After tonsillectomy surgery, patients have plenty of unpleasant side effects to deal with. Swelling of the uvula, tongue, and throat are usually the first hurdle adults have to deal with post tonsillectomy. Swallowing and breathing can be difficult. This isn’t too surprising, especially considering all that the throat has been through. Icing and gargling with ice water can help reduce this swelling, as can a steroidal treatment. The next problem after tonsillectomy, usually a day or so post-op, is pain in the throat area. Again, no big surprise. Icing is also a good way to treat, as are narcotic pain killers and/or over the counter pain medications. Topical analgesics like throat sprays can also offer some relief.
What surprises many is a phenomena occurring several days into their tonsillectomy recovery- ear pain.
Post Tonsillectomy Ear Pain – Cause and Treatment
Cause
Literally thousands of patients sharing their experiences on this website have commented that their ears hurt after tonsillectomy. Ear pain after tonsillectomy is probably the second or third most common side effect that patients experience- second only to pain and swelling. But why does this happen? There was no scalpel or hot knife near the ears, so why should they feel like they’re being stabbed? The cause of ear pain post tonsillectomy starts at the throat and radiates to the ears. This is called a referred pain. Take a look at the attached diagram and note the lingual nerve. It’s directly connected to the ears and throat.
Treatments and Home Remedies
This referred pain can be quite severe. Often prescribed pain medications do not seem to relieve the ear pain that many experience after tonsillectomy. In addition to the pain medicines patients are taking, there are two home remedies that usually can provide some relief. The first of which is chewing gum. In light of the unpleasant side effect of have sugary residue in and around the throat, most tonsillectomy patients prefer a sugar -free gum. A mint flavor can also feel cooling. Exactly why chewing gum relieves ear pain is hard to say. Certainly activating the muscles around the ears and jaw may help, but more likely, like yawning, gum chewing releases pressure from the ear area.
The second remedy for ear pain after tonsillectomy is applying a heating pad or warm compress to the affected area. Again, the reason for its effectiveness is not entirely clear but most patients describe a relaxing comfort from applying a wet, warm towel or electric heating pad to the affected area. To reduce inflammation, alternate between warm and cold compresses.
-Greg My short bio
Have you found a trick for taking the edge off of ear pain, especially after tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy? Please share it in the comments section below. Thank you!
I am 26 and had a tonsillectomy on Oct. 27. I am on day 6 of recovery. I can say, i’ve had pneumonia numerous times in my life, got my front tooth knocked out by running into the playing equipment at school at age 9, have permanent damage done to my left eye from being hit by a baseball at age 12, suffer from bad acid reflux and asthma. And i can say getting my tonsils out was the worse experience in my life. I went home the day after surgery with pain meds. For the first 4 days, I suffered from intense throat pain and fevers. I would wake yp through the night with intense throat pain. Then right when the fevers had finally finished and my throay seemed not as bad, on day 4, my ears started hurting intensely. Then on day 5, throat pain got a lot worse and when i’d try to swallow, my ears felt worse. Today, my ear pain is still there and becomes intense when i try drinking anything and still can’t eat anything. I tried pudding yesterday, but it hurt too much. Any suggestions on how to help my throat and ear pain???
I’m 22 and just had my tonsils removed on the 28th of October I’m on day 5 of recovery and I wish I just kept my tonsils the recovery period has been so sore they even struggled to get my left tonsil out during surgery need some advise on things to eat as I’m still not eating anything except from little bits of bread I have ran out of pain med twice already and I’m struggling to drink water too any advice would be great thanks
Surgery Date: 10/18/16
I agree with everyone on this being the worst pain ever! I am on day 12. I have been experiencing tongue, throat, and really bad ear pain.
The ear pain actually feels like it’s getting worse. My only remedy that works for me is sleeping in a sitting position, lots of back pillows, a neck pillow to keep my head upright and ice packs on my left and right side of my throat and ears and neck. Use a light sheet to hold it all in place.
I can’t stomach the pain Meds from the doctor, so I stick to walmart brand liquid Tylenol.
I also found out on day 2/3 I am allergic to Amoxacillin. That was fun!
I stay away from anything hot (shower, drinks or food) that can make me hemorrhage if anything happens. I can’t stand popcicles, but noticed the walmart brand banana ones are awesome. BLEND them up and spoon it. Make sure to let it sit to numb the throat. I’m still getting exhausted quickly and try to rest as much as possible. Anything that gets ur heart beating can increase your chances of hemorrhaging. Good luck everyone!
DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS! ice cold gingerale or 7up is amazing! Or slushy water. Blend ice cubes and water add 1 popcicle to give it a little flavor.
I’m 24 and I had my tonsils removed on Wednesday (19/10/2016) everything was going fine, normal amount of pain I thought & getting through the medication fine until Friday. I got a tablet stuck in my throat, coughed it up, saw a small amount of blood so myself to the bathroom. Where I then started to loose a huge amount of blood through being sick & bleeding. I have to say this was THE most scariest point! I was rushed to hospital via ambulance and admitted straight away. I had picked up an infection :/…after being pumped with pain relief & antibiotics I was discharged the next day. It is now early hours of Monday morning. Thinking I couldn’t possibly take anymore, I woke with the mosh excruciating pain in my jaw and up to the ears at 11:30pm and again at 3am. I’ve had more pain relief, but it doesn’t seem to touch the sides. I’ve also tried ice packs and they aren’t helping either……not sure how much more I can take! Any suggestions on how to relieve this pain, I would be hugely grateful!!
I am on day 6 of my recovery and my ears hurt so bad when I swallow that I cry. What can I do????