No, you should not sleep directly on the side of an earache; instead, sleep on the opposite side or prop your head up with pillows to reduce pressure and help fluid drain, allowing the affected ear to stay elevated and promoting healing. Lying on the painful ear increases pressure, making pain worse, so try sleeping on the healthy ear or slightly reclined with multiple pillows.
If you're an adult with a middle ear infection, elevating the affected ear makes it easier for the infection to drain out. So, sleep on your other side or tuck a few extra pillows under your head if sleeping on your back. If you have an outer ear infection, keep blankets and hair away from your ear.
Sleeping on the side opposite of the affected ear will help you sleep more soundly and release some of the pressure in your ear in the morning. You can also reduce pressure by sleeping propped up on two or more pillows. As water makes up 60% of your body, hydrating yourself is always a good idea.
Elevation is the key to draining the fluid and infection out of your ear. If you're a back sleeper, try adding an extra pillow behind your head or neck to elevate your affected ear — while taking care to maintain a comfortable and proper pillow position.
Things you can do to help an ear infection
Seek emergency care if you have any of the following symptoms: Pain in an ear with or without fever. Itching of the ear or ear canal. Loss of hearing or difficulty hearing in one or both ears.
Based on whether the earache is caused by an inflammation or infection, you can use OTC pain relievers to relieve the pain immediately. Applying a hot or cold compress is another option. If the pain is due to wax buildup or fluid accumulation, an earwax removal kit or nasal decongestants work well.
Resting in an upright position instead of lying down can reduce pressure in the middle ear. Over-the-counter ear drops can be used to relieve pain, as long as the eardrum has not ruptured. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can provide relief for children and adults with an earache.
Ear pain red flags needing urgent care include severe pain with headache, facial drooping, fever, swelling or redness behind the ear (mastoiditis), ear discharge, hearing loss, dizziness, or weakened immune system/diabetes, as these suggest serious infections or complications like mastoiditis or cranial nerve issues. Persistent pain, one-sided hearing loss, or symptoms not improving with treatment also warrant prompt medical attention.
When to get medical advice
There are a few reasons why earache at night becomes more noticeable: Position matters: When you lie down, pressure can build in the middle ear. This is especially common during an infection or blockage, making the pain feel sharper when you are trying to sleep.
To create a salt sock, take a clean sock and fill it with coarse sea salt. Warm the salt sock in the microwave for a few seconds, ensuring that it is not too hot. Gently place the warm salt sock over the affected ear and leave it on for 10-15 minutes. The heat from the salt sock can help reduce pain and inflammation.
One-sided ear pain can be caused by a wide range of conditions, from simple ear infections to more complex disorders like TMJ dysfunction or throat infections. Understanding the potential causes and recognising the associated symptoms is crucial in managing the pain effectively and knowing when to seek medical help.
Ear Apex (Top of the Ear)
Gently pinch or rub the apex with your thumb and index finger in small circular motions. Apply gentle but firm pressure for 30 seconds to a minute. This point is traditionally associated with relief from migraines, earaches, and tension headaches by helping reduce nerve irritation.
Ear Infection Stages
Stage 3: Chronic Otitis Media - This stage involves persistent fluid buildup in the middle ear and may result in long-term hearing loss if left untreated.
Treatment for middle ear infections
Most ear infections get better on their own within 3 to 5 days and do not need any specific treatment. If needed, paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used to relieve pain and a high temperature.
One difference is you have a higher fever with a bacterial ear infection. However, fevers can also happen with viral infections. Often, it's a bit of a waiting game. If the ear infection goes away on its own within a week or so, you can assume it was caused by a virus.
As previously mentioned, sleeping upright is a good method to try, but for natural, familiar sensations, resting on your side will have the most relaxing effect. If your ear infection is occurring in just one ear, sleep on the side of the healthy ear to avoid adding even more pressure to the affected area.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders and ear infections share surprisingly similar symptoms, leading to confusion and potential misdiagnosis.
You might not know your eardrum is ruptured right away, especially if nothing hit your ear. Many people notice changes in hearing or drainage from their ear as the first signs.
Put the paper in the bottom of the cup and ask a flight attendant to make the napkins damp with hot water. (Airline crew will have hot water on hand if they serve tea and coffee.) Then put the open end of the cup over your ear. Await sweet relief.
Home remedies that may help alleviate earache include applying an ice pack or warm cloth, consuming garlic, using ear drops, taking pain relief medication, and using olive oil or hydrogen peroxide. Chewing gum may help ears pop. Applying ginger juice to the outside of the ear may help with pain relief.
Apply heat on your ear for 15 to 20 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day or as directed. You can apply heat with an electric heating pad, hot water bottle, or warm compress. Always put a cloth between your skin and the heat pack to prevent burns. Heat helps decrease pain.
If you experience an ear infection or pressure in one ear, sleeping on the unaffected side (with the affected ear facing upward) can encourage drainage by letting gravity assist fluid flow away from the problematic ear.
Most of the time symptoms affect 1 ear and include: hearing loss. a ringing or buzzing sound in your ear (tinnitus) earache or ear pain.