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!
My name is Jorden. I am 26 and currently on day 6 recovery from a tonsillectomy. I have been using liquid hydros, ibprofin, medicinal CBD tincture, and penicillin as medical options to help with the pain. Now the first two days were great. I felt like I was handling the pain well. Although I was very uncomfortable, I was still able to eat some apple sauce, drink plenty of liquids, and even eat some pears easily. Talking even felt easy even though my uvula was very enlarged and swollen. Days 3-6 have been the closest I’ve been to hell. Mornings and early-evenings are unbearable. After attempting to sleep all night, my throat is so dry and feels as if someone has literally stabbed me. One morning (day 3) the pain was so bad it made me nauseous and I thought I was going to vomit. Luckily fresh air prevented that. Mid-evenings (usually after a nap) the pain is back and unbearable again. Trying to eat is beyond painful and the pain meds don’t seem to really help. Mid-day seems to be the best time. The pain is subsided, talking, drinking, and even moving around seems easy. My diet has consisted of: Apple sauce (easy to eat), cream of wheat with mashed banana (my favorite and has come calories), instant mashed potatoes (yummy and easy to get down) canned peaches and pears, ice chips, pudding, a wide variety of popscicles, and cups of veggie and chicken broth. I tried to stay away from dairy because it coated my mouth and made it harder to swallow. I also tried smoothies, but I couldn’t get all of the blended chunks down. My menu for each day was different depending on my pain, but I didn’t eat a lot. It usually took me a long time to eat and I was in a very high level of pain and still starving afterwards. Now on day 5 and 6 I’m starting to get this ear pain. It’s a sharp stabbing pain going from the back of my throat, up my jaw, and deep into my ear. Now this pain just heightens everything. It is debilitating. I have been icing and using hot pack while laying still on the ground and it seems to help. I have looked back there and it is healing. My scabs are becoming smaller and new (very sensitive) skin is starting to grow. Good luck to everyone bearing the unbearable, I truly feel your pain. Stay strong!
Hi guys, I’m Holly, 24 and I had my surgery 4 days ago, was feeling really good until today and now my ears feel like there is a tiny little army of Spartans fighting their way out of my ears, and swallowing is a nightmare too but I am forcing toast down (I know, crazy) but I am told rough food helps the tonsil beds heal quicker.
I actually found something that helps… And you might think I’m crazy and I discovered this by accident but orgasms help! It relieves the pressure from your ears, distracts you from the pain in your throat and makes it easier to breathe afterwards. Sorry if it sounds really offensive but masturbation definitely helps in addition to the other bits of fantastic advice I have found on this page.
Good luck to you all and I know we will be thankful in a years time when we are healthy and haven’t had tonsillitis in a year!! Think of the end goal 😉
ha ha – Wow- I’ve read close to 15,000 comments on this site. THIS is a first. If it helps, it helps! Hope you have a speedy recovery. Thanks for commenting!
Hello every one! I am a 19 year old female from Cincinnati ,Ohio and I got my tonsils removed June 1st and man oh man has this been the WORST experience that I have ever had in my life! I’v experienced extreme pain when I get my period cramps and I thought nothing could every beat that but I think this tonsillectomy experience has . Everyday has been torture for me? Every morning I wake up crying in pain,my throat literally feeling as if someone broke and crushed a whole glass mirror until tiny little peices and dumped it in my throat while I was asleep . I wake up crying and its hard and uncomfortable to sleep at night? I toss and turn for like 2 hours before I dose off knowing what awaits me in the morning? And the ear pain, oh the ear pain is unbearable I just sit there crying holding my ears until it stops? It is day 8 for me and I still have these extreme symptoms starting yesterday (day 7) I feel better during the day except when I get my 20 second earache episodes?? But I’m able to walk arround the house and I couldn’t do that before. I couldn’t move. I was on Oxycodone for 3 days then I ran out and my doctor wouldn’t give me anymore so my mom went out and bought me some Motrin which helped but didn’t stop the ear pain. I see I will just have to deal with that until it decides to stop toturing me? I plan on trying the hot rag method today and PRAY that it works. I also haven’t eaten anything but slushies and Popsicle so yeah I am starving? Early on was able to eat small teaspoons of applesauce but i t started to hurt to badly. I honestly don’t know when this will end. I’m afraid that I am one of the very unlucky ones?
I had my surgery the same day and I am with you on everything. My jaw/ear also hurts, I can’t sleep on any of my sides. And if I do, I will wake up with PAIN. I cry sometimes too. I do have the option to take vicodin, however, it gives me massive migraines so I am taking Tylenol 500MG liquid form from walgreens. It takes away SOME pain, however, the ear/jaw pain hurts so much. And my throat has now started to STING and BURN so bad I hardly do not even eat anything. It was not like this the first couple of days, but they say its because we are healing and scabbing that this is happening now. Hang in there!! I am also trying to hang in there……
I am writing this for my 16 yr old daughter. I just peeked in on her, and she is like ear pain leave me alone! She was already at the point of going over the edge last night. I will try the hot pad for her today. I am bracing myself. It helps me to read what everyone else is saying, so I can understand what she is going thru.
8 days out here. I swear by a heating pad for the ear pain – it provides such relief. I put ice packs on my throat and then switch the heating pad on my ears and throat when the pain gets bad. Good luck everyone! This has been the most taxing experience ever but I’m hoping it was worth it!
Thank you guys this has helped south I just got my tonsils done last wensday 1st June and I tell you what most painful experience I’ve been through and going through. Ear aches omgsh why why they are so bad but heat packs works wonders thanks for you for suggesting as I was up till 2am ready your guys stories I’m on day 7 I found it hard to drink becos it triggers my ear ace any other suggestions
Hope pain goes away and good luck to everyone
OMG I had my surgery on June 1st as well!!!! It’s been one week now and I am in so much pain. I can’t even sleep on any side of my faces because my jaw/ear pain is so bad 🙁
I’m on day 5 after having my tonsils removed and I wish I never had! My throat is killing me, my ears are absolutely aching and I’m having so much trouble swallowing. Worse choice ever getting them out. So horrendously painful.
Sophie
Hang in there it really does get better but not for a while. I keep ice packs around my neck/throat 24/7 and fir ear pain used warm washcloth and heating pad and took pain pill. Ear pain went away in 5 days for me. I am on dat 60 since my surgery and am finally feeling better. It will get better, hang in there… Also I lived on ice chips and keep throat hydrated at all times.