Severe Pain in inner/middle ear when i wake up from sleeping on it!

[sunkissed0577]

I am in between insurances right now, and for some time now I have noticed that when i sleep on my left side I wake up w/ very bad pain in the middle to inner ear. I usually have to use my hands to get my head turned over to the other side becasuse the pain is so severe. I was hoping it would just go away with time, but no such luck. I have never heard of anyone having any type of problems like this before so that worries me a little. It only hurts when i have laid on it for about 30 mins. and it does go away in about 15-20 mins. I know it is not an ear infection or swimmers ear etc. Im actually wondering if I might have a growth or polyp (spelling?) or something in there! I know I need to get to a Dr. to get it looked at, but how severe do you think it is? Am I at a big risk for something serious that I have never heard about? The fact I cant find any info on it is what scares me the most. Also I have not experienced any hearing loss on that side that I know of. (I dont have insurance right now b/c we are looking for the right maternity insurance, and it has taken longer than we expected) Thank you so much for your help in advance, I really really appreciate it! :)  

[Chubakamartin]

I have had a similar problem for several years now with waking up with pain in my inner ear, tends to be my right ear, I almost always sleep on my left (so not caused by pressure on my pillow and not cartilage pain) . I think it may be caused by snoring.

[DanielaH91]

It's the same way with me! I woke up this morning screaming my ear hurts so bad I could barely even touch it.I put peroxide in it and the pain is seeming to ease a lil bit, but I have a lil hearing loss in it as well I think or it just feels clogged I really don't know.I think I'm going to the doctor in a lil bit just to be on the safe side

[DanielaH91]

I don't know why all those numbers or signs are in my other comment. Sorry

[Pumpkim]

I dont sleep on my ear but i have pain in my ears its hard to swallow..... What can be the problem

[Upiznorth]

It seems to be a symptom of chlamydia trichomoniasis

[tjewells]

Same problem here, been going on for about 4 years for me, slowly increasing in severity of pain and the duration of the pain.  In the beginning the pain was slight and only lasted for about an hour, flare ups were few and far between.  Now the pain is overwhelming and alot more frequent, feels like someone is stabbing deep down in my ear, and sometime can last for days.  My range of motion in my neck and jaw is limited when pain is present.  Just the slightest touch on the right side of my face, outer ear, neck can literally send me to my knees when it's hurting.  First doctor just kept prescribing different types of antibiotics, second doctor says TMJ...it's not TMJ.  If I stretch wrong I can feel a weird pressure in my ear, same if I touch and/or massage my face, neck, or scalp around my ear.   I have to be careful how I sleep, pretty much attempting to fall asleep in a perfect position and hope that I don't move an inch during the night.  It's frustrating, it feels like every aspect of my life revolves around this mystery pain now...either I'm consumed with the pain or I'm obsessed with avoiding the pain.  

[denisemcd]

I believe it is just a compression issue, not a tumor or serious ailment.  I bet you're all hard-sleeping side or belly sleepers (with head to the side).  I have the same problem.  My ear KILLS me around 5AM and wakes me up.  I sleep really hard.

Your ear is being compressed against the pillow or bed, causing some congestion of blood or irritating a sensory nerve.  A human head weighs about 10 lbs, so add to that if you sleep really hard and "burrow" into your pillow while you sleep, that can be a lot of pressure on a sensitive ear.  

There are no real medical solutions, since it's just an issue of changing the way that you sleep.  Some people craft themselves a special foam pillow with an "ear hole" for your outer ear to rest in (you just carve up a foam pillow, start with a smallish ear size hole and you can always make it bigger if you need to). You might also take some Advil (an antinflammatory) before bed.

I have gotten this pillow on Amazon, which is not really made for ears but it does the trick.  The nice thing about it is that all four sides of the pillow are walled off and each has its own zipper.  You can remove some filling from any or all of the 4 sides to customize the height and firmness.   Put it all in a plastic bag and save it so you can add some back in if you need to as it flattens over time.

PillowMed-Customizable-Orthopedic-positions-adjustable

Good luck, All!
Denise

[Bellyandthebuttons]

Thanks for the insite, after 44 years of sleeping on my back due to not being able to sleep on my side because any pressure within twenty minutes gives me an ear ache on any side I sleep on .mi get bad pain which lasts around 30 minutes.
   I have never bothered to consolt anyone and just lived with it.
  I know as a child I have massive ear aches , please help would love to sleep  well again on my side.