Ear pain is not only troubling and painful but also particularly infamous for happening at odd hours. That is, while at times it may be just a slight discomfort in or around the ear, at others, the pain may suddenly peak from dull to sharp, stabbing and piercing pain in the middle of the night. This is where home remedies can help! When used correctly, certain hacks and remedies can help provide considerable relief until you can see a doctor.

Read on as this guide enlists different types of ear pain, their distinguishing symptoms, and their respective home remedies. However, as you make sense of different symptoms, be careful of the red flags. They indicate a more serious condition, requiring immediate medical intervention. In such a case, consult an ENT specialist immediately.

What is Ear Pain?

Ear pain is any discomfort in or around the ear. Typically, it can be divided into either of the two types -

External Ear Pain: This type of ear pain occurs outside of the ear. It’s often caused by an infection of the skin or earwax buildup.

Internal Ear Pain: This type of ear pain occurs inside the ear. It’s often caused by an infection, such as a swimmer’s ear or a middle ear infection.

Ear Pain Causes

There are many causes of ear pain, some more serious than others. The most common causes include:

Earwax Buildup

Earwax is a substance produced by the body to protect the ears from dirt and debris. However, sometimes too much earwax can build up, leading to a blockage.

Symptoms: Hearing loss, feeling of stuffiness, itchiness, and ear pain.

Home Remedy: If you fear an earwax build-up, use olive oil at home for ear pain relief. Simply warm a few drops of olive oil and softly apply it 3-4 times a day with your fingers. Do noT not use a cotton swab. It may push the ear wax inside, causing greater clogging.

Red Flag: If the ear wax does not come out with a few oil applications or within a few days, visit your nearest doctor. You may need professional ear wax removal.

You can consult the best ear doctor for ear pain within 15 minutes on the Apollo 24/7 app. Consult now!

Infection

Bacteria or viruses can cause infections of the skin (external otitis) or ear canal (otitis externa). If the infection spreads to the middle ear, it can cause a more severe condition called otitis media.

Symptoms: Ear ache, blocked ear, itchiness, redness, and swelling

Home Remedy: If your ear pain symptoms indicate infection, consider over-the-counter ear drops for pain. They can effectively relieve the pain and mild symptoms until you reach the doctor.

Red Flag: An infection or signs of ear infection needs immediate attention from an ear doctor to confirm the diagnosis. One must consult a doctor before starting any medications.

You can consult the best ear doctor for ear pain within 15 minutes on the Apollo 24/7 app. Consult now!

Allergies

Allergies can sometimes cause ear pain, especially if there’s a lot of congestion in the nose and sinuses. This can also lead to a condition called eustachian tube dysfunction.

Symptoms: Popping, crackling, or clicking sounds in the ear, along with ear pain.

Home Remedy: Ear pain because of congestion and sinus can be substantially reduced through a cold compress or an ice pack to the ear. Garlic is another home remedy that can help fight infection. To use it:

1. Mix a clove of garlic with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and microwave it for 10 seconds.

2. Apply it to the affected ear and leave it in for 10-15 minutes.

3. Rinse it out with warm water.

Red Flag: If the ear pain, redness and swelling do not reduce after applying an ice pack, consult a doctor immediately. It could be a sign of acute ear infection.

You can consult the best ear doctor for ear pain within15 minutes on the Apollo 24/7 app. Consult now!

Trauma

A blow to the head can sometimes cause ear pain, as can putting objects in the ear (such as cotton swabs, pins, or any sharp/blunt object).

Symptoms: Ear pain, swelling, redness, ear discharge, bleeding, congestion and hearing loss.

Home Remedy: Moving away from the source of trauma is the first call to action. Avoid the use of cotton swabs or blunt objects.

Red Flag: Persistence of symptoms and/or loss of hearing and continual bleeding may signify eardrum perforation. This is an emergency requiring an ear doctor.

You can consult the best ear doctor for ear pain within15 minutes on the Apollo 24/7 app. Consult now!

Teething

Teething babies often get ear pain because of the pressure on the jaw, which can also lead to an ear infection.

Symptoms: Irritability, rubbing of the ear and jaw, crying, and any other signs that the mother can recognise while feeding.

Home Remedy: The mother can soothe her baby by gently massaging the baby's jaw and gums and keeping the gums cool by using a cold teething ring.

Red Flag: If the baby continues to show symptoms and refuses to eat, alert the paediatrician immediately.

You can consult the best ear doctor for ear pain within15 minutes on the Apollo 24/7 app. Consult now!

Jaw Problems

Problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or jaw joint can sometimes cause TMJ ear pain due to its proximity to the ear.

Symptoms: Ear pain, swelling around the jaw and ear, difficulty in chewing food

Home Remedy: Avoid hard foods that are difficult to chew, use a cold compress, and flush the mouth with cold water to reduce swelling near the jaw joint.

Red Flag: When ear and jaw pain is associated with fever and other signs of an infection, inform your doctor immediately. You may need immediate medical intervention.

You can consult the best ear doctor for ear pain within15 minutes on the Apollo 24/7 app. Consult now!

Glue Ear

This condition, which is more common in children, occurs when fluid builds up in the middle ear. It can cause a feeling of fullness in the ears and muffled hearing.

Symptoms: It manifests as ear pain, difficulty in hearing, and buzzing in the ears.

Home Remedy: Try holding your breath and closing the nostrils alternately to ease pressure in the ears.

Red Flag: A glue ear may often go undiagnosed due to a lack of profound symptoms and may progress to an ear infection, in which case a doctor's opinion is a must.

You can consult the best ear doctor for ear pain within15 minutes on the Apollo 24/7 app. Consult now!

Tumors

Rarely, tumors can grow in the ear canal or middle ear.

Symptoms: Ear pain, hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and balance problems.

Home Remedy: Milder cases may find it useful to apply a cold compress and use ear drops to ease pressure in the ear.

Red Flag: A tumor on diagnosis will be treated accordingly by the doctor. One must not forget to self-treat to avoid worsening ear disease or tumor.

You can consult the best Ear doctor for Ear pain within15 minutes on the Apollo 24/7 app. Consult now!

Key Takeaways

While putting on a cotton swab or rubbing your finger can feel very tempting to reduce the e[Ah3] ar pain, in most cases, it does more harm than good. This is because an ear is very complex in design and pushing anything inside with force or rubbing it excessively can tamper with its internal part and trigger an infection, wound, or emergency.

Therefore, it is only wise to carefully study the associated symptoms and use respective home remedies based on the pain's exact cause. Nonetheless, if the pain persists, or a red flag develops, consult an ENT specialist immediately.

FAQs

What causes ear pain?

There are many causes of inner ear pain and outer ear pain, but some of the most common include ear infections, external ear infections, middle ear infections, and earwax buildup.

How can I relieve ear pain at home?

You can try many home remedies to relieve ear pain, including over-the-counter pain medication, ear drops, and warm compresses.

When should I see a doctor for ear pain?

You should see a doctor for ear pain if the pain is severe or doesn't go away with home remedies. You should also see a doctor if you have discharge from your ear, hearing loss, or a fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit.

What are the complications of ear pain?

Ear pain can sometimes be a symptom of a more serious condition, such as a skull fracture or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).

How can I prevent ear pain?

You can do some things to help prevent ear pain, including avoiding exposure to loud noise, practising good hygiene, and not smoking.