When sleeping on right side causes dull earache in right ear in the morning lasting only a few hours but doesn't occur when sleeping on left side in left ear what are possible causes?

Answer 1

I suffer from this same strange occurance, although I experience it in my left ear. In the morning I wake with sometime dull, and sometimes piercing earache.

I saw a local ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat Doctor) about it who did some testing and said it was likely just my anatomy. Even though he had discovered my left tempanic membrane doesn't push out when I plug my nose, close my mouth and breath forcefully into my ears. (AKA the Valsava Maneuver.) He tested my hearing, found it was fine, and called it a day. Never addressing the ever present morning earache. I had a great ENT in Washington, D.C. and wish to get a second opinion from him some day.

What I have found to give me some relief is to blow forcefully into my cheeks. It gives a weird sensation in my middle ear and sounds like someone is crumpling up saran wrap in my eardrum. What I do is blow into my cheeks while closing my mouth and putting my closed fist against it (much like people do when coughing). You blow hard until you feel your masseter (jaw muscle) expand, which will likely be sore and ache a bit but only on the affected side, and then you hear that crinkling sound.

If you ask me, I think it is some type of obstruction or disfunction of the eustachian tube. Almost like stale air sits in there, or maybe the tube doesn't stay closed when it is suppose to thus not protecting the middle ear. The obstruction could be the parotid gland or a tight masseter placing pressure on the eustachian tube. It could even poor lymph drainage in the area. All theories of mine.

Thanks for asking the question. I would love to hear an ENT's opinion of this.

7/31/2010 - ............or, it could just be that your pillow is getting old, lumpy, and stiff, causing pressure on the outer ear cartilage. It's a common thing to happen. Get a new pillow. They also make posture specific pillow ear/donut pillows.