What Causes Pain On Left Side Of Face And Soreness Below Ear Lobe?

Posted on Mon, 7 Sep 2015

Question: Over the past eight months I have had six times that I have lost my voice, barely being able to talk. Back in May I was diagnosed with having allergies. The medicine that I was given by a nurse practioner put me in bed for almost two weeks. I have since had another bout with losing my voice. I finally got into see a new young internal medicine doctor. He told me that I had pollips in my throat. He referred me to my ENT doctor in XXXXXXX Ohio. The ENT doctor and the voice pathologist that I saw a week ago said that I did not have pollips, but my ENT doctor thought that it was related to my acid reflux (GERDS) that I have. He wanted me to start taking Pepcid at night before I went to bed. I presently am taking Prevacid in the morning before eating breakfast. He has scheduled me for a Barium Esophagram in early September. A week ago after visiting the two doctors in XXXXXXX I ended up in the emergency room of a local hospital. I was in so much pain on the left side of my face. Earlier the morning that I left for XXXXXXX I had a sore to the touch a place under my ear lobe. I mentioned it to the two doctors that I saw. The doctor at the emergency room thought that it might be my adenoids that could be giving me my problem. The emergency room doctor gave me a shot of penicillen and put me on a ten-day regiment of 875mg of agumenton. I asked my ENT doctor if it could be my tonsils since I still have them. He said he did not think so, but we never discussed my andenoids. Do you have any suggestions to what could be my problem?

Answered by Dr. Ronald Schubert (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
GERD

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your healthcare concerns

You are concerned about recent pain left side of face and sore throat. Since you are 62 years old the tonsils and adenoids completely atrophy by that age. The ER doctor was just guessing about your pain. It is possible you had a viral illness that caused an enlargement of your lymph nodes and this can cause your pain left side of your face and ear.

I agree with your ENT to have a Barium Swallow and esophagram to see how much reflux you are experiencing.

To help reduce GERD in addition to medication I recommend elevating the head of your bed with bricks. Using pillows to elevate your head does not work. You must get your whole bed at an incline. This helps gravity to keep you from refluxing. You do it once and you are done.

I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again with your health care concerns and questions

Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar