Most conditions that cause pain behind the ear aren’t serious.
Rarely, a tumor in or near the ear may be cancerous.
An untreated ear infection can lead tomastoiditis, an infection of nearby bone.
Illustration by Danie Drankwalter for Verywell Health
Illustration by Danie Drankwalter for Verywell Health
1.
“Occipital” means the back of the head.
Neuralgia is pain from damaged nerves.
It’s not clear what causes occipital neuralgia.
Some cases are due to chronic muscle tightness or occur spontaneously.
Other cases may arise from chronic entrapment, irritation, or pinching of the occipital nerves.
This can cause pain behind the ear and inside of it.
Viral respiratory tract infections, like thecommon cold or flu, often trigger otitis media.
Several bacterial infections can also cause ear infections.
They may also vomit or have diarrhea.
If they do, the most common antibiotic prescribed is amoxicillin.
Acute otitis media, which can have a sudden onset and be severe, is usually treated with antibiotics.
Mastoiditis
Mastoiditisis an uncommon, but possible cause of pain behind the ear.
This is an infection of themastoid bone, which is behind and below your ear.
Mastoiditis can occur at any age but is most common in children under 2 years.
A common cause of mastoiditis is untreated or undertreated acute otitis media.
When that infection isn’t properly treated, it can get worse.
Antibioticsused in the treatment of acute otitis mediahelp keep the risk of mastoiditis low.
In adults, symptoms of mastoiditis typically include:
Fever and headache also are common.
Mastoiditis is a severe infection.
IV antibiotics are the first line of treatment.
Surgical interventions, such as abscess drainage, are sometimes required in severe cases.
Untreated mastoiditis can lead to these serious complications:
4.
Earwax Impaction
Earwax, also calledcerumen, is a substance that protects the lining of the outer ear canal.
Cerumen normally clears out of the canal on its own.
If this normal process is compromised, cerumen can accumulate deep within the ear canal.
There, it can become hardened and impacted, causing symptoms like pain behind the ear.
Otitis Externa
Otitis externa, a.k.a.
swimmers ear, develops when the ear canal becomes inflamed.
It can be a result of an infection, allergy, or a chronic skin condition.
Foreign Objects
Foreign objects in the ear may cause otitis externa symptoms.
Insects or small objects can irritate the ear.
Prompt treatment, within three days, typically results in better outcomes.
However, even with treatment, some patients may experience permanent facial paralysis or hearing loss.
The TMJ is located in front of your ear, where your jaw connects to your skull.
Problems with this joint and the muscles surrounding it may cause what is known as aTMJ disorder.
It can include:
8.
Dental Problems
Many dental problems can manifest as pain behind the ear, especially if they’re left untreated.
Some examples include:
Dental problems are a very common cause of ear pain.
Many problems originate from the molars.
Associated symptoms may include:
Treating dental problems varies by the specific bang out of problem.
For tooth decay and cavities, it may include fillings.
A dental abscess generally requires drainage and antibiotics.
Other Causes
There are additional conditions that may cause pain behind the ears.
Migraine headaches:Migraines may cause ear pain.
It is hypothesized that the ear pain is due to nerve innervation from both cranial and spinal nerves.
Treating the migraine pain often results in treating the ear pain, too.
A Word From Verywell
Pain behind the ear can be from a number of different causes.
Contact a healthcare provider if you experience pain behind the ear to determine the cause and best treatment option.
Contact your healthcare provider to ensure an accurate diagnosis of the cause.
Accompanying symptoms can provide clues as to what’s causing pain behind your ear.
For example, if your ear hurts when you chew, TMJ disorder is one possible culprit.
Talk to a healthcare provider to get to the bottom of your pain.
Your provider will likely want to conduct a medical history and examination.
The treatment will depend on the source of the pain.
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