Well, I could give you my old italian grandmothers remedy... which did work, but I can't imagine it is highly recommended by doctors! :o) But it was warm oil poured in the ear, I swear it worked like a charm! Took all the pain away!

If you're on warfarin, be careful with ibuprofen. Generally,you're advised against taking Ibuprofen and aspirin while on warfarin due to bleeding risks. I'm sorry you're hurting.

My grandparents did the warm oil thing too!

My dad used to blow smoke in my ear. Didn't work at all for the pain, but made me laugh.
Yeah, Tylenol is the pain killer of choice for warfarin users - does your doc know about the ibuprofen?

Eeek no, he always tells to take paracetamol. I knew about aspirin but didn't realise ibuprofen was a no no as well :-( I thought about the warm oil but isn't that for earache? Wouldn't putting other stuff in just add to the gunk that's already in there? I feel like such a baby complaining about a sore ear but jeez it really is agony. Thanks for the replies and the heads up on the ibuprofen

Yeah I wasn't saying the oil was actually good for you. It's just an interesting home remedy that some of us were subjected to.

Personally, I generally leave my ears alone, except for some light cleaning in the shower. Jamming stuff in there can make it worse. I think the pain doesn't really go away until the inflammation/infection is gone. Check with your doc on any other meds that may help.

I've had one true ear infection as an adult and it was miserable with regards to the pain and dizziness. It's no wonder babies scream their heads off when they have an ear infection. I don't blame them one bit.

I just got off the phone with my gp and he's prescribing me some codeine tablets to take with the paracetamol. He said he wasn't surprised I'd been in touch as it's very painful and if these didn't work there are morphine patches (if it comes to it)
I was thinking about babies earlier as well, at least I can bitch and type to people but all they can do is scream which must actually hurt more. My hubby said he's never known me so quiet!

Ugh, I used to get wicked ear infections all the time when I was younger. Outside of the drugs, there wasn't much else to be done. Had no clue they'd prescribe morphine for it though....that's pretty intense.

That's what I said lol, he said we didn't need to be that drastic yet. I've never had morphine in my life but at this moment I would take anything going!
I've always suffered with my right ear, I get a kind of excema (spelling) when I'm stressed but it usually clears up with some drops. My lymph gland is swollen and feels rock hard, shame it's not halloween I could scare kids at 20 paces with this swelling :-)

Hope you've got some extra INR tests lined up. I'm on antibiotics frequently for sinus infections and they always wreak havoc with my INR.

Hope you start to feel better soon!

Homeopatic way: Warmed garlic oil drops, (natural antibiotics) and ear candles.

Thanks for all the replies :-) The codeine tablets are making it manageable so fingers crossed I'll soon be on the mend. I'll get some garlic oil for next time I get a mild excema flare up and hopefully it'll stop this kind of infection getting a grip! Thanks again

Karen