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    kcarmata's Avatar
    kcarmata Posts: 5, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Mar 7, 2007, 06:30 AM
    Ear pain
    Many nights I awake in severe pain on my ear, it appears to be my outer ear maybe the cartilage, it is not that I am sleeping funny on my ear I have tried changing pillows the only help so far has been sleeping with only the very top of my head on the pillow and having my ear below my pillow. Sleeping with no pillow also causes the pain - I can't help but wonder why is this and why haven't I ever heard of anyone else having this happen.
    Thanks for any advice Ka
    Capuchin's Avatar
    Capuchin Posts: 5,255, Reputation: 656
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    #2

    Mar 7, 2007, 06:31 AM
    Mine doesn't get painful, but the ear I lie on does block up a bit at night.
    J_9's Avatar
    J_9 Posts: 40,298, Reputation: 5646
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    #3

    Mar 7, 2007, 06:39 AM
    Ka, do you have any health problems at all? Anything? Are you on any meds?
    kcarmata's Avatar
    kcarmata Posts: 5, Reputation: 1
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    #4

    Mar 7, 2007, 06:50 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by J_9
    Ka, do you have any health problems at all? Anything? Are you on any meds?
    I have no health issues I am aware of and I am on no medications
    I have had this problem for about a decade
    Not only does it cause me to loose sleep it hurts even though the hurt
    Only lasts a minute or 2. thanks
    Capuchin's Avatar
    Capuchin Posts: 5,255, Reputation: 656
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    #5

    Mar 7, 2007, 06:56 AM
    I was just saying that I also experience the same kind of problem, and they may be related. Thanks for disagreeing though.
    J_9's Avatar
    J_9 Posts: 40,298, Reputation: 5646
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    #6

    Mar 7, 2007, 06:56 AM
    Where on the ear does it hurt? Top of the ear, earlobe, etc? Also, what is your age?
    kcarmata's Avatar
    kcarmata Posts: 5, Reputation: 1
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    #7

    Mar 7, 2007, 12:53 PM
    It mostly hurts on the outside- side
    I am 40yrs old and this has been happening for many years
    Thanks again for trying to help
    emor20's Avatar
    emor20 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #8

    Sep 30, 2007, 03:54 PM
    I have had the same problem with only my right ear for probably 20 years now. I've had the orthodontist confirm it's not TMJ, I tried a night guard for a while, and the ear,nose throat doctor finds nothing wrong. I have recently started using a "memory foam" pillow, and that seems to provide a lot of relief. Takes a little getting used to, but so far it's working. Good luck!
    kcarmata's Avatar
    kcarmata Posts: 5, Reputation: 1
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    #9

    Sep 30, 2007, 06:19 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by emor20
    I have had the same problem with only my right ear for probably 20 years now. I've had the orthodontist confirm it's not TMJ, I tried a night guard for a while, and the ear,nose throat doctor finds nothing wrong. I have recently started using a "memory foam" pillow, and that seems to provide a lot of relief. Takes a little getting used to, but so far it's working. Good luck!

    Thanks for the advice I have been sleeping with only the top of my head on the pillow making sure my ear actually is below the pillow (not that comfortable but it keeps the pain away) - I think I will go get one of those memory pillows I have nothing to lose.
    Thanks again:) :)
    AlliB's Avatar
    AlliB Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #10

    Dec 9, 2007, 02:04 PM
    Hey kcarmata,
    I have the same problem. It happened to me last night. It is SO PAINFUL, the aching, the tenderness. OUCH! I thought for a moment I was the only one. I don't think it health related, medication related, ear folding or an indication of sleeping problems. To me, it feels like my cartilage is being crushed and when I wake the aching pain is almost unbearable. I think it has to do with the type of pillow we are using. I slept on my husbands tempur-pedic pillow and I didn't have any pain. Although I only slept on it for 2 hours in the morning after he left for work, the pain I usually feel comes from sleeping on the same pillow all night. Try a tempur-pedic pillow and see if the pain continues. I am going to ask for one for Christmas. They are expensive but if they relieve our pain, they are worth it.
    Alli
    n123's Avatar
    n123 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #11

    Jan 8, 2008, 07:10 AM
    EAR PAIN AT NIGHT: I have had this problem for years – since I was a child. The pain is caused by the outer ear being compressed and becoming ischemic (deprived of circulation). The pain can radiate all the way down my neck to my upper chest and can be severe. It can happen in either ear, whichever I am sleeping on, and it doesn’t seem to matter what kind of pillow I use. It wakes me at night and pain can last for a half hour or more. Lightly massaging it helps to speed relief by increasing circulation, but is also very painful. Using a foam ear plug seems to help a little bit, as it adds a little support to the cartilage around the meatus (ear hole). But nothing I have tried prevents it entirely. I would love to find a way to prevent this painful condition as it keeps me from getting restful sleep.
    Choux's Avatar
    Choux Posts: 3,047, Reputation: 376
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    #12

    Jan 8, 2008, 12:32 PM
    I had this problem sometimes, and it was caused by certain styles of pierced earings pressing against the pillow.



