Tips for Ear Pain: How to Lessen Your Discomfort

Experiencing ear pain can be agonizing and disheartening, considering we use our ears for so much every day. In many cases, ear pain can be accompanied by hearing loss, which can add to the pain, suffering, and inconvenience. However, ear pain is a common condition that will strike us all at one point in our lives, and it doesn’t always have to stem from an infection. Various other ailments can cause our ears to hurt, but without the help of a doctor, it can be impossible to pinpoint the cause of your ailment. Knowing the culprit behind your pain can help you come up with an effective treatment method, and in some cases, home remedies might be just what the doctor ordered. So, make sure you consult with a hearing care professional first before you try these at-home tips for ear pain.

Tips for Ear Pain: What Can I Do At Home to Offer Relief?

• Using both cold and warm compresses can help reduce inflammation, improve blood flow, and may even help relieve the pain.

• When the pain becomes too much, reach for an over-the-counter pain reliever. However, when it comes to ear pain, make sure you only take either acetaminophen or ibuprofen, never an aspirin.

• If you were diagnosed with swimmer’s ear, then using over-the-counter ear drops can help keep the ears dry and free of bacteria, as long as you don’t have a punctured eardrum.

• Getting things flowing is a great way to lessen the pain, so give the area around the ear (behind the ears and around the jaw) a gentle massage. Doing so may help with the drainage of excess fluid and could even help with the pain!

• Anytime you need to lie down, make sure you keep your head elevated. This can help minimize post-nasal drip and can also help minimize the pain you are experiencing in or around your ears. Laying back all the way could make your ears feel worse, so make sure you keep your head propped up.