All my kids are competitive swimmers, all of them get swimmer’s ear every now and then. After a few visits to the doctors, they basically told us that if the ear ache hurts more when you pull on the ear-lobes, its swimmer’s ear. Then use a diluted solution of vinegar. Always worked well. Otherwise, visit the doctor.
Thanks for the input everyone.
Now for an update.
I have an middle ear infection. The asprin I took, along with a few of the pain reducing ideas mentioned here helped with the pain some, so I slept on it. The next day, I went to work. The pain remained constant, but the pressure was reducing through the day. I took this as a good sign, and decided not to go to the doctor. That night, while at home, I heard a “pop”, and then heard a foaming noise. At first I thought my wife was bring me a beer, but then I realized that I also felt these noises in my ear (and wee-doggy did I feel them). About 2 mL of clear liquid came out of my ear (along with a few spots of blood) over the next 20 minutes or so. Hmmm… perhaps it’s time to go to the doctor? My eardrum has ruptured, and Suzeanne, you were right… I had no idea what pain was before. The doctor looked at my eardrum, and said that I would probably regain most of my hearing if not all. Something about the location of the rupture.
i’M SURPRISED NOONE HAS OFFERE A WEBSITE ON THIS.
This might sound weird, but, when I was a little kid, I remember that my parents would roll up a newspaper into a cone shape and put the pointy end into the ear that hurt. They would then light the other end on fire, and I remember that after doing this a couple of times, my ear would stop hurting (believe me, I would get a lot of ear aches). I don’t know whether it was the heat or what, but I know that my ear ache would definitely go away. My hearing is not damaged, either.
“I say GOD DAMN!”
Personally, I prefer Tavist-D for killing pressure. It works, and it doesn’t give me the side effects sudafed does; if I take sudafed, I’m not going to try to accomplish anything for a few hours and I’m definately not going to drive anywhere. A doc I went to when I first got one of these recommended it, and I’ve stuck with it.
Kevin Allegood,
“At least one could get something through Trotsky’s skull.”
- Joseph Michael Bay
Steve, my ears are tearing up for you, remembering that pain (oh god, and the SOUND!).
We were on vacation. I got an earache. Well, actually, I’d had it a few days but it was just annoying instead of really painful. Rather than “ruin their vacation” by going to the doctor, my mom gave me aspirin and we drove on.
The next day, while I’m scrunched into the back seat of the car, in abject pain (and DIZZY), I heard this … sound. Then the foaming and the bloody mess. Yep. My eardrum finally ruptured under pressure.
I’ve had so much trouble with my ears that I’m permanently on Antivert (Meclizine) so that I can move around. My inner ears are almost destroyed because of scar tissue. I can’t do neat things like ride roller coasters without totally playing into Vertigo and powerhurling. I can’t scuba dive because of it, the pain is just too great when pressure increases.
Seeing the doctor is always the best bet. At least that way you KNOW what the problem is, before you ‘pop’. Once you’re through that, THEN you can decide if you’re going to follow his orders.
My earliest memory is lying in my crib with a hot-water bottle pressed to my ear.
My kid had an ear infection every other month or so, for years. Tubes at age 2 and again at age 6. It’s true, the antibiotics didn’t seem to stop the infections, but when your child is screaming in agony (and already has measurable hearing loss) it’s hard to be stoic. The infections stopped abruptly at age 9 when an allergist (consulted for something else) suggested that we take her off dairy products. That’s four years ago, and she hasn’t had a single antibiotic since.
Well, I’m no tooth-grinder, and my dentist has never accused me of TMJ. I don’t have that ‘jaw-popping’ syndrome or whatever it is; the muscles and tendons don’t seem unusually tight, either.
Grinding one’s teeth while sleeping, I’ve heard, is often an indication of a forceful personality. I’m just too laid back, baby…
Anyway. Last time I went to the doctor for it, she commented that there was some ‘fluid’. Not that that tells me much, except that I don’t associate fluid in the ear with muscle or tendon problems. Still, good thought.
Think I’ll make an appointment sometime this week and have it checked out again…I’ll keep you posted.
Yes, it is a little grammatically wierd, but, go on, we’re listening.
Well, if you haven’t gotten relief from this dr., then it’s time to see another one. 
Maybe an ENT that does that lazer surgery of the eardrum for ear venting? Just trying to figure out why you are having troubles. Food allergies, environmental allergies (that’s usually a kid’s problem, but who knows). In this day and age a person shouldn’t have to walk around with an ear ache for 2 years. How can you be laid back with an ear ache?
hehe. Well, that’s just the kinda guy I am. Besides, it’s intermittent, not constant, so I only go into a pained homicidal rage once every nowandagain.
As far as “see a different doctor”…well, so far I’ve seen three. Odds are this time it’ll be yet another, so I’ll be at four. Sigh…hope I can talk the new one into penicillin, that really seemed to work before…