    Best wishes,
    sdcakt6's Avatar
    sdcakt6 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #13

    Jan 10, 2008, 12:49 PM
    I experienced ear pain at night ,I turned out to be teeth clenching making the muscle around the ear to inflame,the dentist made me a tooth guard and the problem was solved
    colemajors's Avatar
    colemajors Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #14

    Aug 3, 2008, 07:28 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by kcarmata
    Many nights I awake in severe pain on my ear, it appears to be my outer ear maybe the cartilage, it is not that I am sleeping funny on my ear I have tried changing pillows the only help so far has been sleeping with only the very top of my head on the pillow and having my ear below my pillow. Sleeping with no pillow also causes the pain - I can't help but wonder why is this and why havent I ever heard of anyone else having this happen.
    thanks for any advice Ka




    I have the same issues. Have you read about how cell phones could possibly be a cause of cancer? I'm starting to believe that, that might be what it is.
    You can email me [email protected]
    Barsuk's Avatar
    Barsuk Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #15

    Dec 25, 2008, 04:29 PM
    I started to have ear cartillage pains after wearing glasses. The pains, in both ears, are quite strong, especially when the frame is of thin wires. IT STARTS WHERE THE FRAME TOUCHES THE UPPER PARTS OF MY OUTER EARS AND SPREADS DOWN, I HAVE TO TAKE MY GLASSES OFF AND TO KEEP THEM BY HAND BEFORE EYES.

    It started couple of months ago (I am 83) and I will see my family doctor next week for the first time about this problem.

    Almost nothing on the WEB about this and I will share all I know and would much appreciate any information about this strange condition. Who knows maybe it is a first sign of something serious.
    Auntielala's Avatar
    Auntielala Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #16

    Jan 23, 2009, 09:31 AM
    Hi, I've had this problem for over 20 years, I'll describe what happens: I wake up with pain in the ear I am lying on, as soon as I move it gets worse, it feels hot and swollen around the cartilage, but then it seems to subside quite quickly, in a few minutes and then I can go back to sleep. It happens whichever side/ear I lie on. I saw a specialist many years ago who said he doesn't come across it very often, but he has seen it and it's just some people have very sensitive cartilage. He offered me steroid treatment which would require hospitalisation, but would cure it, however I was pregnant at that time. Meanwhile, trying everything I could possibly think of to stop it, I found the pliable wax earplugs completely stop it happening. They must cushion the cartilage. So I never went back for the steroids, as I prefer a natural solution to drugs. Apart from the odd time an earplug works loose, I now sleep soundly! I hope my story will help someone else :)
    Auntielala's Avatar
    Auntielala Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #17

    Jan 23, 2009, 09:34 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by Barsuk View Post
    I started to have ear cartillage pains after wearing glasses. The pains, in both ears, are quite strong, especially when the frame is of thin wires. IT STARTS WHERE THE FRAME TOUCHES THE UPPER PARTS OF MY OUTER EARS AND SPREADS DOWN, i HAVE TO TAKE MY GLASSES OFF AND TO KEEP THEM BY HAND BEFORE EYES.

    It started couple of months ago (I am 83) and I will see my family doctor next week for the first time about this problem.

    Almost nothing on the WEB about this and I will share all I know and would much appreciate any information about this strange condition. Who knows maybe it is a first sign of something serious.
    Barsuk, I do hope your doctor was able to help, that sounds awful. Guess we have sensitive ears.
    tjrivers's Avatar
    tjrivers Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #18

    May 20, 2010, 03:11 PM
    I have had this problem for about 5 years now... AND I THINK I FIGURED OUT THE ISSUE!! (At least my issue). I would love to help others because I have been sleep deprived for this long now!
    It is my hair, my hair is compressing my ear down, therefore it is not gettng enough circulation. Now that I FINALLY figured it out, when I wake up with the pain, I put my hand up by the top part of my ear and I can feel the strands of hair pulled very tight across my ear! I sure hope this helps, I am sleeping better now. I have also tried bobby pins and pony tails now that I know the problem, but sometime they do not hold my hair back like I would like. Again good luck, I hope this is your solution too!!
    Tammy
    tjrivers's Avatar
    tjrivers Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #19

    May 20, 2010, 03:11 PM
    I have had this problem for about 5 years now... AND I THINK I FIGURED OUT THE ISSUE!! (At least my issue). I would love to help others because I have been sleep deprived for this long now!
    It is my hair, my hair is compressing my ear down, therefore it is not gettng enough circulation. Now that I FINALLY figured it out, when I wake up with the pain, I put my hand up by the top part of my ear and I can feel the strands of hair pulled very tight across my ear! I sure hope this helps, I am sleeping better now. I have also tried bobby pins and pony tails now that I know the problem, but sometime they do not hold my hair back like I would like. Again good luck, I hope this is your solution too!!
    Tammy
    tjrivers's Avatar
    tjrivers Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #20

    May 20, 2010, 03:11 PM
    I have had this problem for about 5 years now... AND I THINK I FIGURED OUT THE ISSUE!! (At least my issue). I would love to help others because I have been sleep deprived for this long now!
    It is my hair, my hair is compressing my ear down, therefore it is not gettng enough circulation. Now that I FINALLY figured it out, when I wake up with the pain, I put my hand up by the top part of my ear and I can feel the strands of hair pulled very tight across my ear! I sure hope this helps, I am sleeping better now. I have also tried bobby pins and pony tails now that I know the problem, but sometime they do not hold my hair back like I would like. Again good luck, I hope this is your solution too!!
    Tammy

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