Is This an Ear Infection?

[Leah Goodair]

Hi, for the past couple of weeks I've had a sharp stabbing pain in my right ear. This pain is sudden and sharp though the pain does keep disappearing and coming back but yesterday night I laid down and noticed a loud buzzing and this buzzing hasn't stopped since. I've also noticed more ear wax in this ear then the other.

Is this an infection of the ear?

 

[maltese]

Go see a doctor!

Don't ask the internet, someone has to look inside your ear.

 

[Elinor]

Yes. I agree with maltese. There is no way someone here can determine whether you have one or not. A possible ear infection is a good enough reason to seek a doctor, especially if it has been going on for about two weeks.

 

[BuzzyBee]

Definitely get it checked out, but the kind of stabbing pain you are describing sounds a bit like TMJ/TMD ear pain. The TMD type can be extremely painful and it can be occasional stabbing or longer periods of pressure.

http://www.entnet.org/content/tmj

There are many things that could be triggering it including stress, hormonal changes and some sort of food sensitivity. If your doctor rules out an infection, you might have to experiment a little with your diet, your sleeping position and pain alleviating methods such as massage.

 

[GregCA]

Hi, for the past couple of weeks I've had a sharp stabbing pain in my right ear. This pain is sudden and sharp though the pain does keep disappearing and coming back but yesterday night I laid down and noticed a loud buzzing and this buzzing hasn't stopped since. I've also noticed more ear wax in this ear then the other.

Is this an infection of the ear?

Go see a doctor. You need an inspection of your ear.

 

[racerfish]

I'm going through the same thing and saw 2 ENT's who both said it was TMJ. For it to be an ear infection they said the pain would have to be a constant pain and not so intermittent. Hope you got a chance to see a doctor.