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!
Hi I’m 21 years old I had my tonsils out on the 14th march.
On the day when I came round from anasthetic I was dehydrated and the put me on a drip I also had difficulty breathing so was also on an oxygen mask after 5 hours I came too I managed to eat a small hospital tub of ice cream followed by a slice of bread with butter minus the crust I went home that evening I was in pain but bearable I managed a bowl of jelly and went to bed best night sleep ever. I thought the surgery wasn’t so bad.
Day 2 I woke up in abit more pain but not much I couldn’t talk but kept having painkillers all day I spent most day outside enjoying the sun that day I managed to eat one bowl of jelly , 1 slice of toast, 3 small slices pizza and small amount of sheperdspie. That night the pain hit me hard I didn’t sleep all night my throat was like razor blades it was almost impossible to swallow . Day 3 was hard all day I had 5 spoons of ice cream I was drinking water when I could but didn’t take any tablets I couldn’t the pain was so extreme it was the same for day four and five I cried all those days day six the pain in my throat had settled slightly I could talk most of the day I tried to eat again first I tried a sausage roll but the taste in my mouth made it taste disgusting ant my throat began to hurt again I took painkillers then tried spaghetti and sausage from tin at first its seemed ok it was hard to swallow about half a tin id had and the taste changed which made me gip I couldn’t eat anymore. It was so hard watching my family eat takeaways or really nice meals I spent the afternoon in tears coz I couldn’t eat and the taste at the back of my throat was making me hate the taste of food I normally love. I’m on day 7 I woke up with servers ear ache I tried taking painkillers but only managed one I’m trying to motivate myself but I have no energy I feel so weak and I still cant eat my family say I’ve lost weight I was a size 6 in clothes before surgery I’m getting worried I’m starving and in pain when will it stop someone help ?
Amy I’m exactly the same as you 🙁 had my tonsils out on 14th, all went well although they nicked my throat with breathing tube after surgery so had to get that sorted, I was in theatre for 2 hrs! Got home that evening but got admitted back into hosp on fri with an infection!! Sooo sore, I’ve lost nearly a stone & was a size 10 before. The ear pain now is awful, I’m just out of hospital today & have a weeks more course of antibiotics. I’m so depressed I can’t eat! The nurses even ordered a Chinese on the ward 🙁 !! I love my food & this whole experience has left me feeling so down, the pain is excruciating. I haven’t eaten since the day of my op except for a few mouthfuls of blended soup!! Hope you’re better soon x
My 7 yr old (8 in June) daughter had a full tonsillectomy acme adenoidectomy on MARCH 15th. We’re in day 7 at 10:10pm. She grabs her ears so tight and cries like I’ve never seen her cry before! Today she has eaten finally a couple spoonfuls of Ramen noodles and she was so thirsty but only after taking the oxycodone was she able to drink. She drank 2 & 1/2 cups water today! Over the last 6 days she has had a sip here a there and I was so worried about dehydration/infection. We haven’t had a restful night’s sleep since the day of theach surgery! We’re exhsusted! Makes me think whether or not i made the right decision! Only time will tell. She said to me as she was holding her ears and pushing her shoulders to her ears, “I was afraid something would go wrong!??” I felt like crap
Hello, I am 17 years old and got my tonsils out exactly a week ago this is by far the worst pain I can remember experiencing. I’ve done so much research on how to stop the pain of not only in my throat but in my head and ears. The first 2 days I was feeling pretty good all drugged up and felt like I could accomplish a lot getting them removed. Boy I was wrong once the 3-7 day came I felt so bad my ears are in the worst pain and I feel like they are being stabbed simultaneously, it hurts so bad to swallow especially the medicine they gave, eating is very difficult and impossible, I don’t really drink a lot of fluids because I can’t. I highly regret getting my tonsils removed and waiting to see the light, I find myself changing the channel when food I crave comes on, brushing my teeth is difficult because your siliva is thick my breath smells bad, can’t talk, on the 3/4 day my uvula swelled up to the size of a freaking baby carrot, I want to eat food so bad and can’t wait till the day I can.
I’m 21 and had my tonsils put on the 14th you have literally described my recovery exact I’m on day seven I’m not eating but I’m starving I’ve lost weight and my ears are killing me I too regret the procedure and cant wait till I can eat again.
I just recently got my tonsils removed on the 23rd of February and I am now on the morning of day 10.. I still have a shooting pain in my right ear and my jaw hurts. I have noticed on my 7th to 9th day it was at its peak. My throat feels a lot more healed up and it isn’t painful when I swallow anymore. But I can’t eat popsicles without my ear being in a terrible pain.
Omg I’ve never felt pain like it but if your thinking about having a tonsillectomy don’t do it I’m 33 years old and have 2 children and I would go through child birth 100 times rather than have this pain. I really had no idea that it would be this painful and wish I had of done my research before hand. I’m on day 7 and have woken up feeling like someone is stabbing me in the ear with a knife. When reading what people have wrote I thought I may have escaped the ear pain but no it’s kicked in. Can someone tell me how long this pain lasts?? first day I was in pain but it has got worse as the days have gone on I am trying to eat but only able to eat a few mouthfuls I am drinking lots of fluids. I find first thing in the morning and towards the end of the day is when my pain is at it’s peak. Can someone please tell me I will start to feel better soon and that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Hi charlene, i share ur same thoughts and wonder why i didnt do my reserach before doing tonsillectomy. It hurts so much. Im on my third day and i just woke up with the most severe ear pain. The doc advised me that I should keep an alarm every hour in the night and try and wet my throat so it doesnt hurt so much in the morning. Please see if this works for u.
Dear Charlene
I had my operation in 2014 together with my SINUS operation..till today 3 years later..I m still feeling the pain on my right ear..my condition now has escalated to ANXIETY..Has been seeing all kinds of specialist yet no remedy.. We just have to live with it…
ANXIETY has cause me to be afraid to leave my house and cant work at all…
I’m 38 and I had my tonsils out feb 22 I’m on day 4 I can finally talk in a full sentence ear pain is starting which is more annoying than anything I keep right on every 4 hrs with Tylenol I recommend a humidifier that’s helped a lot and ice chips also pure aloe with apple juice has helped scabs are starting to come off feels weird
Get lots of movies bc you will do a lot of laying around