How to stop my ear from hurting when i swallow

If your ear hurts when swallowing, you are not alone! Many people tend to suffer from ear pain whenever they consume meals or beverages. Today, we will look at some reasons why ear pain may occur when swallowing! Always consult with a professional physician, like those at San Ramon Urgent And Clinic, for the most up-to-date advice!

You May Have An Ear Infection

One of the most common causes of ear pain when swallowing is an ear infection. Furthermore, ear infections are caused by certain bacteria or viral infections inside your middle ear. They can often cause fluid buildup, irritation, and swelling inside your ear, causing you to undergo severe pain.

While ear infections tend to occur in children, adults can get them as well. However, the symptoms of an ear infection in an adult are slightly different from those seen in childhood.

Wait, What Is A Middle Ear Infection?

A middle ear infection affects the space area behind your eardrum. Your eardrum has small, vibrating bones that give you the ability to hear.

Ear infections can often be caused by conditions such as the flu, colds, allergies, and sinus infections. When you experience congestion, the tubes that drain fluid from your middle ear, the Eustachian tubes, become clogged up. If too much fluid accumulates around the blockage, you can get infected.

There are many signs of an ear infection in small children, including:

• High Fever
• Difficulty sleeping
• Painful headaches
• Constant pulling or tugging at the ear

If you’re an adult and get an ear infection, you may go through:

• Severe ear pain
• Trouble hearing
• A low-grade fever

Another Ear Infection: Swimmer’s Ear

A swimmer’s ear is a type of outer ear infection. Unlike a middle ear infection, it affects the outer part of your ear. Swimming or taking a shower can cause your ear to fill up with water. This can eventually cause a moist, warm environment to form, an environment that bacteria and fungus love to flourish in.

Outer ear infections don’t necessarily have to be caused by water. Germs, q-tips, and even fingernails can cause ear infections to occur.

If you tug or stretch your ear, your outer ear infection can worsen. Avoid chewing or eating on the side of the infected ear to reduce the amount of pain you have to go through.

Some symptoms of an outer ear infection include:

• Severe itching inside your ear
• A terrible-smell from your ear
• Difficulty hearing
• Harsh swelling or redness of the ear

Are there are other reasons why I may experience ear pain when I swallow?

Good question! Ear pain can also be caused by other conditions, including:

• A nose or throat infection
• Eagle syndrome
• Glossopharyngeal neuralgia
• Temporomandibular joint dysfunction

Final Thoughts

We hope it is a bit more explicit about why your ear hurts when swallowing. If you need help to treat an infected ear, you have come to the right place! San Ramon Urgent Care And Clinic is here to help with all of your ear-related conditions! We are your local Urgent Care And Clinic in San Ramon, California, and we want to ensure you have a clinic that values your concerns and needs! To learn more about what we offer, call us today at 925-361-5959 .

Ear pain (otalgia) can feel like a dull, sharp, or burning sensation. The pain may come on gradually or suddenly. It might be constant or come and go, depending on the cause. One or both ears can be affected. Though ear pain is more common in children, it can occur in adults as well. 

Read on to learn more about ear pain causes, home remedies, and treatments. 

Ear Pain Causes

Ear pain is a common symptom that can have a number of causes, including infection and injury. Sometimes ear pain is caused by referred pain, which is pain that originates elsewhere in the body (e.g., throat, teeth) and is felt in the ear.

Although rare, ear pain can also be referred from a cancer. Always have persistent ear pain evaluated by a healthcare professional.

One of the most common causes of ear pain is infections of the ear. Ear infections can occur in the inner, middle, and outer ear. 

Why Do Ear Infections Happen?

Inner Ear Infection 

Labyrinthitis is an ear disorder that is caused by inflammation and/or irritation in the inner parts of the ear, which are responsible for balance and hearing. It may cause symptoms such as vertigo, nausea, vomiting, tinnitus, and temporary hearing loss. Inner ear infections usually do not cause ear pain.

An inner ear infection is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection, but in some cases can be a symptom of an autoimmune disease.

