What Causes Severe Ear Pain?
 
                                    
                                    
                                          
                                               Posted on
                                          
                                            
                                         
                                           Mon, 23 Jun 2014
                                           
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                            Medically reviewed by
                                            
                                                  Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
                                            
                                        
                                        
                                            
                                                
                                                Mon, 23 Jun 2014
                                                
                                            
                                                Answered on
                                             
                                            
                                                
                                                Mon, 21 Jul 2014
                                                
                                                
                                                Last reviewed on
                                             
                                            Question : Hi my ear pain so bad suddenly I felt like some thing broke it made a noise and started pain 
                            
                                    Brief Answer:
? infection
Detailed Answer:
Hello sir and thanks for using healthcaremagic,
The most common cause for sudden and severe pain in the ear is usually infection of the ear.
Take a pain killer immediately like paracetamol or ibuprofen after checking your dose. Pain killers should always be taken after eating something.
I will need a few more details regarding your complaint to analyse better.
1) Did you have a cold before the ear pain started?
2) Did you use ear buds in the past few days ?
3) Is there any discharge from the ear ? if yes then is it watery or bloody or yellowish ?
4) Did you fly recently?
Awaiting your response,
Regards,
Dr Rajkishori Godhi.
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                            ? infection
Detailed Answer:
Hello sir and thanks for using healthcaremagic,
The most common cause for sudden and severe pain in the ear is usually infection of the ear.
Take a pain killer immediately like paracetamol or ibuprofen after checking your dose. Pain killers should always be taken after eating something.
I will need a few more details regarding your complaint to analyse better.
1) Did you have a cold before the ear pain started?
2) Did you use ear buds in the past few days ?
3) Is there any discharge from the ear ? if yes then is it watery or bloody or yellowish ?
4) Did you fly recently?
Awaiting your response,
Regards,
Dr Rajkishori Godhi.
 Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
                              
                            
                                  
                                      Dr. Prasad
                                  
                              
                                         
 
                                    
                                    
                                
 
                                    I am in canada so what is the prescription i use ?
                                
                            
                                    Brief Answer:
tylenol or ibuprofen
Detailed Answer:
Hello Sir,
You can use either tylenol or ibuprofen for the pain. Both are available over the counter in Canada.
As I said, there are 2 possibilities.
1) Infection of the ear canal.
2) Infection of the middle ear.
To diagnose and treat you have to pay a visit ot the ENT doctor . You may require a course of antibiotics.
In infection of the middle ear, the eustachian tube is blocked. This tube connects the ear to the nose and blockage of this tube causes ear pain.
To unblock this tube you should instill decongestant nose drops like otrivin. Instill 3 drops in each nostril 3 times a day for 5 days and follow it up with steam.
Otrivin is also available over the counter.
Keep your ears dry and do not try to probe or clean your ears.
Seea doctor soon,
Regards,
Dr Rajksihori Godhi.
                                    
                            tylenol or ibuprofen
Detailed Answer:
Hello Sir,
You can use either tylenol or ibuprofen for the pain. Both are available over the counter in Canada.
As I said, there are 2 possibilities.
1) Infection of the ear canal.
2) Infection of the middle ear.
To diagnose and treat you have to pay a visit ot the ENT doctor . You may require a course of antibiotics.
In infection of the middle ear, the eustachian tube is blocked. This tube connects the ear to the nose and blockage of this tube causes ear pain.
To unblock this tube you should instill decongestant nose drops like otrivin. Instill 3 drops in each nostril 3 times a day for 5 days and follow it up with steam.
Otrivin is also available over the counter.
Keep your ears dry and do not try to probe or clean your ears.
Seea doctor soon,
Regards,
Dr Rajksihori Godhi.
 Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
                              
                            
                                  
                                      Dr.  Chakravarthy Mazumdar
                                  
                              
                                         
 
                                    
                                    
                                
 
                                    For ear infection do i have to use tylenol lol 
                                
                            
                                    Brief Answer:
it is a painkiller
Detailed Answer:
Hello Madam,
Tylenol has pain relieving properties and you can try it. If it doesn't suit you, you can switch to the next available product that is ibuprofen.
However as I said, you may need other remedies including antibiotics. Those can be started after physical evaluation.
Regards,
Dr Rajkishori Godhi.
                                    
                            it is a painkiller
Detailed Answer:
Hello Madam,
Tylenol has pain relieving properties and you can try it. If it doesn't suit you, you can switch to the next available product that is ibuprofen.
However as I said, you may need other remedies including antibiotics. Those can be started after physical evaluation.
Regards,
Dr Rajkishori Godhi.
 Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
                              
                            
                                  
                                      Dr. Prasad
                                  
                              
                                         
 
                                    
                                    
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