It might be constant or come and go and can affect one or bothears.
However, sometimes prescription medications and specialist treatments are needed.
This article discusses how to relieve ear pain.
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Over-the-Counter Treatments
Over-the-counter (OTC) treatments are the recommended way to ease ear pain.
This includes OTC pain relievers, ear drops, and cold and allergy medications.
These medications can help to relieve minor discomfort and inflammation associated with ear aches.
OTC earwax drops typically containglycerin,mineral oil, or saline solutions.
They may also contain other substances, such ascarbamide peroxide,baking soda, and acetic acid.
Ear drops for swimmer’s ear commonly contain isopropyl alcohol, which combines with the water in the ear.
The water-alcohol combination then evaporates, drying out the ear and relieving pain.
Decongestants work to ease ear pain and pressure by reducing swelling in the mucous membranes.
This helps to open up passages to the ear and relieve symptoms.
For daytime relief of seasonal and indoor allergies, longer-acting, non-drowsy antihistamines are a better choice.
These include:
Home Remedies
Home remedies torelieve ear paininclude drug-free techniques to ease congestion and pressure.
Sitting upright puts gravity to work for you.
Cold Compress
A cold washcloth or ice pack can help bring temporary relief to an earache.
Hold a cold compress to the outer ear for 15 to 20 minutes to reduce ear pain.
Distraction
Keeping your mind busy can help to distract you from ear painor other types of pain.
It may be helpful to cover the heating pad with a towel to prevent getting earwax on it.
Herbal Ear Drops
Traditional Chinese herbs are sometimes recommended to relieve ear pain.
Herbal ear drops are made fromLongdan-xiegan decoctionorShenling-baizhupowder and sold online and at health food stores.
Whether or not herbal or naturopathic ear drops are effective, however, is unclear.
Humidifiers
When ear pain is due to congestion, running the humidifier can help.
Humidifiers increase the moisture in the air, helping to combat dry air that can irritate the sinuses.
A humidifier also helps to keep you hydrated, thinning mucus and allowing it to drain.
This helps to relieveear pressurefrom a cold or sinus infection.
Tea tree oil has antimicrobial properties that could theoretically prevent infection.
However, do not use tea tree oil directly in your ear without first diluting it in olive oil.
Prescription Medications
Self-care and OTC medications are not always enough to treat ear pain.
However, infections that last longer than three days typically requireoral antibiotics, such as amoxicillin or penicillin.
Your doctor may also prescribe antibiotic ear drops that are placed directly into the ear to dump the infection.
An ENT can run additional tests and recommend a procedure to relieve your ear pain.
Another specialtychiropracticmay also be recommended to relieve ear pain.
The quick and efficient method is often used when ear flushing or irrigation has not helped.
Chiropractic Adjustments
Chiropractic treatment is sometimes recommended for treating ear pain and preventing recurring infections.
In theory, cervical spinal manipulations treat ear pain by promoting ear drainage and easing muscle tension.
However, there is limited evidence proving that chiropractic adjustments can relieve ear pain.
If your ear pain persists after home care, see your healthcare provider.
Prescription ear drops, oral antibiotics, or specialized treatments may be needed to ease your symptoms.
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