they are great!
However, the last few weeks, mine have stopped working. I don't know if they have just gotten too old and broken down or what. I was looking here for answers but did not really fine any. Nice to know, though, that others have the same issue! Are we all women? Interesting!

So, I'm off to search for more squishy pillows and see if that fixes it again...

Good night and good luck with this!

HI, I've had painful ears for some years now and also believe i'm the only person in the world with it!! My doctor diagnosed it as a solar keratosis. I had the little scaly bit or lump frozen, which provided relief for ome time! I also have a cream called piroxicam gel which lessens the pain. Good luck!

***I was also having this pain. I told my sister and she said I was dehydrated. I have tried drinking more water in the daytime and it has cured my pain. I hope this works for others.

This is crazy! I thought it was only me! Seriously though, someone MUST know a proper way of sorting this out? Other than buying special ear pillows? Its weird how many people have said they have it on here yet know one knows a "cure," and a lot of people said they've been to the Dr's, but the Dr just doesn't know anything about it! So annoying! %-)