Question 1

what is the cause of outer ear pain when sleeping on your side?

Accepted Answer

Outer ear pain: You may have otitis external.Have your doctor examine your ears.

Question 2

sharp inner ear pain primarily right side wake me up, goes up to head. never happened before. wear headphone to sleep every night never had problem. ?

Accepted Answer

?: I have several questions.  This could be an infection in the ear canal, but without further information cannot answer accurately.  You should see your PCP or if you prefer a Virtual Consult.  healthtap.com/DrJones Concierge Keycode YVCZAZ.

Question 3

waking up with ear pain similar to an ear infection, when sleeping on that side. it goes away after sleeping on other side. why?

Accepted Answer

Could be TMJ?: See your doctor. This could be an ear issue, or more likely, perhaps a joint issue at the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) which is right in front of the year. This joint can hurt at nighttime for several reasons including teeth grinding, clenching, or occlusion issues.

Question 4

i have been suffering from on going ear pain for over a month now. it comes with sharp pains in my head, neck and back of my ear. all on the right side. i've seen my primary doctor but he said its nothing. it prevents me from sleeping unless i take pain k

Accepted Answer

Probable muscle pull: There are a series of muscles behind the ear involved in the movement of the head.  Pulling one of these muscles could easily cause the pain you describe.  If that is the case there are some conservative measures you could do to make it better.  There are also some pinched nerves that can cause pain in that area.  To sort it out completely a little more info would help.  Such as pain moving.

Question 5

ear pain, (foul smell drainage and on and off blocked hearing in both ears for 2 weeks now. can hear pulse in ear when plugged. during sleep liquid shifts around in ear depending on the side sleeping on. h/as now around ears and behind head on n of?

Accepted Answer

: You ought to see an ENT doctor as you likely have middle ear infection and a perforated ear drum. Do not delay seeking treatment to avoid permanent damage to your hearing.
Wish you good health!

Question 6

what causes ear pain from sleeping on ear?

Accepted Answer

Ear pain: When you sleep on your ear through the night, you can end up reducing the blood supply and disrupting the sensory nerves, leading to pain or soreness.

Question 7

what causes severe ear pain when i am sleeping ?

Accepted Answer

TMD: The most important question you must ask yourself is:  is the pain associated with a hearing loss?  If there is no hearing loss, fullness or pressure in the ear, the pain is most likely arising from the jaw joint or the jaw muscles.  The pain occurs because you are lying on your side and the pressure of the pillow on the side of your face may be the cause of the pain.  Check with your dentist.

Question 8

really bad ear pain from sleeping on it. any solution?

Accepted Answer

TMD: Sleeping on the ear should make you suspicious of inflammation of the jaw joint.  It is remarkable that most people do not think of the jaw and jaw muscles as a source of pain.  I tell my patients to think of their ear as being on top of their heads, and then ask them what their complaint is.  Only then do they realize that at the side of the face is the jaw joint, the jaw muscles and the teeth.

Question 9

if i usually sleep through flights, is there anyway to prevent the problems i have with ear pain on these long flights?

Accepted Answer

Awaken for landing: The ear issue on flights occurs when the pressurized plane begins to descend to ground level. Air was pushed out of your middle ear space at high altitude balancing the altitude change on your system. As you return to ground level, you need to be awake to yawn, chew gum or otherwise straighten your eustacian tube so air can re-enter your middle ear & equalize the changing pressure.Pain should stop.

Question 10

will sleep medication help alleviate my ear pain? i can't seem to get rid of it.

Accepted Answer

Probably not: Long standing and/or severe ear pain should be evaluated.  See your primary doctor or local ENT as a first step for treatment.  Sleeping medicine will only cover the problem, whatever that may be.  Best wishes.

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Doctor answers about:

Ear pain sleeping on side

A member asked:

What is the cause of outer ear pain when sleeping on your side?

A member asked:

Sharp inner ear pain primarily right side wake me up, goes up to head. never happened before. wear headphone to sleep every night never had problem. ?

A member asked:

Waking up with ear pain similar to an ear infection, when sleeping on that side. it goes away after sleeping on other side. why?

A member asked:

I have been suffering from on going ear pain for over a month now. it comes with sharp pains in my head, neck and back of my ear. all on the right side. i've seen my primary doctor but he said its nothing. it prevents me from sleeping unless i take pain k

A member asked:

Ear pain, (foul smell drainage and on and off blocked hearing in both ears for 2 weeks now. can hear pulse in ear when plugged. during sleep liquid shifts around in ear depending on the side sleeping on. h/as now around ears and behind head on n of?

A member asked:

What causes ear pain from sleeping on ear?

A member asked:

What causes severe ear pain when i am sleeping ?

A member asked:

Really bad ear pain from sleeping on it. any solution?

A member asked:

If i usually sleep through flights, is there anyway to prevent the problems i have with ear pain on these long flights?

A member asked:

Will sleep medication help alleviate my ear pain? i can't seem to get rid of it.

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