Alongside a sore throat, ear pain can be a common side effect after a tonsillectomy procedure. While it doesn’t happen to every patient, understanding how to manage ear pain can be useful when recovering from a tonsillectomy.
If you’re considering a tonsillectomy, book an appointment with an ENT specialist.
Why might you get ear pain after a tonsillectomy?
Ear pain after a tonsillectomy is known as ‘referred pain’, which is pain that has travelled from another area. A sore throat is the main side effect of a tonsillectomy, and the pain from this part of the body is transmitted through a shared nerve pathway to the ears. This is the main cause of earache after this type of surgery.
While pain is felt in the ears, it’s important to note that this is not due to any pain, damage, or inflammation in the ears. It’s simply the connection of nerves between the entire ENT (ear, nose, and throat) region.
How common is ear pain after a tonsillectomy?
It’s difficult to say how common ear pain is after a tonsillectomy since everyone handles pain differently, and most do not report these symptoms. Earache is sometimes experienced immediately after a tonsillectomy, but this usually subsides quickly with medication.
While commonly experienced as referred pain due to soreness in the throat, ear pain does not usually continue past the recovery period.
How long does ear pain last after a tonsillectomy?
Referred ear pain after a tonsillectomy typically lasts for the same period as the sore throat. This can be anywhere from one to two weeks, depending on your body’s natural healing ability.
If you experience intense ear pain or it does not subside as your throat pain improves, you should contact your doctor.
How to manage ear pain after a tonsillectomy
Ear pain is generally managed with regular pain medication. After your tonsillectomy, your consultant will prescribe the most appropriate medication for you. This is often paracetamol or ibuprofen, but in adults, liquid morphine is sometimes prescribed. You may also be advised to use a throat spray, such as Difflam, which eases throat pain and can help with earache.
Alongside pain medication, you may find some relief in using a cold compress or heat pack on the affected area. Following the tonsillectomy recovery guidance from your doctor can also improve your recovery time, including ear pain relief.
If your ear pain becomes severe or you experience bleeding from the ears, you should contact your doctor. These are not common side effects and could indicate complications.
Managing a child’s ear pain after a tonsillectomy
While children recover quicker than adults after a tonsillectomy, it can be more difficult to see when they are struggling with pain or recovery. To improve comfort for your child after surgery, the following tips can help:
- Provide regular pain medication
- Explain why they may be experiencing ear pain
- Look out for non-verbal cues such as holding the ears or avoiding resting on them
- Distract from the pain with engaging toys or light activities
Ear pain can be common after a tonsillectomy, and it’s usually nothing to worry about. For further information about tonsillectomy-related earache, speak to an ENT specialist.
