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!
My ear pain lasted about a week, I had my operation 2 weeks ago today and I’m only starting to feel human again, the ear pain is the worse part I thought. I used a wheat heat pack around the ears and throat it really really helps. I hope your son feels better soon x
I had my tonsillectomy on april 6 17. The ear pain started 3 days after and i have never felt pain like it. i could not communicate in anyway, i just woke up screaming. i ended up in A and E and was given morphine for the pain. I am still having trouble with my ears now, they are very sensitive to loud noises, phones ringing and the clanging noise when you put plates together. I also was not given a follow up appointment and am fighting to see a professional to find out what i can do about the pain. I find G.Ps dont really believe you when you tell them because they can not see anything much going on in the ears. I did find that a hot water bottle on my ears helped the pain. Don’t believe anyone when they say you will be fine in two weeks, it’s a load of rubbish! i hope everyone heals up soon x
My son is 3 y old , underwent tonsillectomy and adenoid 6 days ago, he had severe earache in last 4 days , he had the worst pain since his life , he became flushed sweaty on attacks , when this pain will going to subside? Any idea?
Just had a T&A done the 21st of April, I’m on day 10 and I’m seeing a lot of people aren’t eating my doctor MADE me start on day 2-3 back to hamburgers and such but I feel everyone on the earache. I haven’t found anything to help. I guess I’m on day 10. Good luck everyone. Keep the sodas coming and all the greasy food. It coats your throat and healing time.
I had my tonsils removed on the 21st and all I can say is WOW THE PAIN IS UNBEARABLE! Day 1&2 was ok was sore to swallow but that’s to be expected… day 3 was bad took myself to a&e the pain was unreal then day 4 I started feeling a bit better thought I’d turnt a corner. Well how wrong was I…. Today day 5 well I’ve never experienced pain like it!!!!! My throat and ears = severe pain and I’m definitely regretting getting this done!! The pain is unbearable crying all day been put on morphine and I can still feel the ear pain and it’s horrific ?? I’m praying that this starts to get better because I literally can’t take no more pain… I heard this ear pain last a few days is this correct, any pain remedies or advice would really help as I’m at my wits end and I literally have no tears left ?
im 14 and had a tonsillectomy on April 12th, making today the 9th day. Immediately after the surgery it only felt like a sore throat but the next day it was so much worse. I didn’t eat or drink anything the first 5 or so days, and i would only swallow my saliva maybe once every 5 minutes. then days 5-7 was the worst. I would wake up 6-7 times a night with excruciating ear pain, it felt like i was going deaf. Id go back to sleep and it would start again. The first week i didnt talk at all. Yesterday and today (8th and 9th day) Ive been able to eat a little and talk. Ive noticed that when i try to eat something thats not cold it provokes a burning sensation on my right side, and if i eat cold food my throat is really sensitive to it so it hurts. These past 2 nights Ive only woken up with moderate ear pain once a night, so its getting better. Midday my 9th day right now, and im able to eat a slice of pizza if i chew it up good. For the people saying the pain might get worse near the end, i havent gotten there yet.