Pain behind your ear can be caused by several different factors. Sometimes it is related directly to a problem with the ear, while other times it might be caused by an issue with your jaw or even compressed nerves causing a headache. Depending on the cause, the pain might be described as: Show
Often there are other symptoms that accompany the pain that can help determine the cause. These include:
Let’s examine a few of the main culprits of behind-the-ear pain. Pain Related to EarThere are several causes of behind-the-ear pain that are directly related to problems with the ear. These include ear infections, swimmer’s ear, and earwax compaction. Some clues your pain might be related to your ear include:
Dental and Jaw IssuesSeveral dental conditions that can cause pain behind the ear include cavities, abscesses and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). Signs that your pain may be related to a dental issue include:
Occipital NeuralgiaOccipital neuralgia is a severe stabbing or shooting pain that spreads through the neck, back of the head, and behind the ears. While the condition is not fully understood, it is thought to be caused by pinched occipital nerves which start in your neck and run to the top of your head. If you experience any of the following, you may have occipital neuralgia:
Rare But Serious—MastoiditisMastoiditis is a rare infection of the mastoid bone, located behind and below your ear. It is usually caused by an untreated ear infection. It can occur at any age but is most often seen in children under two. Symptoms include severe pain behind the ear, fever, and headache. If left untreated, mastoiditis can lead to serious conditions including:
If you or your child has any of the symptoms of mastoiditis, seek medical help immediately. Bottom LineBehind-the-ear pain has many different causes, some are relatively minor while others may be quite serious. Treating the pain depends largely on identifying the cause. Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss your pain and any additional symptoms so they can make an accurate diagnosis and help you feel better. For more information or to schedule an appointment with an expert, call Ear, Nose & Throat Associates, P.C. today. Headaches that are localized behind the ear aren"t as common as other types of headache pain. Before treatment can begin, the doctor must find out what is causing your pain and discomfort. In most cases, this type of pain can be limited to one of the following causes:
Each of these conditions has symptoms that are unique, but headaches behind the ear tend to appear on all three lists. Pain Behind the Ears - Signs & Symptoms That Identify the Cause If you are experiencing a fever along with the headache, the signs may point to an infection of some kind, normally mastoiditis. If occipital neuralgia is the culprit, the pain that starts behind the ear, may gradually work its way to other areas of the head and neck. TMJ syndrome is often identified by the misalignment of the teeth and the popping of the jaw joint when you eat or speak. The headache behind the ear is often the result of inflammation and pressure placed on the structures in the area. Diagnosing the Problem There may be cases where it"s difficult to determine the exact cause of your headache pain, even with a thorough physical examination. If there is no sign of infection and your teeth and jaw pose no other symptoms, the doctor may recommend an MRI. Headache pain that is localized behind the ear may not indicate a serious illness, but it shouldn"t be ignored either. If the pain persists longer than two or three days and recurs steadily over the course of a week or more, it"s in your best interest to seek urgent medical attention to determine the exact cause. What does a headache behind your right ear mean?One of the most common causes of a headache behind the ear is a condition called occipital neuralgia. Occipital neuralgia occurs when the occipital nerves, or the nerves that run from the top of the spinal cord up through the scalp, are injured or inflamed.
Is occipital neuralgia serious?Even though occipital neuralgia is not a life-threatening condition, it can have a serious impact on your overall quality of life. It can cause pain that interferes with daily activities and may prevent you from enjoying time with family or friends.
When should I worry about right sided head pain?If you're getting headaches only on one side of your head you shouldn't worry, but you should make an appointment with your doctor. One-sided headaches can mean different things. But they often point to a group of disorders that will need a thorough exam to provide treatment.
What nerve runs behind the right ear?The posterior auricular nerve supplies the occipitalis muscle, part of the occipitofrontalis muscle, as well as the auricularis posterior (a vestigial muscle in humans), interscutularis, and intrinsic ear muscles.
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