Hi there!
I hope you can help me. I had my cartlidge pierced over a year ago. I had a gold stud and I think it was pierced with a gun (can't really remember it was so fast), but I remember that it was a bit sore and bled all the way down my neck! The piercer gave me tea tree oil to clean it with. However, my ear swelled up a bit and I had an infection (a lump around the piercing) which the doctor gave me anti-biotic cream for. The lump disappeared but it's been really painful to lie on ever since and even now, a year later, I still wake up in the night if I roll onto that side because it hurts! I clean it every now and then with salt in hot water if it starts to hurt too much and it does sort of calm it down for a bit - but I don't always have salt and hot water handy (if I'm out and about)!
So I was wondering if anybody else has had this problem and do you think I'll ever be free from the pain?! :)

After a year your pain should be gone; it definitely should not wake you up at night. First I have to know the basics:

If you are still cleaning it, what are you cleaning it with, and how often?

How often do you change the jewelry, and what kind of metal do you use?

I also have to tell you that getting your cartilage pierced with a gun can open you up to all sorts of problems. Piercing guns can shatter your cartilage, cause the jewelry to tear your ear, or even give you infections! The guns are not, in most cases, sterilized properly.

If this problem persists, you may just want to save yourself the grief and take it out. After taking it out, you can get it repierced, and if you do, I recommend getting it repierced with a sterilized needle. It causes next to no problems and is way better for you in the long run. Good luck! :)