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 Rebecca, I am so sorry that you are going through this horrible pain. I can definitely understand as I went through the same pain since day 1 of my surgery. I am already 4 wks post op and I never thought I ever was going to see light. I am not going to lie to you the first 2 weeks will be very stressful and painfully. Every one recovers differently as others. I didnt really feel better until the 3rd week. A few tips to help you cope. Stay hydrated all day. (Water) will help you heal and also help with the scabs. Eating dont worry alot of people say eat but if u cant u cant. Applesauce (cold) will help. I use to crushed my tylenol and put in inside the applesauce that worked wonders for me. Pain will subside so quickly. I had ice chips all day. I tried eating jello as well. Broth will help as well. Get a humidifier and be on it all day will help not get dried out. And get some ice pack and put it around your neck. Try to get enough rest as that will help your body rest. I know it seems like it will never end but have some faith it will. You will experience alot of pain. Stay Strong! Keep me posted. Good Luck!
I had my tonsils out 6 days ago, most people say they don’t have that much pain until a few days in but I have been in absolute agony all day every day. The day I had it done I just slept on and off the rest of that day due to the anaesthetic, but I woke up the second day and hardly stopped crying since. On day 3 almost all of the thick, hard scab/pus kind of things at the back started coming off and sliding down my throat which made me sick, which left my throat looking red and raw and the worst pain I’ve ever had. Pain in my ears and jaw came on suddenly along with the throat pain so I got an emergency appointment in the doctors, they were pretty useless and just said it looks normal and it’s obviously going to be painful etc. Since I’ve had the operation done in total I’ve eaten 1 piece of bread with no crusts, about 5 little pots of jelly, 2 mushed up weetabix and 2 bowls of ice cream. The pain is just never ending! I’m currently laying in bed with a thick scarf around my neck and ears and whimpering like a baby. Since having it done I have been taking co codamol 30/500 and ibuprofen 400mg every 3 and a half hours. Also I’m 21 years old. I hope to god this pain settles soon, I feel like ripping my head off!
Hello, I’m 23, I had my tonsils out 7 days ago. I also had my adenoids out and turbulence done.
Medication: I was given Oxycodon and Tylonal for the pain. Both are in liquid form which is nice. Adult Tylonal in a liquid is hard to find now so my doctor told me I could take a higher dose of children’s or I also was able to find adult Tylonal in liquid at Walmart (Equate brand). I’ve been told by my surgeon it’s safe to take both at the same time, every 4 hours. I’ve been doing them alternatively, so I’m taking something every 2 hours.
Ear pain: The only thing that has worked for me is a warm compress. I have been able to fall asleep on my side with my ear on a heating pad and another warm compress on my other ear. It does not make the pain go away, but does relieve it briefly. The ear pain increases drastically when swallowing which is very difficult since the recommendations are to drink plenty of fluids.
Eating: I have been eating since day 4 (very very small and limited meals). I have tried (cooled down) mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, low-sodium soup broth (salt hurts the throat), yogurt, and Jell-O. I do think forcing myself to eat 2-3 bites every few hours has been good for my throat and my stomach (taking pain meds on an empty stomach causes me nausea).. but it increases the ear pain like crazy. Everything I’ve heard is that as much as it hurts to eat, giving your body even a little nourishment more than water, will aid in recovery!
Overall: Lots of fatigue, and still a ton of pain. Ear pain is by far worse than anything right now. Also still very hard for me to talk… can only get out 2-3 words before I need to pause and swallow/clear my throat.
I am not a doctor, but these are things that have worked for me.. I hope they help someone else!
Hoping everyone is having a speedy recovery!!
I am 35. Just had tonsillectomy, endoscopic sinus surgery, septoplasty, and bilateral turbinate reduction on 15th. Today I got the ear pain in both ears. Yawn like stretches relieve my eat passion but cause my throat to feel like it’s tearing. The Norco isn’t helping. The splints in my nose areally very irritating. I can’t smile without pain in my nose and I’m assuming elsewhere in my sinuses. I hope I see the doc tomorrow and he’s can help figure out something for all the pain. Let’s hope this helps me sleep better after I’m healed. Because right now I’m not getting more than an hour or two a day because I can’t get comfortable, stay at an angle to keep drainage down, or pain free. When I do sleep I wake up either freaked out from a nightmare, a feeling like I hadn’t been breathing for a while, or choking on blood n saliva.
Hello,
One thing that has worked somewhat okay for me is taking adult Tylonal with my prescribed medication. I’ve only been able to find liquid adult Tylonal at Walmart and it was the Equate brand. If you’re able to swallow better now, maybe you wouldn’t even need the liquid.
The thing that’s helped most for the ear pain is warm compress. I have a heating pad that I wrap around my head, or two warm compresses I heat in the microwave and hold to my ears.
Hoping you find some relief soon!
Hello everyone! I’m 20 years old and had my surgery on Feb 14th. I honestly thought I had it easier because I drank so much water and was eating pretty well. The first day was not bad at all until that night when the percacets made me vomit which was very unpleasant. The second day was a little worse but manageable and I just started taking Ibeprofen 600. The third and fourth day worsened but I was still able to deal with it. I woke up in the middle of the night (starting into day 5) and I never felt a pain like it! I honestly wanted to die. It felt like glass was in my throat and the ear pain has started. I’ve felt horrible all day and have been crying about 80% of the time. I tried to eat and that made me cry even more. If I go through this another day I honestly don’t know if I’ll make it. Just hoping it goes up from here.