Ear infections can cause very severe pain. People are often desperate for pain relief. Here are some tips on ear infection pain relief.
Paracetamol is definitely the first port of call. This cheap over-the-counter pain killer is not to be underestimated. Make sure you stick to the dose and take it regularly for a day or 2 to make sure the effect is maximised. Paracetamol works really well in combination with ibuprofen or aspirin. Alernatively another NSAID could be tried. It's best not to take these if you have asthma or have had a stomach ulcer. These types of drugs both relieve pain and reduce inflammation. This can help to unblock your ears.
Try a decongestant such as pseudoephedrine. Eucalyptus oil or Olbas Oil help also. By unblocking the tubes you can release some of the pressure in your ears. This helps to relieve the pain and reduce the chance of middle ear infection from fluid accumulating in the middle ear space.
If your ear is painful speak to your doctor. If it is severe you may well need antibiotics. Middle ear infection is usually treated with tablet antibiotics and sometimes drops as well. Outer ear infection tends to be less painful and just needs drops for treatment in most cases. Other pain relief which could be tried includes codeine. This is an opioid which is a very effective painkiller but can cause drowsiness, nausea and constipation.
If you have an ear infection or other ear disorder then you must visit your doctor. This article does not count as medical advice.
Dr Toby Bateson