Pain experienced behind your ear can really cause great discomfort and cause disruption to daily living. It may be tempting to blame your ears for the discomfort, however many times, it may be other parts that are causing the pain.
Your ears are closely linked to other parts of your head and neck because of their shared nerve supply. It is not uncommon for diseases like dental infection or jaw joint inflammation to be causing the pain in your ear. Nerve-related headaches can also be associated with pain behind the ears.
When to seek emergency medical attention?
Although not every case of ear pain necessitates an emergency trip to the doctor’s office, there are certain symptoms that you should be on the lookout for.
For example, a high fever might indicate an infection, and antibiotics will be required to cure it.
Excess ear drainage, a stiff neck, neck discomfort, neurological symptoms, and light sensitivity are other signs to be aware of.
Different illnesses and conditions that influence pain
Otitis Media:
Otitis media is an ear infection caused by an inflamed and infected gap between the inner ear and the eardrum.
Eustachian tube dysfunction is one of the potential causes of this condition. When the Eustachian tube, which connects the throat and middle ear, does not operate correctly, fluid does not drain from the middle ear normally. Bacteria and viruses can grow when drainage doesn’t happen as it should, causing acute otitis media.
Otitis Externa:
Otitis externa happens when the ear canal becomes inflamed, thereby causing pain. When you have this problem, you are likely to experience ear discharge, itching ears, hearing loss, and soreness in your outer ear.
Make sure to avoid excessive ear cleaning and dry your ears after swimming.
Ear Wax:
Earwax, also known as cerumen, is a natural substance that serves several purposes in the ear. One of these roles is to guard the outer ear canal’s lining. However, impacted earwax can build up deep within the ear canal if it is not cleaned properly.
Sticking ear buds or fingers inside the ear canal is one of the most common reasons for impacted ears.
Impacted ears can cause discomfort behind the ear, tinnitus, and even deafness.
TMJ Disorder (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder):
The temporomandibular joint is located in the front of your ear, where your jaw connects to your skull. TMJ problems are caused by problems with this joint and surrounding muscles.
TMJ disorder is an infection of the jaw. The pain in this area is typically dull, persistent, and throbbing. Chewing frequently aggravates the discomfort. Tinnitus, headaches, and jaw noises (clicks and pops) are all typical symptoms associated with TMJ disease.
Occipital Neuralgia:
Occipital neuralgia is a severe form of pain that begins in the back of the head and spreads down the top of the neck, causing shooting, stabbing, or electric shock-like agony. The precise sudden strikes affects only one side of the head as a result of routine activities.
The throbbing agony is only one indication of the illness. People who have occipital neuralgia frequently experience dizziness, nausea, tinnitus, and discomfort in the ear region.
Mastoiditis:
Mastoiditis is an uncommon condition of the mastoid bone, which sits behind and below your ear. Mastoiditis most often results from untreated or unsuccessfully treated acute otitis media. The presence of pain behind the ear is not the only indication of this illness. Fever and a headache are also common symptoms.
If you have symptoms of mastoiditis, you should seek immediate medical care. untreated it can lead to severe problems, such as meningitis, bone infection, and even facial nerve paralysis.
How to treat pain behind the ear?
Based on the cause of your pain, your therapy plan will vary. If an ear infection, such as otitis media or otitis externa, is to blame for the discomfort behind your ear, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic.
Mastoiditis is a serious and painful infection that requires an even more intensive treatment approach, which often includes intravenous antibiotics and surgical drainage of the infected fluid.
Over-the-counter earwax-softening drops might be quite helpful if your earache is the result of impacted ears. Alternatively, microsuction from a trained expert may help you.
TMJ problems are sometimes tough to cure. However, many people have found relief by combining muscular relaxants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), physical therapy, and stress management.
As you can see, there are a variety of reasons why pain may be felt behind the ear. As a result, if you are in discomfort, it is strongly advised that you seek assistance from a medical professional.
