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What Causes Pain In Ears At Night With Stuffy Nose And Sinus?
Question: Hello, recent sinus/allergy stuffy nose post nasal drip etc...cloggy painful ears. One ear has remained cloggy and XXXXXXX and painful at night. Used cousins left over anitibioc ear drops later read could be contaminated! then put a few drops of alcohol in ear and since then has sounded like a liquid or air is stuck..and a little achey behind the ear and face same side. No super major symptoms but concerned one I may cause an infection with a contaminated dropper or pouring alcohol is now stuck and causing damage. BTW lots of scar tissue in this ear from childhood infections
Brief Answer:
Recommendations
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Yes, it is never a good idea to use someone else's eye or ear drops. Contamination is possible, but I don't think you have an infection in your ear canal (which is where the contamination would have caused an infection). None of the symptoms you described are consistent with otitis externa. And by the way, antibiotic ear drops are only for an infection in the ear canal - would not have helped your symptoms which are not involving the ear canal. Your ear pain is from the inside, not the canal.
If you have a history of allergies, consider a good quality antihistamine such as Zyrtec (or it's generic cetirizine).
To decrease the reactivity in your sinuses that is causing the post nasal drainage and ear congestion, take a steroid nasal spray such as Flonase, which is sold without prescription. It will take a few days of consistent use to work maximally.
I don't know which decongestant you are using but the most effective one is pseudoephedrine. It's not sold on the shelf - you have to ask the pharmacist for this.
Don't put anything else in your ear canal. Alcohol is very drying and can cause irritation. Just leave it alone and your ear will recover from these things.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can help further.
Recommendations
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Yes, it is never a good idea to use someone else's eye or ear drops. Contamination is possible, but I don't think you have an infection in your ear canal (which is where the contamination would have caused an infection). None of the symptoms you described are consistent with otitis externa. And by the way, antibiotic ear drops are only for an infection in the ear canal - would not have helped your symptoms which are not involving the ear canal. Your ear pain is from the inside, not the canal.
If you have a history of allergies, consider a good quality antihistamine such as Zyrtec (or it's generic cetirizine).
To decrease the reactivity in your sinuses that is causing the post nasal drainage and ear congestion, take a steroid nasal spray such as Flonase, which is sold without prescription. It will take a few days of consistent use to work maximally.
I don't know which decongestant you are using but the most effective one is pseudoephedrine. It's not sold on the shelf - you have to ask the pharmacist for this.
Don't put anything else in your ear canal. Alcohol is very drying and can cause irritation. Just leave it alone and your ear will recover from these things.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can help further.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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