Ear pain

[Av23]

Hi, i went to the doctors a while ago because i had pain in my ears. I've had the pain for about a year now if i'm honest on and off. The inside of my ear was really itchy and it was almost a chore not to scratch it. It's been an on going thing, thats occurred on and off over a period of months. For a while i didnt have any problems, and just since yesterday its come back only it seems worse this time and my left ear feels like its blocked with a sticky liquid discharge. There is also swelling around my left jaw, so i find it extremely painful to open my mouth to eat, and my ear has a nasty odour. Unfortunately i cannot swallow tablets, so taking ibruprofen to get the swelling down is out of the question unless its in liquid form, so have been taking lemsip as a form of paracetamol. Its getting to the point where its far too painful for me to speak, and when the pain does hit, its a stabbing pain that takes you by suprise and thats what hurts the most to the point im shaking trying to get to sleep. I'm at wits end now. Ear drops dont seem to work and you can't just cut my ears off! What do i do?

[Enoch Choi, MD]

Wear/a/Jimmy is right, a year of pain is way too long.  If you're shaking while you're going to sleep, i'd worry about an infection of the mastoid spread from the inner ear.  Go see your doctor!

[Wear/a/Jimmy]

You have to go back to the doctor. These types of infections can get out of hand, so do not delay.