Last year around this time, I was just getting over a bad sinus infection and it suddenly turned into a painful ear infection. My ear hurt so bad I could barely do anything and I spent most of 3 days holding a heating pad up against it. It made me feel so bad for Kora and Logan for every ear infection they ever had when they were little – it hurt horribly!
I know this picture has nothing to do with earaches, but aren’t those the cutest ears ever?!
I finally broke down and went to the doctor. By this time my ear was also so plugged I couldn’t hear out of it properly. They sent me to get my hearing tested. After the testing they told me, “you have some hearing loss in that ear.” No kidding!
They prescribed a dose of steroids, which they seem to prescribe for everything these days, and told me to come back in a month if it wasn’t better. I have no idea if the steroids helped or if it was just a waiting game, but eventually my ear did unplug and the pain went away.
However, today it’s trying to make a comeback. It hurts terribly again and I’m about to go get the heating pad. I’ve been feeling a bit under-the-weather the past couple of days, but blamed it on the change of seasons, the weather, and allergies. Now I’m thinking I might be headed toward another bad ear infection. Ugh.
So I’m asking for help from you all.
Since everything I read online regarding earaches is for children and doesn’t seem to apply, does anyone have any advice about how to lessen the pain of an adult earache?
My ear thanks you in advance!
About Tired Mom Tésa
I don’t care if the ear pain is in an adult ear or a child’s ear, I’d be asking the Doctor for a prescription of Auralgan. This really helps with the ear pain. It’s ear drops made specifically for ear pain. There is also a Decadron nasal spray, a steroidal nasal spray that sometimes also helps with ear pain when used along with the Auralgan ear drops.
I’d ask if they could do an ear culture and sensitivity to see if any of the fluid in the ear is growing any find of strange bacteria, or an overgrowth of normal bacteria.
Believe it or not staph is a normal bacteria which our bodies can usually handle, but when I was little my ears did not drain properly and I often ended up with an overload of this bacteria which lead to ear infections. If you know the right bacteria to target with antibiotics you can usually use the correct ones, and not a broad spectrum one that may not be quite as effective.
You might ask the Doctor about using an over the counter ear drop called Swimmer’s Ear on a daily basis. It is glycerin to keep the wax soft so it will naturally come out easier and also rubbing alcohol to help keep water and bacteria dried up.
As one who has had numerous ear infections in her lifetime, I can tell you, you totally have my empathy for the pain. I don’t think most other normal aches and pains have nothing on a terrible earache.
It’s all related – your ears, nose and throat – so when your ears hurt, the cause is most likely your nose. Antihistamines and decongestants will help the most. Also if you think you have a lot of wax that’s contributing to it, there are some beeswax candle things you can get. You put them in your ear and light them and it creates a vacuum that sucks the wax out. They are pretty cool.
A few drops of vinegar or garlic oil will kill the bacteria. Let the vinegar drain, then put a few drops of oil in your ear, either the garlic oil or olive oil. Hydrogen peroxide is good, but all it does is to clean the wax out of your ears.
Thanks for the suggestions of the vinegar and oils for my ear infection. Vinegar certainly is a cure-all for everything, isn’t it?! I didn’t know that hydrogen peroxide cleans wax out of your ears. That’s good to know and I will keep that in mind for the future.
Hydrogen Peroxide – works to clear out infections…. just drop in a few drops and tip your head the other way to let it drain back out :)
I’ve heard of using hydrogen peroxide for ear infections. Haven’t tried it yet, but think it might be worth a try. Thanks!
Hmmm, any idea why they went with steroids for an ear infection? Can/do you take antibiotics? I had ear troubles as a child, and they were eventually “cured” by having my tonsils and adenoids taken out… Then I grew up and started to have sinus issues, and any time I start to feel sinus pressure coming on, it ALWAYS ends up in my ears. But I normally go to the doctor, get an antibiotics, and am feeling better in a couple of days. The “underwater” feeling usually lingers a couple of weeks.
Not sure why they chose steroids, although at this point I prefer them over antibiotics. I had C. Diff in the past from taking too many antibiotics for too long of a period of time – it was scary, I was hospitalized for it and it can be fatal. So that’s why I waited so long to go in to have the ear infection checked out in the first place. I’ve dealt with major sinus issues all my life as well. In fact, I’ve had two sinus surgeries because my sinus infections got so bad. I’m a barrel of fun!
Slightly warm some olive oil (garlic oil works great too, maybe better) and use a dropper to put in the ear. Works like a miracle! Not only will it ease the pain, it will clear infection too! Hope you feel better soon!
Thanks for the tip about olive oil or garlic oil. I see it recommended previously as well. I’m glad you mentioned the dropper. I wasn’t sure how much to use. I might give it a try and let you know how it goes.
My cure all for anything that is sinus related is to use Vicks Vapor Rub. I rub it all around my ear, under my nose and on my chest. If helps everything to open up and “unplug”. Good luck I hope you can stop the ear infection before the pain gets too bad.
I use Vick’s Vapor Rub for head congestion. Never thought to try it for an ear infection. Interesting and worth trying. Thanks!
I am still getting over the ear infection I had a couple weeks ago. My ear is all clogged too, but is slowly opening back up. The pain is awful, isn’t it? The doctor should prescribe you some painkillers if you tell them how bad it hurts. Get better!
Yes, ear infections are terrible! Now I completely understand why children are so miserable when they get one. It makes me feel terrible for thinking they were no big deal in the past. Sorry to hear you have been plagued by one as well, hope you are feeling better soon!