I am 14 yet i still have this problem, a stinging pain in the outer egde of my ear, But i do have fairly large ears is this a factor?
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This is the only thing so far that makes since to me. My hormones seem out of wack these days. I'm getting major hot flashes all the time and I noticed that my ear pain started very close to the same time. i thought I was nuts. Who's going to believe that my cartilage in my ear hurts.
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I've had ear pain for as long as I can remember...wake up in the middle of the night, most nights, and multiple times a night as well. Its gotten sooo bad I've actually started praying before I fall asleep to not let me get any ear pain. And if I wake up in the morning and didn't get any ear pain that night I thank God. My husband feels so bad for me but he doesn't understand because he's never had it. I'm going to try sleeping with a neck pillow and see if that helps. I'm getting so desperate..something has to help. (Oh and I do not believe that its hormones or any other medical condition. I believe its just pressure from sleeping on your side. Sucks but I know its nothing to do with my inner ear. Also I'm not about to change my WHOLE life and what I eat in order to "cure " it.) Hopefully by some miracle I can get some sleep soon and not have to worry about waking up with extreme ear pain!!!!!
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I get it before I even get all the way down on the pillow.. no matter what position, after I turn out the lights. I have been examined and there is no reason for it.
This past week or so, I have also gotten a migraine and pain in my jaw at bedtime.
I don't know how much longer I am going to be able to live on less than 2 hours of sleep every night.
This past week or so, I have also gotten a migraine and pain in my jaw at bedtime.
I don't know how much longer I am going to be able to live on less than 2 hours of sleep every night.
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Well, I just read every single post very carefully... And I am guessing I am the only one who did - at least after the first several pages. I'll skip the whole "this and that me too" thing because I could say me too about almost every single post. The poster named Pierce seems to be the most direct hit. Especially based on all the varying complaints and remedies. That would even explain the "clicking / popping" thing that I think IS whatever the fluid is , being redistributed. No one even acknowledged his post which is retry surprising the way every one is talking. He recommended taking a serious look at heart and circulatory issues that are most likely responsible for the pain in the first place. This is the first time in 20 years I have had a sensible answer to the mystery. My story is long and complicated as much or more than anyone's and yet I think there's REALLY something here this time that might even explain even other health issues I've been having. I'm going to find me a doctor who's willing to examine this information and see if we can't get some things resolved once and for all. God bless you all and THANK YOU, Pierce =)
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Btw, I'm thinking while hormonal changes may contribute to some of the discomfort, I don't think they are the cause. Several posts were from MEN. ;)
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This was his post... PLEASE read it.
Pierce
on 12/11/11
Initial family doctor post partially got it right, but let me describe what is causing your problems, for some of your situations.
When you sleep, some of your body's fluids are redistributed due to a force of gravity. Around your ear, you have several nerves that when you irritate them, they can become exquisitely tender. Now, if you are sleeping on one side, you are causing a slight (and usually undetectable) increase in fluid pressure on the affected side. As the fluid builds up on the affect side, it irritates those nerves, and you wake up with a painful ear.
When you walk around, the fluid is redistributed once again due to the force of gravity, and your ear stops hurting.
This type of situation of fluid-versus-gravity can also explain the following:
1. When you wake up your face is slightly puffy but goes away.
2. When you stand on your feet for a long period of time without moving, your feet swell slightly.
Now, if someone is pregnant, there is a larger demand on the heart and a larger volume of fluid in the body, hence it is the pregnancy that is causing such a problem (or at least worsening it).
Second, think about what pushes a lot of fluid around in the body (your heart). For many of you, I would keep an eye on your blood pressure, and the amount of salt you take in. Both contribute greatly to redistributing fluid.
Focusing on your heart and diet can solve some of your situations.
There are a few other problems that a doctor will be looking for: obviously an ear infection, a canal obstruction, or something called tic dolaureux. But to consider any of these by simply talking about it on a forum would not be helpful.
Secondly, simply trying to find a treatment to the symptom (with pillows and so forth) is not targetting the main issue which is going on here. The main issue is 'Why is fluid building up in my ear' - and the answer will resolve around your heart and your diet.
Some pretty major concerns.
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I have had this for years, went to doctors for it but no help, gave me meds that did not work but cost alot of money. I have to sleep on my right side for medical reasons. Mine got so bad it made a small sore on the cartliage of my outer ear. Had it checked for cancer but it wasn't. Did my own reasearch on the net & found out it was called Winkler Desaise. No cure other than to not sleep in one spot long, and is caused from sleeping in the same position all the time. But you get 100% relief by using a pillow with a hole in it for your ear. I have now been pain free for over a year now. Hope this helps some of you because the pain from this is unbearable to live with.
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Hi again, I'm Suzi. I wrote my post here about 3 month ago (It's on page 8 of this very thread). Like every one here, my both ear canals and cartilages were extremely sore. I tried a neck pain relief pillow. It didn't help much. I met a chiropractic specialist recently and asked for help.He told me like any part of my body, ears consist of muscles. When the muscles get weak, they begin aching, tingling,burning or so. (despite the reason, the reaction is one or all of the above)
He recommended that I started massaging the ears to stimulate better blood circulation and make the muscles strong enough.(i pinch outer cartilages and massage the whole ear with my palm)
I don't always remember to massage my ears but with 2 or 3 times done during this week I feel better now. Now i don't think the pain reason is somehow mysterious!
I hope it will help.
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I'm 37 and I've had it for years too. To me it seems obvious that it's pressure related but I go through phases of getting it. I'm going through a 'got it' phase just now. Never thought about making something with a hole in it for my ear. Think I'll have to give it a go. The pain is unbearable at times. Wonder why I can go for months without it though... Only for it to return. There must be some underlying cause with pressure being the catalyst to bring out the pain.
