Ear Pain Near Tragus?

Now, please do not laugh, but since yesterday the small space over my tragus feels painful and a bit swollen. My ear canal does not hurt, also the rest of the ear feels normal. It is just that little space that hurts. I cannot remember bumping into something or hitting my ear with anything. The only thing is that I push my tragus often with my fingers, but I have done that since onset of tinnitus.

Anyone with any idea what this could be? Should I do something?

Spoiler

 

Do you wear ear plugs often? My Tragus also hurt from them for some reason.

 

Not really, just in the gym and restaurants since the rest of my day is fairly quiet, but I always use foam plugs that feel super comfortable.

 

Muffs? Muffs push down and cause minor pain when I just put them on quickly. I weaned off the ear plugs though and the pain went away. My tragus kind of felt swollen and stiff a little.. so maybe like bacteria or under the skin pimple even HAHA. Especially since you touch your tragus with your fingers. Just try not to push on your tragus for awhile and see if it goes away.

 

Muffs very very rarely. You are probably right, I really should leave the tragus alone, maybe it is a bit irritated.

 

I wouldn't worry too much since it's just your tragus with no pain elsewhere. It seems likely it might be germs from your fingers and such. And even if you wash your hands and such, there's still bacteria on your phone, laptop keys and other surfaces so yeah.

 

Yeah I know, but always when I notice something around my ears I get nervous. But luckily my ear canal feels fine so you are probably right Thank you.

 

Crap, I read now that if it hurts to press on the tragus it could be an outer ear infection, I did not really think about that since the pain is just on and over the tragus, not inside the ear canal (had ear plugs in today and felt totaly normal).

Should I check with my GP tomorrow? Hope I don‘t need to take antibiotics...

 

Hopefully it’s nothing to worry about, even though doctors can be hit n miss I’d go and see one if anything just to make sure and put your mind at rest.

 

Yeah I will check tomorrow, hopefully it will pass quickly.

 

I’m hoping it will, maybe it’s just a bit of irritation?

 

I hope so, since i feel the pain just in the tragus and not inside the ear canal, never really had that until now...

 

Maybe you have put a little too much pressure on the tragus and it has irritated it, I’ve never had that I don’t think? My ears ache and can feel pressure sometimes but I don’t think I’ve felt what you are describing, maybe lay off putting your fingers near your ear for now and see what the Doc says.

 

Yeah, thats possible. I don‘t feel pressure, just a bit of radiating pain. I will check tomorrow morning with my GP and report back Thanks buddy

 

Try and not overthink it which I know is easier said than done, im hoping it is just a bit of irritation there

 

@Deamon22 did you manage to see a GP? How do your ears feel today?

 

Went to my GP and my ears look clear, so it probably is just a bit of irritation, he told me keep an eye on it. I also could put on some cream with Betamethasone and Gentamicin. Anyone knows this stuff and if I should put it outside of my ears?

@Jcb Thanks for asking, I feel a bit better, took an Ibuprofen yesterday and the pain has subsided a bit .

 

That’s good to hear isn’t that cream for rashes etc I don’t think I would put that near my ear mate.

 

I have no idea tbh, it is a steroidal cream with antibiotics.

 

Yeah I wouldn’t put it near my ear, just keep an eye on it and hopefully it is just a bit of irritation, try and keep your fingers away as well.

 

Will do so, thank you for the advice=).

 

Hi @Deamon22, if I’d have seen this thread earlier I would have told you to go and see a Dr with it, but you have already done that. Based on your descriptions, it seems like you’ve just irritated it to me and this should heal on its own. I wouldn’t give yourself undue worry over it though, especially regarding tinnitus.

 

Thank you Ed, appreciate it. Will do so and leave it alone.

 

I have ear pain too probably worse than OP. Left ear. Inside mostly. How can I figure out what is going on? Pain comes and goes. I am really worried. Is it irritated or something else?

When pain subsides, it still doesn't feel 100% better compared to how my right feels.

 

Sounds like you have an outer ear infection (otitis externa). I’m quite prone to it and have had many bouts of this over the years. Most of the time it heats on its own without the need for antibiotics, but if it’s really worrying you, why not go and see your Dr?

 

not yet. I have an appointment scheduled for the 10th. In Canada, they just let you suffer.

I have seen an after hours clinic Dr and he thought my ear canals were red and had inflammation. But, your theory sounds plausible.

 

That is indicative of otitis externa. All I can tell you is that when I’ve had it in the past the pain can be horrible, so much so that I couldn’t even lie my head on a pillow.

 

It heals on its own?

My problem is where I live. It's always noisy here. The traffic is bad, but the worst part is the sirens and construction vehicles. Suffice to say, I have hearing protection with me and use it at times.

If it was Otis externa, would foam ear plugs irritate things? What can I do?

Can drs, regular GPs, diagnose Otis externa? Because the ones here seem either incompetent or not very investigative regarding ear issues.

 

If you have red inflamed ear canals that are causing you pain then you most likely have an outer ear infection.

This can be caused a small scratch, or area of broken skin within your ear canal, and then bacteria can get in and cause an infection. If you’ve been using earplugs a lot this could be a reason why. Or if you have tried to get wax out with your finger or something along those lines, that can be another reason.

Sometimes you can just be unlucky. Something as simple as water getting into your ear can cause it.

Most outer ear infections heal without intervention, but if it’s persistent you’ll need antibiotics.

 

P.S. Ed, that sucks. I think ear pain is one of the pains in the body you can't do much about. Is that right? I guess I have to hope that is what is going on because alternatives can be worse.

Thanks for your replies. I hope a dr can figure it out and that it's minor. It makes my situation so much worse.