Ear Pain and Blocked Ear: 5 Reasons To Worry

Do you suffer from ear pain and blocked ear problems? Suffering from a painful ear and blocked ear are common problems which can affect your health and well-being. At our ENTcare specialist clinic in Singapore, we see many patients with ear problems. Sometimes, ear pain and blocked ear may originate from the back of the nose. The nose and ear are connected by the Eustachian pressure tube. So nose and sinus infections may also be the cause.

Here are the top 5 reasons to suffer ear pain and blocked ear problems:

1. Impacted earwax
2. Ear infection (outer ear skin)
3. Ear infection (eardrum)
4. Sinus/nose infection
5. Eustachian pressure tube problems

1.IMPACTED EARWAX

The most common reason to suffer ear pain and ear blockage is of course impacted earwax. The ear is a self-cleaning organ. This means that the skin lining of the ear canal usually slowly migrates outwards. Just like a mini-conveyor belt, the skin cells move slowly outwards and carry the wax out of the ear. So there is no reason to clean or dig your ears yourself. Earwax is not “dirty” at all! In fact, earwax contains some natural oils to protect your ear canal skin.

Unfortunately, for some people who tend to have narrow ear canals or produce more wax, they have to see their ENT specialist in Singapore to have their ears cleaned regularly. This takes place in clinic easily and painlessly by using a tiny sucker under the microscope.

2.Ear infections (outer ear skin)

Ear infections can be rather painful and may even lead to headaches if left untreated. Outer ear skin infections can be due to bacterial ear infection but may also be caused by fungal infections. This is because fungal spores thrive in our warm humid weather in Singapore. Many people also like to dig their ears and this can introduce infection into the ear, when digging injures the ear canal skin accidentally. Treat outer ear infections by having your ENT specialist gently clean your ear. Then apply the right type of eardrops inside your ear. Sometimes, your ENT specialist may apply antifungal ointment inside the ear.

3.Ear infections (eardrum)

Eardrum infections can be even more painful, sometimes with fever and malaise. You may also suffer ear discharge which can be smelly and quite troublesome. This may happen as the infected eardrum swells up and then ruptures, releasing the infected fluid from behind the eardrum. You would usually need the right type of oral antibiotics to help your ear feel better.

4. Sinus and Nose Infections can Cause Ear Pain!

Ear pain may also originate from sinus/nose infections i.e. acute sinusitis may lead to a buildup of infected purulent discharge behind the nose, which may then drain into the ear via the pressure tube. The ear then becomes infected through this route from the nose and in turn may cause an eardrum infection as previously described. Strong antibiotics, nasal sprays and saline rinses, will help you recover. If not better, a CT sinus scan may be arranged to identify the source of sinus infection. Sometimes, you may need endoscopic sinus surgery to clear the trapped infected secretions within the sinuses.

5. Eustachian Pressure Tube Problems

Eustachian pressure tube problems can lead to persistent blocked ear symptoms. Some patients suffer crackling or popping noises in the ear, feeling pressure discomfort with earache. These may have been triggered by an initial sinus infection which got better with medications. However, the Eustachian tube may still contain some residual inflammation, even after the nose and sinuses have all cleared up. It is very important for your best ENT specialist in Singapore to check the back of your nose with an endoscope camera to make sure the Eustachian tube symptoms are not due to obstruction by a tumour inside your nose.

If medications don’t relieve the blocked ear sensation, then the option of balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube may be helpful. Another option is the insertion of a ventilation tube (grommet) to help relieve the congested ear feeling.

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