Middle Ear Infection (Otitis Media)

Middle ear infections (otitis media) occur when fluid and inflamed tissue build up in the middle ear (the area between your eardrum and the oval window of your inner ear).

Otitis media is more common after catching a cold or having nasal congestion. Children are more susceptible to middle ear infections, but adults can get them, too.

What Is a Middle Ear Infection?

The symptoms include moderate to severe aching pain in the ear and fever. If left untreated, the eardrum can rupture because of the pressure buildup of fluids.

Outer Ear Infection (Otitis Externa)

Outer ear infections (otitis externa) occur in the outer ear canal, which runs from your eardrum to where the outside of the ear meets the head.

This type of ear infection is commonly called “swimmer's ear." When water gets into and remains in the ear, it creates a moist environment in which bacteria or fungi can grow and thrive, causing infection.

Otitis externa can also occur when external items placed in the ear (such as headphones, hearing aids, and cotton swabs) damage the skin inside the ear canal, which can lead to infection.

Tips to Prevent Swimmer's Ear

Otitis Media With Effusion

Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a buildup of fluid deep inside the middle ear. The pressure of this fluid may cause pain and temporary hearing loss.

OME, which is sometimes called "glue ear," may clear up on its own. Sometimes a minor procedure to place small tubes (or grommets) in the ear can help drain the fluid to provide relief.

Earwax Blockage

Earwax is meant to protect your ear canal from bacteria, injury, and water. Sometimes the wax can build up or get pushed back into the ear canal, leading to a blockage.

A buildup of earwax can sometimes cause ear pain. With an earwax blockage, you may feel a sensation of fullness or congestion in the ear. You may also hear a ringing in your ears or have temporary hearing loss from the blockage. 

What to Do If Your Ears Are Blocked With Wax

Eustachian Tube Blockage

The eustachian tube is a narrow tube that connects the back of the nose to the middle ear. It protects the middle ear from bacteria and viruses, keeps air pressure equal in the middle ear space, and helps drain secretions from the middle ear. 

If the eustachian tube is blocked, bacteria or fluid can become trapped inside the ear and cause infection. Symptoms of a blocked eustachian tube include ear pain, ringing or popping sensation in the ear, dizziness, and hearing loss.

External Causes of Ear Pain 

Sometimes a pain in the ear is not because there is a problem with the ear itself. Instead, the pain is felt in the ear even though the issue is somewhere else (this is called referred pain).

The Anatomy of Outer Ear

Common causes of referred ear pain include: 

• Dental problems: A dental abscess (a collection of pus in the teeth or gums caused by a bacterial infection) or tooth infection causes a throbbing sensation in the affected area of the mouth and can also be felt in the ear.
• Throat infection: Sore throats can make it painful to swallow, and the discomfort can be felt up in the ear as well. Sometimes an earache is a sign of a throat infection, such as tonsillitis. 
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome: Pain in the joint that connects your lower jaw to your skull can sometimes be felt in your ear.

What Is TMJ?

Home Remedies

There are things you can do at home to relieve ear pain, such as:

• Chew gum or yawn to help your ears "pop."
• Hold a cold or warm compress to the outer ear for 15 minutes at a time (alternate between cold/warm throughout the day).
• Perform neck and jaw exercises that rotate the neck and move the jaw.
• Sit in an upright position.
• Take a hot bath or shower to loosen congestion.

Over-the-Counter Treatments

Over-the-counter (OTC) treatments can help reduce pain and inflammation in the ear. Some options include: 

• Ear drops: These products typically contain glycerin and isopropyl alcohol, which help dry excess fluids from the ear.
• Decongestants: These medicines (e.g., Sudafed, Afrin nasal spray) reduce swelling in the mucous membranes, which helps to open up passages to the ear and relieve symptoms. 
• Pain relievers: OTC pain relievers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen can help with minor discomfort and inflammation.

