What causes pain behind the ears?

If you have ever experienced pain behind your ears, you know how uncomfortable and worrisome this feeling can be. Although it is easy to jump the gun and point the finger at your ears for being the source of pain, this is often not the case.

Your ears are well connected to various parts of your head and neck. Due to its shared nerve supply, it is not uncommon for ailments, such as dental infection or jaw joint inflammation to be at the root of your ear pain. Nerve-related headaches can also manifest themselves through pain behind your ears.

As you can see, getting to the bottom of this type of pain is not as straightforward as one may think. While not all causes of pain behind the ears are severe, making an appointment with your healthcare provider is a good idea to rule out more serious conditions, such as an active ear infection, mastoiditis, or occipital neuralgia. 

What are the causes of pain behind the ears?

If you wonder what set of symptoms go hand in hand with pain behind your ears, the answer may surprise you. The symptomology of this condition is very much dependent on the underlying cause of discomfort and the affected tissue. Understandably so, pain stemming from the bone produces very different symptoms than if the issue is with the nerves. Similarly, an inflammation feels different from an acute otitis media (middle ear infection) or a chronic ear infection. For instance, pressure-like aching pain is one of the most characteristic symptoms of a middle ear infection.

However, the pain triggered by a bone infection behind the ear is most often described as throbbing. In addition, although most are familiar with the painful sensation of toothaches, problems with the teeth or jaw joint can also come with sharp ear pain. 

As mentioned above, pain behind the ears does not typically occur in isolation but with a whole host of other possible uncomfortable symptoms. Some of the most common accompanying symptoms - depending on the diagnosis - are hearing loss, pus-like ear discharge tinnitus (ringing in the ear), throbbing headache, toothache, or jaw pain. 

When should you seek emergency medical attention?

Although not every case of pain behind the ear warrants an emergency visit to the doctor's office, there are specific symptoms you should keep an eye out for. For instance, a high fever may indicate an infection, which means an antibiotic may be necessary to clear it.

Other symptoms to be mindful of are excessive ear drainage, stiff neck, neck pain, neurological symptoms, and light sensitivity. 

How to treat pain behind the ear?

Your treatment plan will differ depending on the cause of the pain. For instance, if an ear infection, such as otitis media or otitis externa, is at the root of the pain behind your ear, your doctor will likely prescribe an antibiotic. 

Mastoiditis requires an even more aggressive treatment approach, including IV antibiotics and surgical drainage of the infected fluid.

If your earache is due to impacted ears, over-the-counter earwax-softening drops may be quite effective. Or you may benefit from microsuction from a trained professional. 

TMJ disorders can be a bit complicated to treat. However, many people find relief with a combination of muscle relaxants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physical therapy, and stress management. 

What to expect at the doctor's office

When you arrive at your appointment, your doctor will likely conduct a physical examination of the area of concern, such as your ears, jaws, neck, mouth, lymph nodes, and even the skin around your face. Your physician will try to understand the types of symptoms you experience and may refer you to the lab for blood tests. Imaging tests such as an X-ray may also be needed to determine the cause of the problem. 

Your treatment plan will depend on your doctor's findings and the actual diagnosis you receive. 

Conclusion

As you can see, pain behind the ear can have multiple causes, some of which can be quite serious.

Therefore, if you are in discomfort, it's best to seek help from a healthcare professional.

_{The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. You should not use the information as a substitute for, nor should it replace, professional medical advice. If you have any questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional.}