I get earaches occasionally. i find that if i lean my head sideways so that the ear that is aching is facing the floor the pain goes away. is this a clue as to what might be causing the pain?

Check with your doc: Your doc should look inside your ears. No big deal and better than any speculation. Have to fixed to avoid complications.

Probably not: It is likely that when you do that, it moves the fluid around in your ear, which relieves the pressure and makes it feel better. This ear ache may be due to allergies, infection, or fluid in the ear. Would see your doc about it. Good luck!