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!
Im on day 6 of recovery, being 29 and having my tonsils out. On day 4 I ended up back at the hospital with severe dehydration because my throat was so swollen and packed with gunk (yes I had been eating toast and drinking water but over night it just went crazy). They had me gargle some water with disolvable asprin in it and oh my god it felt a million times better almost instantly (warning if you try, your first attempt at gargling might be difficult if your throat is blocked like mine was…though we found it a little funny). Anyway the gargling cleaned out all the crap (and there was quite a bit) and I was able to eat and drink right away, it even helped a bit with the pain. Highly recommended this.
Otherwise im still dealing with this unending ear pain. Keeps me up all night when it seems to be worse, even with oxycodone Im struggling with it and Ive tried just about everything I can think of.
I am on day 8 of recovery i has surgery on the 3/12/16 im 17
And if i was told about the emount of pain i would be in i would NEVER of done it, the first day i just wanted to sleep. Managed to eat some toast. But ever since then my ears have been the worst pain ever now i think some of the scabs are coming off because everytime i swollow it feels like someone stabbing me in the throat is that normal?? Eatings getting a bit easier but hurts like hell i wake during the night crying because of my ears! Cant wait till this is over!
to anyone considering / being told they ‘NEED’ a tonsillectomy: DONT DO IT!
i’m trying to look on the bright side and imagine life an a few years with our strep and not getting sick as much anymore. but this is so hard to think about when the pain is making it hard to simply sit at home! i haven’t slept in 4 days other than closing my eyes for an hour at a time.
im 17 and tonsils were out november 30/2016
***I HAVE A HIGH PAIN TOLERANCE***
day one; pain was sort of tolerable because of the hospital drugs and i slept like a baby. could not, no matter how hard i tried, drink anything. i got so dehydrated and light headed. my parents were close to taking me to the ER. i could still talk softly. i ate applesauce only to get my meds in me. at night, i coughed like crazy.
day two; still not drinking almost any water. headaches galore. sleep was not my friend. no talking, today! pain meds, pain meds, pain meds. stayed in bed ALL day. tried very hard to drink a FLAT diet ginger ale. still coughing, so hard to breath, honestly thought i was dying.
day three; best day so far. woke up in pain, hard to drink. but got meds once and then the rest of the day was pretty tolerable. i was able to shower with out passing out and it felt relieving. i was able to talk a lot and i ate soup. ear pain was come and go. still couldn’t sleep at night. scrambled eggs!!! coughing slowed down but still right when i woke up, phlegm and major cough.
day four; i had a voice today. pain was come and go, again. no sleep, just closing my eyes a few times through out the day. pain meds were still a must have. popsicles. sherbet. chicken broth. i enjoyed a luke warm cup of coffee. water water water. sore ears. took a shower.
day five; woke up realizing today would be a no voice day. pain was sharp more than achy. ear pain was slightly making an appearance. i felt confident that i could sleep through this night because i was feeling a bit better. even thought i felt a little better, the pain was still aching. with every swallow it hurt still and i broke down crying in the middle of the day. still on pain meds. took a shower again, little relief. enjoyed scrambled eggs, coffee, soup, popsicles, and applesauce. less than average amount of water. went to sleep with out a problem, but woke up in tears at 3AM.
day six; so it’s 3:42AM right now and i was woken up out of my sleep about at hour ago. the crying is somewhat uncontrollably because this pain is indescribable. my ears feel heavy and full of needles. they’re ringing and i’m in so much pain. my throat is ok until i swallow, then holy sh*t it’s like someone’s kicking me in the throat. i tried to drink some water but it really does hurt. i want to try a heating pad on my ears but i can’t heat it up right now with out waking my whole family. i will try it as i sit in bed, miserable today. i think the scabs are starting to come off or something cuz this pain is seriously making my stomach hurt. and when i’m not voluntarily crying from the pain, my eyes are involuntarily watering. i am laying at an angle and it still doesn’t help. i wish i could sleep but that doubtful. i can’t imagine that i will eat much today.
can’t wait for days 7-14 ☹️
I just had a tonsillectomy on Dec.2nd which was also my 26th birthday… Today’s the 4th and the ear pain just appeared… It hurts but I currently have a heating pad on it… Throughout the day I have found trying to eat Luke warm food helps me… I still eat my Popsicles and jello but the little but of warm helps me tremendously… When I left the hospital after my surgery I was fine… Until 7 p.m then it was hurting to breath we went to the E.R and turns out I didn’t need my tonsils out in the first place I had pneumonia the whole time… My Dr never did xrays just kept prescribing antibiotics and they didn’t help.
I’m 35 & had a tonsillectomy on Nov 18. Today is day 11 post surgery and I still hurt like hell.