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’m 17 years old and on Day 7 of recovery – the ear ache was no where near this bad until about Day 5 where the pain seemed to be 100 times worse than it was the previously (although the other side effects were worst on Day 3/4, which have been my worst days overall so far). I use a small hot water bottle one the worst ear, and chew gum non-stop.
The pain subsides after about an hour, but even eating something soft like a yogurt causes it to come back, and it literally feels like someone shot through my ear drum. Wondering how much longer this is going to last.
I am in the same boat you are, on day 6. Nothing makes the ear pain go away. I went to the Dr. Today and he started me on a steroid, but nothing wrong with ny ears he said. the only thing that has helped with the ears at all was making a trip to the chiropractor. We are fortunate enough to have a great one here in my small town so I figured I would try that. I was there about an hour ago and can’t believe the releif I have felt. I can move my neck around without pain and even swolling liquids doesn’t hurt my ears, yeah it still is tender on my throat but the ear pain is almost completely gone. I have cried multiple timesin the last 48 hours because the pain in my ears was so bad and nothing helped. My son called my mom and told her to come over because he had only seen me cry one time and that was when I blew out my knee and he was scared because I was crying on the couch, he is 9. After my alignment at the chiropractor my ears feel 100% better, hopefully it lasts a while
I’m 24 and on day 5 post-op. I’m able to eat but nothing substantial really. I’ve been lucky and able to eat shredded chicken and soft veggies, things like that. But I woke up on day 3 with some of the worst pain I’ve ever felt. My ears hurt so bad, it feels like there is water in my ears almost, though I’ve been checked and there isn’t.
Nothing helps the ear pain at all. I take Tylenol or IBprophane, but it just helps with the throat pain.
My ear pain doesn’t ever seem to go away.
Idk what else to do, I’ve tryed everything everyone here has said for the ear pain bug nothing has worked.
I just want this over and done 🙁
I am in the same boat you are, on day 6. Nothing makes the ear pain go away. I went to the Dr. Today and he started me on a steroid, but nothing wrong with ny ears he said. the only thing that has helped with the ears at all was making a trip to the chiropractor. We are fortunate enough to have a great one here in my small town so I figured I would try that. I was there about an hour ago and can’t believe the releif I have felt. I can move my neck around without pain and even swolling liquids doesn’t hurt my ears, yeah it still is tender on my throat but the ear pain is almost completely gone. I have cried multiple timesin the last 48 hours because the pain in my ears was so bad and nothing helped. My son called my mom and told her to come over because he had only seen me cry one time and that was when I blew out my knee and he was scared because I was crying on the couch, he is 9. After my alignment at the chiropractor my ears feel 100% better, hopefully it lasts a while
Hello fellow tonsil-less adults my name is Malaiya and I’m 17 years old. It’s been absolutely horrible dealing with the recovery but the ear pain is definitely the worst factor. Reading through all of the comments has actually made me feel better knowing that I’m not the only one going through this. All of the helpful remedies are greatly appreciated as well I’m about to try the rice bag method and I hope it AIDS in some relief. Stay in there everyone we can get through this!!
Hello all! I am a male(32 years young) who just had his tonsillectomy. Im on day 8. I have to confess..this pain is sky high! I have a pretty decent pain threshold but this ear and throat pain is way beyond anything i could ever imagine. The meds the doc gave me just made me sick, dizzy, and plugged up. After the second day i stopped using the prescription meds and started using extra strength tylenol and ibpropfen. They work well but i think i may have went over the daily limit a few times. Days 1-3 were really easy. I ate pudding and broth. My beverages of choice were gatorade and more broth. Day 4-8 have been hell on earth!!! The pain literally feels like i was tied down on the ground and a very experienced construction worker jackhammered my ears for a full 12 hour shift!!!!!! Im ready for the pain to subside. It doesnt even to go completely away…just drop from 100 to maybe 10 on a 1-10 pain scale!! Ive tried everything for the ear pain. The ice bag works pretty well. I did fall asleep for about 20 mins last night with it on my neck and it felt great. Im wondering why nobody has tried the numbing ear drops for ear pain. Is that a bad idea?
Thanks for your time. Ive read all the other comments and it helps me feel better.
I’m on day 7, 39 yo female…. please tell me there is light at the end of the tunnel because this is killing me.
Hi jadori
Im a 24 yr old female who has just had my second tonsillectomy.All I can say is thank you so much for writing this!.When I was 8 (my first tonsillectomy) I don’t rememeber these symptoms besides vomitting and bleeding.it was great to find this as I am having a completely different experience this time . I am currently on day 8 after op and have had the exact same experience fine day 1-3 but meds doing nothing but causing more grief.now the ear ache kicked in around day 4-5 and doesn’t seem like it’s going anywhere!! Thank you for making me feel better about this 🙂
Update: rice in socks and heated up in microwave and placed on ears- HELPS!!! Still kinda choke when i eat, but feel better!