Sharp pain in the ear: Causes, symptoms, and treatments Medical News Today Health ConditionsDiscoverToolsConnect Subscribe 5 causes of sharp pain in the ear Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH — By Helen Millar on August 10, 2020 Causes Symptoms Treatment Home care Prevention Seeing a doctor Summary Causes Share on PinterestSharp ear pain often results from pressure changes or infections. Below are some causes of a sharp pain in the ear. The pain may result from one or a combination of these factors. Each ear contains a narrow tube called a eustachian tube. It helps regulate the pressure inside the ear so that it matches the air pressure outside, enabling the eardrum to function properly. Sometimes there is an imbalance in pressure, which may result from a blocked eustachian tube or a change in air pressure or altitude.External pressure changes can cause a type of temporary ear damage called ear barotrauma. The symptoms can include:a feeling of pressure within the eara sharp or dull pain in the earhearing lossdizziness Sinus infections A sharp pain in the ear can sometimes result from an infection in the sinuses — a network of air-filled cavities in the skull. There are three major types of sinus infection. They are: otitis, infection and inflammation of the ear, and the most common type of sinus infection mastoiditis, infection of the mastoid bone behind the ear sinusitis, inflammation of one or more paranasal sinuses, which are responsible for producing nasal mucus. Sinus infections may be viral or bacterial. OtitisThis, an infection in the inner or the outer ear, is one of the most common causes of ear pain.An infection of the inner ear affects the eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the nasal cavity and the upper throat. This usually has a viral cause and is most common among children. An infection of the outer ear affects the ear canal, the tube that connects the outer ear and eardrum. The infection usually involves direct irritation of the ear canal, such as from water or objects such as Q-tips. It is most common in adults. Besides sharp pain, some possible symptoms of an ear infection include:difficulty hearinga feeling of pressure or fullness in the ear discharge from the earitchiness or irritation in and around the ear a feverlow energy Temporomandibular disorder Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a musculoskeletal condition that primarily affects the joints that connect the jawbone to the skull. People with TMD may experience sharp or dull jaw pain that radiates to the ears and temples. Other possible symptoms of TMD include:clicking, popping, or grinding noises when moving the jawdifficulty opening the mouth fullythe jaw locking when when opening the mouthTMD is not usually serious and tends to get better on its own. A foreign object in the ear A foreign object may become stuck in the ear canal. Children, for example, prone to inserting objects into their ears out of curiosity. A foreign object lodged in the ear can cause:sharp or dull paindrainage from the earhearing lossan infection A person attempting to remove the object at home could inadvertently push it farther into the ear canal. Instead, see a healthcare provider, who uses specially developed tools and procedures to remove these objects. Symptoms Depending on the cause of the ear pain, a person may also experience:a loss of hearing tinnitus, which involves perceiving noises that come from inside the ear a loss of balance vertigofacial nerve paralysisA person may only experience sharp ear pain in certain situations, such as when yawning or swallowing. These motions open the eustachian tubes, changing the pressure within the ear. Treatment Over-the-counter pain relief medication, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil) may help in the short term. Otherwise, the best course of action depends on the cause and severity of the pain.Recovery from an ear infection is usually spontaneous, so treatment is not always necessary. However, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics if the infection is bacterial. A doctor will work to establish the cause of TMD, and they may then recommend one or more of the following:a prescription for stronger pain medicationa referral to a dentist, if an issue such as teeth grinding or an incorrect bite is responsiblea referral to a psychologist, if stress and anxiety are contributing Home remedies Over-the-counter pain relief medication can help ease minor to moderate ear pain and discomfort. Also, holding a warm or cool compress against their ear may help alleviate the pain.Some people use Q-tips to try to remove earwax, but this can actually push the wax back into the ear canal, causing problems. Anyone concerned about earwax buildups should see a doctor. Prevention Ear infections are often responsible for a sharp pain in the ears, and these infections can be tricky to prevent. However, it can help to: not probe the ears with Q-tips or fingersprevent water and shampoo from entering the ears when showering or bathinguse earplugs or a swimming cap when swimmingtreat eczema and other skin conditionstreat any allergies to materials in hearing aids, if a person wears themavoid smoking and smoky environments To prevent ear pain caused by changes in external pressure or altitude, try:yawningswallowingchewing gumsucking on hard candyblowing gently through pinched nostrils and swallowing These can help open up the eustachian tubes, equalizing the pressure inside and outside the ear. When to see a doctor Sharp ear pain may resolve on its own. But if the pain is severe or the ear is bleeding, the person needs immediate medical care. If someone experiences any of the following, they should consult a doctor:an earache that persists for more than 3 daysrecurrent ear infectionsswelling around the earfluid draining from the earhearing loss or another change in hearinga severe sore throatvomitingdizziness a fever or chills Also, if sharp ear pain occurs in someone with any of the following health issues, they should see a doctor: diabetesa neurological disease heart diseaselung disease kidney diseasea weakened immune system Summary Sharp ear pain commonly results from an infection or a temporary change in air pressure or altitude. In other cases, it may stem from TMD or a foreign object lodged in the ear. The pain, though unpleasant, may be no cause for concern and resolve without treatment. However, if the pain is severe or persistent, or if it accompanies any other symptoms, such as bleeding or discharge, see a doctor. Sharp pain in the ear can stem from health issues that require prompt medical attention. Last medically reviewed on August 10, 2020 Ear, Nose, and Throat Pain / Anesthetics 11 sourcescollapsed Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Berry, W. S. (2018). Otitis, sinusitis, and mastoiditis. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7153047/Earache. (2020). https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/ears-nose-and-throat/earacheEars and altitude (barotrauma). (2018). https://www.enthealth.org/conditions/ears-and-altitude-barotrauma/Ear infections. (2018). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ear-infections/Earwood, J. S., et al. (2018). Ear pain: Diagnosing common and uncommon causes. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0101/p20.htmlForeign bodies in the ear, nose, and throat. (n.d.). https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=foreign-bodies-in-the-ear-nose-and-airway-90-P02035How to pop your ears. (n.d.). https://med.uth.edu/orl/online-ear-disease-photo-book/appendix/how-to-pop-your-ears/Sinusitis (sinus infection). (2017). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sinusitis-sinus-infection/Temporomandibular disorder (TMD). (2017). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/temporomandibular-disorder-tmd/Uzun, L., et al. (2019). Antimicrobial activity of garlic derivatives on common causative microorganisms of the external ear canal and chronic middle ear infections. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7032553/Worrall, G. (2011). Acute earache. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3173423/ FEEDBACK: Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH — By Helen Millar on August 10, 2020 Latest news Omega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlife Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winter CDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future' Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Scientists find previously unknown link between metabolism, brain health Related Coverage Can allergies cause ear pain and infections?Medically reviewed by Marc Meth, MD, FACAAI, FAAAI Some allergies can cause ear pain. Many cause congestion or irritation in the sinuses, which connect to the ears. Learn more about allergies and ear… READ MORE Why do adults get ear infections? Medically reviewed by Nicole Leigh Aaronson, MD, MBA, CPE, FACS, FAAP Although ear infections are most common in children, adults can also get them. 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