Earache - Any Ideas

I use Mucinex which makes the mucus thinner and easier for the body to deal with (i.e. cough out of lungs or drain out of ears via eustachian tubes to back of throat). Either that, or the nose spray you can only use for 3 days like Afrin which more locally reduces the swelling of the passages and allows mucus to drain. My sister swears by sticking a cotton ball soaked in vodka as high in her cheek near the ear as possible. This numbs the nerve (cranial?) that runs there and kills the ear ache pain (but not its cause). Other causes of ear ache:
1) Chronic bruxism -- nocturnal jaw clenching and/or teeth grinding
2) Missing teeth/ill-fitting dentures causing the patient to chew unequally
3) Current orthodontia
4) Frequent gum chewing
5) Stress and other psychological factors

Sometimes the pain is caused by built up pressure from the Eustachian tube.... it gets clogged up and puts pressure on the eardrum.

Sudafed (decongestant) can help ease the congestion, sometimes.

Decongestants, chew gum, warm shower. Those will at least help if it is just pressure/congestion.

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I don't have any advice on how to cure it, but I had chronic ear problems growing up so I feel your pain. Advil can help a little. I prefer it over Tylenol and Aspirin. Also try moist heat. Wet a towel or wash cloth, wring it out, but make sure it is still wet, just not dripping, then warm it a little in the microwave. This really helped manage my pain when I had an ear infection and even a ruptured eardrum. One thing that may help prevent this from reaccuring is getting adjusted regularly by a good chiropractor. :) That helped me. I have not had an ear infection in YEARS.

The decongestant is a good idea. The "goo" in the sinus' has to get out somehow and if it is trying to drain down the tube and is too thick it clogs it and makes a lot of pain. I keep liquid children's sudafed in the house all the time. I don't need a full adult dose and the kids sometimes need the goo to be thinner too. I get it at a local pharmacy. Large chain stores tell me that it doesn't exist. I take it out and shoe them, point out the expiration date, etc...but they still don't believe me when I tell them I get it at a pharmacy any time I need it.

Another thing I do is use a hair dryer and turn on a comfortable warm. I blow it at my ear and the heat helps the pain. I got that idea out of a Home Remedies book about how to treat illnesses at home and some other things.

I too suffer from earaches! I keep an Over-the-counter, earache relief medication in the house, that eases the pain, until I am able to see a doctor. It's a liquid and I believe a "Simualson" product. Also, find a heat pad helps. Feel better soon. In a pinch, I've used warm (not hot) olive oil to soothe the pain.