How to Prevent Ear Infections and Fluid in the Ears

Prescription Medications 

Self-care and OTC medications are not always enough to treat ear pain. If the pain does not go away or gets worse, it's important to see your doctor—especially if you also have a fever, notice pus or fluid coming from the ear, or have hearing loss.

Your doctor may prescribe medications to help treat your earache, including: 

• Antibiotics: If you have an ear infection that is caused by bacteria, your doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics (such as amoxicillin or penicillin).
• Ear Drops: Your doctor may also prescribe antibiotic ear drops that are placed directly into the ear to clear the infection. 

If wax buildup is the culprit causing your ear pain, your doctor might prescribe wax-softening ear drops, which help break up the wax and let it come out on its own.

How to Treat Otitis Externa

Specialist-Driven Procedures

If you have ongoing ear pain, or an ear condition that requires specialized treatment, your doctor might want to refer you to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist. This doctor can run additional tests and recommend a procedure to relieve your ear pain.

For example, if your ear pain is caused by a wax blockage, the ENT may perform a procedure to remove wax buildup from the ears for relief.

How to Safely Remove Earwax

Ear Flushing

Ear flushing (ear irrigation) is a medical procedure that removes impacted earwax, debris, dead skin cells, and infected tissue from the ear canal.

The doctor uses a tool called an otoscope to get a clear image of the middle ear to see if irrigation is necessary. If it is, a syringe-like tool is used to insert water or a saline mixture into the ear to flush out any excess earwax.

What Are ENT Disorders?

Microsuction

Microsuctioning (vacuuming ear wax) is a procedure in which a doctor uses a tiny vacuum to gently dislodge and remove impacted earwax. The quick and efficient method is often used when ear flushing or irrigation has not helped.

After the doctor has examined the ear using an otoscope or binaural microscope, they will carefully remove the wax using suction. The process takes only a few minutes, and there should be very little (if any) discomfort felt during the procedure.

How to Clean Your Ears

A Word From Verywell

A case of mild ear pain will often go away on its own or with the help of home remedies after a few days. If your ear pain is worsening or has not gotten better after several days, it's important to see your doctor. Your ear pain might be caused by an infection or a condition that needs treatment, such as antibiotics or a medical procedure.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How can I relieve ear pain at night?

  If ear pain is keeping you up at night, try swallowing and yawning to help open the eustachian tubes. You can also sleep in an elevated position to relieve pressure on the eardrums if the pain is felt most when you're lying down.

• How can you prevent ear pain while flying?

  There are a few ways you can prevent ear pain while flying in an airplane.

  • During takeoff and landing, try yawning, swallowing, or chewing gum.
  • Drink plenty of fluids and stay hydrated before flight.
  • Before takeoff and during flight, use a saline nose spray.
  • Try not to sleep during ascension or descension.
  • At least one hour before takeoff, try using a decongestant like Afrin or Sudafed
  • Use ear plugs that equalize air pressure.

• Can you use Vicks VapoRub for an earache?

  No, there is no clinical evidence that suggests Vicks VapoRub can ease an earache. Inserting anything into the ear besides eardrops may put debris in the ear and cause injury.

• Are there any essential oils that treat ear infections?

  Some essential oils have antibacterial, antiviral, and pain-relieving properties that might be able to treat an ear infection. For example, tea tree oil, garlic oil, and possibly basil oil can help reduce ear swelling, pain, and discharge. However, these oils are not safe for everyone to use. It may be a good idea to consult your healthcare provider before using any natural treatment, including essential oils.

  What does it mean when your ear hurts when you swallow?

  A common cause of ear pain when swallowing is an ear infection. Most ear infections are caused by a bacterial or viral infection in the middle ear. They usually cause swelling, fluid buildup, and irritation inside your ear, which can cause pain. Ear infections are common in children, but adults can also get them.

  When I swallow I can feel it in my ear?

  Ear infections The most common cause of the association between ear pain and swallowing is an ear, nose, or throat infection. A very common source is an ear infection. An ear infection occurs when one of your Eustachian tubes becomes swollen or blocked, causing fluid to build up in your middle ear.