what could cause outer ear pain

I HAVE BEEN IN PAIN WITH THIS "OUTER EAR" SYMPTON FOR HOURS! THANK YOU....I TRIED THE TUGGING SYSTEM AND IT WORKS! THANK YOU SOOO MUCH! EVEN IBUPROPHEN DIDN'T HELP IT. WHAT A RELIEF!

Yes, I tried using progesterone cream with pregnenalone from Mothers health Food store. The ear pain has dissappeared. If I miss a dose or two, the ear pain returns. This is a natural hormone replacement .

When I read about the tugging, I started doing it whenever I felt it coming on. It has never gotten worse. I did hear that gout can also cause it, as I get gout in my feet and fingers

It's relieving to hear that I'm not alone in this horrible pain.  It's really unbelievable.  I've got so many potential risk factors, I don't know where to look, but maybe it will give someone a clue as to what the origins or solutions may be.  

 just completed 6 cycles of chemotherapy, on of the meds was taxol which gave me some nerve damage- neuro myopathy. Lots of numbness in toes and also intermittent shooting pain. also, just we ended off of steroid, decadron which I had been on for 5 months. Weening resulted in lots of acne and other various effects. 

These two things coincided witstart of ear pain which wakes me up and forces my to turn over. Then it will happen again and I will either try to cup the ear or sleep on my back. 

It's crazy, I have had outer ear pain since November and now my tail bone hurts. I have been treated for my sinuses and am now experiencing dizziness.

I have had severe outer ear pain for some months and after seeing the dentist, having an ultra sound on the jaw and neck and finally being referred to a physio a couple of weeks ago, the pain has finally been pinpointed. This weekend the pain was particularly severe and I began to associate it with wearing my glasses for long periods in the day. I told the physio this morning and felt it was radiating from the bone behind my ear and that maybe my glasses were pressing on something. Physio went to the bottom of the bone behind the ear, just behind the earlobe, pressed her finger on it and dragged it down keeping the pressure on. The pain started immediately and was so severe, the worst ever. I now have a length of tape  stuck to the bone.and pulled tight running down towards my shoulder.

When I turn to the right, it pulls and is very painful, but it's a form of physio meant to stretch the area and release the tissue. A bit like continually stretching an elastic band until it loses some of its rigidity. Going back Thursday so hope this will work.patdevenport'live.

I have outer ear pain for coupe years, I feel pain only After shower , its start 45 min after shower, To stop the pain I moisturize my ear with hand cream or any other message oil, if I miss moisturizing than the pain will start. I have no idea what the cause the pain. I heard about swimming ear, but i'm not sure with shower will be the same?

regards

Hi everyone, I have had this problem for many years and I agree, it is very painful, but I think I have figured out what causes it. I snowboard and wear a helmet that covers my ears and recieve the same pain from my helmet as I do from my pillow.  In my opinion, it is the lack of circulation in your ear caused by the compression of whatever it touches, and also pressure.  Pressure from a phone up to my ear, if on for a long time, especially if it is resting on my shoulder and going hands free.  The pain when I take my snowboarding helmet off is so intense I can't put it back on again, and if I do, the pain comes back faster and more intense.  My suggestion is a pillow with a hollow in the center, but don't go to your doctor and be put on medication, we have sensitive ears, we have to baby them, because they are not as tough as the rest of us!  Good luck everyone!

I too have this problem not at night while sleeping my just hits me four a couple of hr very tender feels like someone has hit me goes away and returns a few days later

I have the same problem. It started about 2 years ago, at age 68. I cup my pillow as best I can as the pain keeps me awake. I have been thinking of trying wrestlers ear protection to sleep at night.

For over 20 years I experienced the same pain. I went to a neurologist, had a nerve block done and NO PAIN since.

I was told by consultant to press firmly at the back of the ear for a few seconds twice. You have to press on or as near to nerves as possible. He did this to me as I was in pain at the time. It worked!

I have had this for more than 30 yrs, maybe once a month and I get rid of it fast.  It hurts to even touch the ear, but I put my flat hand against it and very slowly push it flat against my head, then push it hard against the head and hold it there for a minute.  Go as slow as you can and it won't hurt.  Then you should be able to do it faster and twitst it over and over until it goes away.  If you do it as soon as you start to feel the pain, it will hurt less.  Even if I wait too long until it really hurts, it can still be done by pushing in very slowly.  I think the warmth of the hand and moving it softens the cartilage that has hardened from temperature change.  The cause and remedy seem to agree with some of the other posts here.

Hi, this pain is horrible, i'm suffer it for years and yes I have back pain also. today I went to the dr., he prescribe me drops of benzocaine. I know it doesn't have any relation with my inner ear and I mentioned my tmj as a possibility, he said could be.

I have to agree. I started to have problems with my back and my ear was also hurting at night.. I did not put it together until I started searching for information. I since have taken care of my back by doing stretch excercizes. The
pain on my ear is very minimal now. The cartlige has not corrected itself. I think it has something to do with the
nerves being pinched somehow. So when you message it, it circulates the blood, easing the pain.