Ears aching, blocked ear canal feeling, pain in left ear when swallowing, pain in throat when swallowing?

Eustachian tube : The E tube is a tube that allows middle ear mucus to drain into the throat & air to enter the middle ear space. When you have a URI or throat infection these structures swell & the connection blocked. The eardrum can be drawn in as air is lost & middle ear mucus can build. Swallowing allows air in but this can cause pain. It's likely viral but could be strep.