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i have chronic sinusitis and for yearssss i have had this ear issue on my left side. I have told my ENT about it but he too brushes it off so i did as well. It always wakes me up. I suffer from really bad pressure on my face, bridge of nose and eye brows. My vision sometimes gets out of whack and I just think it's from my pressure but I am starting to think it might be my ear. Last night like every night I had the pain in my ear and woke up in the middle of the night. This time though my ear was bleeding! I called my ent and they can't get me in for a few days so I am assuming they don't think it is anything serious. Has this happened to anyone?
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I only started to feel this inner ear pressure only while sleeping when i became pregnant. I have had two babies in two years and both pregnancies I experineced this type of pain on and off.
Now that i am not pregnant i still continue to get the ear pressure which is painful while sleepling before and during menstraul cycle.
I wake up with my ear throbbing so i turn over to the side and sleep on the other side but then the same thing happens with other ear.
I think it does have something to with hormones.
I ve never seen a doctor for it.
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Quick update: I was reading through several different sites like this with similar posts. I read one post where a gal gave a home remedy. I laughed about it and read on. Then one morning, in pain and desparate, against my better judgement, I tried it. And it worked! Unbelievable! I have been using this CrAzY method for several months now and have been pain free. Even though I think it is crazy, I am sharing it because if it gives me relief, it might someone else...
So, when I feel the pain (either when I wake up or just after I have woken up), I start at the top of my ear and gently pull on the ear, releasing it after the pain has subsided. (And you will feel pain!) I do this all the way around the ear an then push that little part of the ear closest to the cheek toward the cheek and the pain is GONE. Sometimes I will hear a little pop at the end, sometimes not. But the pain goes away. It does not last endless hours stealing my life anymore. There have been a couple of times that the pain didn't immediately go away, I went through the process a second time, and it worked like a charm. It's free, it's quick, and it works for me. I started been doing this a couple times a week, now only one or two times a week. Each time, the pain appears less severe at onset. Maybe I am nuts, but I am not in pain!!!! Good luck!
So, when I feel the pain (either when I wake up or just after I have woken up), I start at the top of my ear and gently pull on the ear, releasing it after the pain has subsided. (And you will feel pain!) I do this all the way around the ear an then push that little part of the ear closest to the cheek toward the cheek and the pain is GONE. Sometimes I will hear a little pop at the end, sometimes not. But the pain goes away. It does not last endless hours stealing my life anymore. There have been a couple of times that the pain didn't immediately go away, I went through the process a second time, and it worked like a charm. It's free, it's quick, and it works for me. I started been doing this a couple times a week, now only one or two times a week. Each time, the pain appears less severe at onset. Maybe I am nuts, but I am not in pain!!!! Good luck!
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Thank you so much for writing such a good description of what this feels like. I have tried to explain it to my doctors and they look at me like I am ridiculous. After all, what in the world would make the OUTSIDE of my ear hurt as well as the inside? So, thank you for taking the time to do that and for sharing your experiences.
Just thought I would add something about my own struggle with this weird and REALLY painful problem. Mine started when I was about 20 and happened only once in a while. As I got older, it happened more frequently and the only time I had complete relief was when I finally got braces at age 27. During my orthodontic treatment (three years) I did not have one single "episode". Once I had them taken off, I was pretty religious about wearing my retainer every night but when I started to go for several days at a time without it, the ear pain started to happen again. I am thinking that it really has something to do with either having a bite problem or grinding my teeth. The braces were painful overall and, as a result, I stopped grinding my teeth while I had them. They also corrected my overbite. Obviously once they were off and the I let the retainer fall by the wayside, I probably became more likely to grind again and my bite certainly tried to go back to where it wanted to be prior to braces.
It is because of the ear pain that I wear my retainer now (8 years later) every single stinkin' night. It will still happen every so often but not more than a few times a year. However, if I don't wear it (like I did last night!) I wake up with that searing, screaching pain in whatever ear I happen to be sleeping on.
Just thought I would mention this to anyone that is dealing with this freaky horrid pain. Maybe a retainer - or an OTC mouth guard - would help hold your jaw in a position that would prevent this from having. Even if it just helps with the frequency, it would be worth a try.
Good luck to everyone!
Just thought I would add something about my own struggle with this weird and REALLY painful problem. Mine started when I was about 20 and happened only once in a while. As I got older, it happened more frequently and the only time I had complete relief was when I finally got braces at age 27. During my orthodontic treatment (three years) I did not have one single "episode". Once I had them taken off, I was pretty religious about wearing my retainer every night but when I started to go for several days at a time without it, the ear pain started to happen again. I am thinking that it really has something to do with either having a bite problem or grinding my teeth. The braces were painful overall and, as a result, I stopped grinding my teeth while I had them. They also corrected my overbite. Obviously once they were off and the I let the retainer fall by the wayside, I probably became more likely to grind again and my bite certainly tried to go back to where it wanted to be prior to braces.
It is because of the ear pain that I wear my retainer now (8 years later) every single stinkin' night. It will still happen every so often but not more than a few times a year. However, if I don't wear it (like I did last night!) I wake up with that searing, screaching pain in whatever ear I happen to be sleeping on.
Just thought I would mention this to anyone that is dealing with this freaky horrid pain. Maybe a retainer - or an OTC mouth guard - would help hold your jaw in a position that would prevent this from having. Even if it just helps with the frequency, it would be worth a try.
Good luck to everyone!
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hi there, i think i have the cause and solution to your problem. I have also suffered from severe ear pain at night 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. 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.
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