Why does my ear hurt but no ear infection?

Basics: One of the primary causes of ear pain is stretch on the ear drum. When/if the air usually in the middle ear leaves for a variety of issues it creates a vacuum that stretches the drum. If your Eustachian tube (from ear to throat) is open yawning or chewing can let air back in. If it is closed from a cold or allergies it may not let air in/the vacuum remains. An exam may/not see this.