Behind the ear pain

I woke today with swelling and an intense soreness on the bone behind my left ear. I have fibro but never had this. Any ideas? Also woke with headache.

[BonnieSue]

I think it's possible you may have been grinding and clenching your teeth in your sleep and the pain is from this. After all, you woke up in this condition. I have this problem and have this pain similar to you and that's why I'm suggesting this. You can try grinding and clenching your teeth now while you're awake and see if you can reproduce some of the pains you are feeling. If you do then you verify how you got them.

I often self massage these sore muscles because I can make a big difference in the pain level in my muscles in my head. These get extremely painful. I imitate the massage that pros do when I have them work on me. It helps tremendously.

[Hidden in reply to BonnieSue]

I have TMJ disorder and sleep with a bite guard. This pain is a soreness when pressed but not really like a muscle pain. Thanks for reply.

[BonnieSue in reply to Hidden]

Okay, it was a possibility and you thought about it and eliminated it. Fair enough. I also have TMJ and a bite guard but can't sleep with the bite guard because it increases my biting and grinding. Can your pain be bone pain? Connective tissue pain? What, besides muscle pain, can it be? You really have me wondering.

[TheAuthor]

Hi Hidden

I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? Welcome to the forum and it is wonderful to make your acquaintance. I have pasted for you below a link to our mother site, FMA UK which hosts loads of useful Fibro information:

fmauk.org/

I am so genuinely sorry to read of this and it could be linked to quite a few things? As BonnieSue says it could be as a result of tooth grinding. Or it could be infection related?

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*HealthLine says:

Otis media is another term for an ear infection. Ear infections can be bacterial or viral. When an infection occurs, it can cause painful fluid buildup and swelling.18 Apr 2017

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And **NHS Choices says:

** The mastoid bone has a honeycomb-like structure that contains air spaces called mastoid cells. Mastoiditis can develop if the mastoid cells become infected or inflamed, often following a persistent middle ear infection (otitis media). Cholesteatoma can also cause mastoiditis.

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I would talk to your doctor and ascertain the cause for this just in case in needs treatment?

I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck and please take care of yourself my friend.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[Hidden in reply to TheAuthor]

Thank you, Ken. I do believe it might be infection. I am preparing to go to Urgent Care.

[TheAuthor in reply to Hidden]

Good luck my friend

[Mackembabe]

Hi sao309

Please get your self to the Drs, my son when he was little used to get ear infections and it went to his mastoid which is the bone behind the ear and ended up in hospital. The Author is right about it so please get it checked as soon as possible.

Love & |Hugs

[Hidden in reply to Mackembabe]

I agree I need to see doctor. Is the mastoid the large bone behind ear...the one that you feel at the edge of the ear if the ear is pressed against the head? I think I am feeling pain down in my ear too. Thanks for reply.

[Mackembabe in reply to Hidden]

Hi sao309

Yes it is the big bone behind the ear my son's ear was actually sticking out because it had swollen so much, defo sounds like ear infection which has gone to your mastoid very painful, take care see that Dr.

Love & Hugs

[Hidden]

Well, my doctor said infected hair follicle. I'm not sure I trust that diagnosis. We'll see. It is still there but not as sore as it was a week ago. Thanks for all the replies.