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.
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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!
Hi, I’m summer. I’m 18yo got my tonsillectomy on 7/6/16 and I’m 1 day away from a week since I got my tonsils out and some other thing that I keep forgetting that they usually takeout as well. The first day of my recovery was alright. Uncomfortable for sure! But then I woke up the next morning, it wasn’t that bad. Till the evening, it hit and was very sore. Felt like I needed to hock up something when it was just my uvula so swollen resting upon my tongue and stuff. Then the 3rd day my uvula blocked my throat. I heard you should get lots of fluids when that wasn’t happening, so I went to the hospital they gave me 2 shots, also that was the day the horrid taste started! felt better that night and woke up my 4th day. The earaches started, it was freaking dreadful! Doped up on Tylenol and ibuprofen, the taste makes me want to vomit! When will that go away!?!?!?! The earaches make me want to go cry and I did get teary eyes last night and just they feel like my ears are gonna bleed tremendously. Through the whole process the ears and taste are then worst part! Really praying the worst of it has passed.
Hi, I’m Alexa and I had my tonsils removed 7/5/16. The first couple days I was so sore and felt like I had been hit by a truck 25 times over. A couple days ago the body aches subsided but the throat and ear pain increased. I find myself holding on to my saliva in my mouth as long as possible so I don’t have to swallow. All ive been eating is jello, applesauce, scrambled eggs, popsicles, water, and Gatorade. I hope the worst is behind me
I just had mine done on the 20th of this month (July), and I do the same thing LOL. I’m just on day 4, and my ears ate hurting really badly; I can somewhat deal with the tonsils, but this ear pain sucks balls.
My 5 year old has his removed on the 20th as well and the ear pain is the worst. He’ able to eat and drink and seems fine as Far as his throat soreness but the ear pain is terrible at night and he cries and cries. I can’t get him to chew any gu . We’ve done ice by the nerve because the Dr said it would dull that nerve but we Are gonna give heating pads a try. I hope you feel better soon.
My5 year old daughter had her tonsils put on 25th july. We are at day 4 post op.
Her throat is so swollen. She talks funny. Hasnt eaten since the op she sleeps all the time. Ive been keeping up with the pain killers. Her ear aches are painful.she cries all night. She snores from the swelling in her throat. I gate seeing her in pain like this. Noone told me it was going to be this bad.
I’m with you on that! My 6yr old son had his tonsils and adenoids and also nasal turbinate reduction! The ear/jaw aches are the worst by far! Today is day 5 and he’s in agony every night! What I found helped was when the pain starts, I massage his jaw/cheek immediately , and the pain usually subsides in about a minute! His pain is in his jaw/cheek area rather than in his ear!
I’m just wondering how many more days this pain will last?
Good luck to all us mothers out there!
29 y/o male had my tonsils out on July 1st. Today is one full week and let me tell you, this has been the worst experience of my life. Reading all these responses makes me feel so much better to know I’m not alone and everything I’m going through is completely normal. 8 days in and all I’ve consumed is water, snow cones (shaved ice), Italian ice, freeze pops, and apple sauce. Anyone getting this done in the future, my best advice….buy a snow cone machine! It has been my life savor! Days 1 to 4 were a breeze. I was uncomfortable but not in any real pain and I thought I was going to be one of the lucky ones. Boy was a wrong! Day 5 til now have been excruciating! There has been a halt on all eating except for plain shaved ice and water and even that hurts. My ears, jaw, and tongue are absolutely killing me. My throat isn’t even the real problem. I have slept a total of 4 hours over the past 3 nights and am so ready for this to be over. The only thing keeping me going is hearing everyone that has been through it say that the end result is worth it. Taking my pain meds regularly still and praying the worst is behind me. Hang in there everyone, I’m right there with you!
Lol I had my surgery the same day as you! I’m 17, by the way. Wish I had have gotten it done a long time ago. Just as you are, I’m on day 10 and things are sorta getting easier. My only real issue is when I swallow, I get a terrible pain in one of my ears. That’s what led me to this page. I’ve been surviving off of ice, cream of wheat or farina here and there, and juice. I haven’t been a fan of water lately which is weird because I usually only drink water! People make this surgery to be something so little when it’s really something difficult to get through! Especially being that we’re older. I heard recovery is easier, the younger you are. I hope you feel better really soon !
21y/old Female. Day 7 of tonsillectomy. These last couple days the ear pain has been the main issue. Especially yesterday and today. I knew it was normal but it got so bad I was worried they were infected. I have put a drop or 2 of peroxide in them and let it sit and run it out if it would, and then cover ears with cotton balls at night to keep air out, and take aleve (I try to stay off the pain meds and aleve works best) and warm heating pad under ear lobe to help with swelling and discomfort. Strugglin with this post op surgery recovery. Cannot wait till this is over with. GoodLuck everyone!
Hi guys! I’m only 5 days in! I got my tonsils out Monday June 13th. I’m 26 and have needed them out since I was a teenager because of my reoccurring tonsillitis and sinus infections. I was happy to finally get them out but also dreaded the pain. For me the throat pain is actually somewhat bareable it’s the ear pain and the ringing in my ears that have been the worst! It didn’t start until day 3 and it keeps me up at night and it is hard to fall asleep or drink. Also if I sneeze or cough which I do a lot when I wake up it’s a game over and feels like explosives are going off in my ears. I’m going to try the cold ice pack and warm one under by neck and see if that helps! Thanks for your recommendations. As far as everything else goes recovery wise, I’ve only thrown up once but it was because I coughed and could feel my swollen uvula in my throat and had a natural gag reaction. I’ve eaten some but I have no appetite. It’s not too bad to eat when I want to. The most frustrating days so far have been day 3 and 4. I’ll see what today holds and let you guys know at the end of my recovery.