Tonsillectomy pain

[cteller09]

I am 26 y/o female day 12 s/p tonsillectomy for recurrent PTA. I have been improving since day 8, now feeling almost 100% other than the throat ear pain. Since day 8 I have noticed all other pain is 95% better however I have a severe sharp pain on my right side that goes into my ear. I did not have much ear pain earlier in the surgery process. I can barely eat due to pain and have restarted my narcotics. The pain is not always there but it does wake me up at night and when I eat and is a 9/10 on a pain scale. This pain is almost worse than the pain during the first week after surgery! Is this normal? Is it from nerve injury?? Can someone please advise. Thank you in advance.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hi, the post op inflammation could cause the swelling and pain.  As this subsides your symptoms should resolve. If there is nerve damage you may have symptoms like difficulty swallowing or hoarseness of voice, so its unlikely that your symptoms are due to nerve damage. However, if your symptoms persist, then consult your doctor to rule out an infection. Regards.

[cteller09]

** I also should add I did see my ENT for follow up day 8 and he said everything was going well. I did get a 40mg depo-medrol shot to help decrease the swelling.