L sided sore throat/ear pain 3 days. saw dr 2 days ago-viral. pain increased, redness & swelling & uvula swollen called dr put on medtrol dose pack. woke up this am with jaw pain near ear. feels like tmj. painful to eat. do i need antibiotic?

Did you have a throat culture to check for strep? Was your eardrum examined and, if so ,was it inflamed?. I think your jaw,ear discomfort could be referred from an inflamed throat or it could be an infected ear drum. Strep throat, & ear drum infections,if present, require oral antibiotics. Discuss your ongoing symptoms with your physician who may want to examine you again.

Just from your symptoms it is impossible to tell if you need an antibiotic. There needs to be an in person exam to rule/out infection, fractured tooth, abscessed tooth, impacted wisdom teeth, the list goes on. A medrol dose pack for a viral infection is generally contraindicated.

Antibiotics have no affect on viruses. But you may have causative or coincidental bacterial infection from strep throat, bacterial ear or sinus infection, abscessed toot, gum infection, or many other infections. You may have n on-infection jaw joint dyscrasia. Return to Physician for reevaluation. ALSO see your Dentist to evaluate the health of your oral cavity.