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!
My daughter is almost 16 and on day 8. Yesterday was an awesome day and I thought we were done and this morning the ear pain has been unbearable all day! Warm compresses, chewing gum, Tylenol, Motrin. Nothing is helping! Please tell me this ear pain doesn’t last long. We are at the end of our ropes with this and even regretting it, as she has lost 10 pounds and is honestly not doing well at all with this:(
My daughter (19) had adenoids and tonsils removed last Friday. Today is Thursday. Throat pain is bad but the ear pain has been the worst. Yesterday, the doctor prescribed Prednisone and it has been a HUGE help. It takes the swelling out of the ears and sinus. Pain is never totally gone, but she feels so much better. I don’t know why we haven’t seen anyone mention steroids before. Ask your dr. about this option. Also, she drinks about 50 ounces of ice water a day. It is very hard to swallow right after surgery and upon waking each morning but the doctor said dehydration makes the pain much worse. Force yourself to sip as much as you can and measure your fluid intake.
Im 16 too, turning 17 soon, and I can relate. I’ve been traveling for days 5-7 so the car sickness and altitude change has been weird. When the altitude gets higher it hurts really bad and if the altitude changes and gets lower it actually helps. I can’t say what will help you. I’m already underweight and I’ve been struggling trying to gain weight for years now. At least I’m a solid 103 now but since the surgery I’ve gone under 100 again and that’s been a disappointment because last year they told me if I didn’t get my weight under control I’d be in the emergency room for malnourishment. it’s a bit frustrating because no matter how much food I eat, even if it’s fattening and full of protein and nutrients, I’m never able to gain weight and it’s a problem for me.
Does the pain of this surgery feel like the same symptoms as having Strep Throat where you can’t swallow?
Its way worse than strep throat, but yes, you cant swallow without a load of pain for the first week or 10 days
About 100 times worse.
I can honestly say that I’d take strep over this any given day. This has been the worst pain I’ve EVER experienced. The only word I really have to describe it is literal suffering. Can’t sleep eat or talk and I’m on my 6th day. Apparently it only gets worse from here… Goody
No strep is way worse I’ve had it 5 times before In a rapid succession, swallowing doesn’t hurt and is very manageable the problem is the ear popping. That’s stopping me from eating and drinking because every time I swallow it pops. Also. Nighttime pain is the worse I constantly have dreams where I’m in the most deafening environments. But it’s day 5 and my scabs are starting to fall off. Percocet prescribed by the doctor help a lot when it’s food time. Only problem is I getting extremely high off of those pills, but it relaxes your body.
Hi my name is Rebecca and I had my tonsils removed a few days ago .After the surgery I had absolutely no pain but I couldn’t keep good down and felt dizzy as the anaesthetic were wearing off.You guys won’t believe me but my ENT doctor recommended that I eat normal food immidiately after surgery as this would help me heal faster and so I did ,yes it was difficult and I would cry at times but I knew I had to do it if I wanted to heal faster .
So yesterday was my day 3 and I had zero pain ,I even helped clean the house,cooked and even ate rice and sausage?I was so proud of myself .I even drank sprite which stung a lot but after a few minutes I felt much better.
So now it 3 am and my ear is soooo painfull I just want to scream ,which I can’t as my throat is sooo painfull?,but chewing gum makes it a bit better and exercising my jaw.
Hi guys, I’m 25 and I had my tonsils and adenoids out on March 28. I’m currently on day 10. I continously have sporadic days that I feel great, (days 5,6&9) and in between I’d feel like death. Now it’s day 10 and my pain is back full force again. It feels like I have a giant hole in my throat that the doctor forgot to close up. When I eat or drink it causes so much pain on the right side I have to stop. Days 7 & 8 I couldn’t eat because the taste and the smell in my throat made me want to vomit. I just wonder when this will end. I have to go back to work on Monday (4 days from today) but with the way it has been going I don’t know if I’ll be ready. The doctor told me I’d be out for 7 days.. But I took of 14 just to be safe and I definitely feel I needed it all. For the first couple of days all I could eat was apple sauce and Popsicles. Pudding and mashed potatoes were way to thick. I have just begun eating regular food like mashed potatoes and noodles. Here to hoping this gets better because this surgery was something I’ve wanted for a long time and finally I was given the opportunity to have it and I am completely regretting it. 🙁 good luck everyone.
Im 45, female, had tonsils taken out on the 27th and today is day 8. Yes yes YES this is the most pain and it is worse than any surgery or childbirth I gave! NO you will not be better and back to work for over a week and no do not listen to those who say “oh you’ll be fine”
Eat ice chips, ice water, put ice around your entire head and take those PAIn meds! Drink drink drink bc although I am hydrated I still ended up in ER on 3-4th day with an IV and steroid shot. My head felt like it was going to blow off from pain. And mind you I have. Huge threshold for pain so sleep, drink water/ice chips and take your meds! Do not do anything unless you feel strong enough and call your dr as many times as you need! My scabs are starting to slough off and now only my right side and ear pain is horrible but thank God it’s not like a week ago! And poop? Omgggg I didn’t for A WEEK and also threw up! Take those meds! Take something to poop! Drink tons and tons of water and rest! I took pictures everyday of my progress. It gets horrible then you’re tricked thinking you’re “good” but ohhhhh nooo it comes back around! So hang in there!