If you’re experiencing pain in your ear, you’re likely wondering how to get rid of it. Earaches are uncomfortable and can easily derail your plans for the day. At Charleston ENT & Allergy, we’ll empower you to identify your options and take charge of your hearing health so you don’t have to suffer from ear pain.
What Causes Earaches?
Earaches can come from a variety of sources, including:
- Infection of the ear, sinus or tooth
- Poor Eustachian tube function
- Temporomandibular joint disorders
- Ear trauma
- Ruptured eardrum
- Earwax buildup
- A foreign object in the ear
What Does an Earache Feel Like?
The pain might be dull, sharp or burning, and be constant or intermittent.
Additional symptoms will vary depending on what’s causing the earache, but they might include redness, swelling, fever, fullness or pressure, itching, drainage, decreased hearing, tinnitus (ringing in one or both ears) and drainage.
What Should I Do If I Have an Earache?
You might be able to treat your ear pain at home, but you should seek medical attention if you experience:
- Severe ear pain
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Swelling
- A discharge of blood or pus from the ear
- Facial muscle weakness
- Pain that lasts more than 24 hours
- A sudden decrease in severe pain, which may be a symptom of a ruptured eardrum
If you have persistent symptoms that impact your quality of life, this may be a sign of a more serious condition. Our team will be here to guide you through this.
How Does an ENT Treat Ear Pain?
Treating the cause should relieve ear pain in most situations, so specific treatment will depend on the underlying condition.
During your appointment, our ENT will take time to get to know you and how your symptoms are impacting your life. This meeting will be the start of your relationship with your provider, and we want to set a solid foundation for your care.
Along with getting to know you, our doctor will perform a physical examination using an otoscope to visualize your outer ear canal and eardrum. Depending on the cause of your ache, antibiotics might be recommended.
How Can I Relieve Pain from an Earache at Home?
There are a variety of options that can provide relief for your earache at home, including:
- Using a cold or warm compress
- Sleeping on the side without the impacted ear
- Using over-the-counter pain medication
- Chewing on something to relieve pressure
You don’t have to live with constant pain in your ear. If your symptoms don’t clear up on their own, our team at Charleston ENT & Allergy is here to provide treatment. Get in touch with us today.
Call Charleston ENT & Allergy at (843) 766-7103 for more information or to schedule an appointment.