Will keflex and a decongestant take care of ear pain/pressure? will a heating pad also help to ear. started with chest cold a week ago. moved to my head. have also had a fever for 1 week. sudden onset of pressure/pain in left ear yesterday. some yellowish

Unless : Unless the ear pain and pressure are secondary to a bacterial infection, antibiotic therapy is unlikely to be helpful. We often prescribe antibiotics for persistent complaints beyond a week that may have been initiated by a viral prodrome to prevent secondary superinfection. Keflex, in general, would not be considered the drug of choice for community acquired otitis media. An oral decongestant can assist in relief of nasal, sinus, and mucosal congestive changes leading to eustachian tube dysfunction resulting in ear pain and pressure. Topical afrin is more effective as a decongestant as it works more directly at the target site as long as you respect the 3-5 day maximal useage recommendations to avoid rebound congestion (rhinitis medicamentosa). A heating pad for inflammatory conditions may actually worsen the pain by increasing the firing rate of the nerves carrying the pain impulses.If you continue with ear drainage of the type you are referring i would have the ear examined to rule out sponataneous perforation of the eardrum.