Numbness On Outer Ear - Any Ideas Why?? - Mumsnet

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Watch Flip Save Share Original poster Numbness on outer ear - any ideas why?? 20 replies

BigMomma3 · 27/06/2009 14:24

This morning I have noticed the outer edge of my left ear is numb (the shell like part) and thought it rather bizarre. My hearing is not affected and I have not had earache or anything. It is higher up than the part where my ear is pierced so I doubt it is anything to do with that.

Could it be the way I slept although I have never had this before? Am a bit of a worrier so if anyone has any ideas, it would be appreciated!!

OP posts: See next See all Quote React Add post Share Watch imaynotbeperfectbutimokmummy · 27/06/2009 14:59

I'm willing to bet money you have slept on it! Not entirely sure i have much feeling there myself!

I suffer from health anxiety so i worry over anything, but i honestly think this is not suspicious. The outer part of the ear doesn't serve a purpose other than forming a reciever for the sound, its inside where you have all the nerves. Stop worrying.

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark Original poster BigMomma3 · 27/06/2009 15:57

Thanks imay! I think that is probably it, keep on feeling it though and worrying - pita is'nt it!!

OP posts: See next See all Quote React Add post Share Bookmark Rosieonline · 11/07/2009 11:10

Did it clear up on its own? I woke up with the very same thing with my right helix. Went to the gp who thiught I might have an ear inf which is causing some swelling which may be pressing on a nerve. I am on anti bios. GP didn't think it was the sleep awkwardly thing. It feels most odd..and I am worried too....

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark Original poster BigMomma3 · 11/07/2009 17:06

Rosie - my numbness has gone - lasted for about a week though. Still no idea why, had no pain or swelling to indicate an infection. Just put to it down to an anomaly and forgot about it!

OP posts: See all Quote React Add post Share Bookmark AmyDr1975 · 09/10/2019 00:50

My upper right ear is numb at times, no pain associated with it. No wax build up or discharge either. It comes in waves , like I can feel it start to tingle then when I touch it, it stops. Any suggestions

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark LuvisLife · 14/07/2020 13:07

Amy, I have exact same symptoms. It started a week ago in one ear but today go to both ears. I feel those waves of funny tingling. Usually starts in the evening. Any updates? Thanks :)

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark Abbeyrose · 01/09/2020 08:34

Hi Amy, did you ever get any clarification on what the problem is? I would appricates any advice because I have had this feeling on the outer of my ear for over 8 months on and off and it only happens when I go to sleep and the numbness wakes me up and then I have that wierd tingly feeling!? But I cant keep lossing sleep I'm so tierd from it all. Debating to call my gp now but haven't because of the way 2020 has been..

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark Zebadiah123 · 27/12/2020 13:53

same situation, my upper part of outer ear feels weird, like its numb or someones pressing it, or kinda feeling hot(not in a painful way).... i search my sypmtoms google but only this website have this kind of discussion... but nobody still got the remedy or say what causes this type of sensation...

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark CandleWick4 · 02/02/2021 11:48

Jumping on - I know it’s an old thread but I’ve just googled ‘top of ear is numb’ and this came up. Do any of you wear glasses by any chance? I’m wondering whether the arms of mine (they’re about a year old and I’ve not had this before) are sitting in such a way that they are either lying on a nerve or they’re affecting the blood flow and causing the feeling? Mine is intermittent, not everyday either but it comes and goes for a minute or so at a time and mostly just my right ear. I’m thinking it’s my glasses or my pillow? I generally sleep on my left so wondering if when I do sleep on my right it causes this?

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark MyNameForToday1980 · 04/02/2021 22:51

I'm glad you've reopened this conversation @CandleWick4 I've got exactly the same symptom at the moment. The very top of my right ear feels as if someone is pressing it, then a fizzy tingly feeling comes and goes intermittently (it stops if I touch it). Not painful, but weird. Mainly in the evening, but from time to time during the day.

Sometimes I feel the tingling spread around my scalp and cheek.

I don't wear glasses. But I do wear over ear headphones (Zoom calls) a good few hours a day.

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark CandleWick4 · 08/02/2021 11:39

I’m leaning more towards my sleep pattern and which side I lie on causing the issue. The night before last I slept like a log and on my left side. Yesterday I barely had a tingle. Last night I turned more and I know I slept on my right side more and today my ear has already started with this feeling. I’m guessing when I sleep on that side I’m lying on a nerve or affecting the blood supply?

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark Mommy2tommy · 23/02/2021 06:01

Has anyone figured this out yet? I’ve been dealing with with tingling and numbness in the top part of my outer left ear, intermittently throughout the day. It stops when I touch it and hold my hand over that spot, and it seems to tingle worse when I’m laying down. I’ve had an MRI and everything was normal. This has been going one for about 4 months now. :(

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark borninmay · 20/03/2021 19:04

For most of us experiencing this problem, I suspect it's due to superficial inflammation of the auricle (outer ear) or the nerves controlling sensation of your ear. A couple potential causes & solutions below - if anyone tries them, report back whether it's successful :)

Sternocleidomastoid hypertrophy: If you're using the computer more often, and sitting in a position with forward head flexion, then you're at risk of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (located at the front of your neck) becoming overused, leading to hypertrophy (muscle building) and potentially inflammation. Since your greater auricular nerve goes through the sternocleidomastoid, you could be at risk of the muscle and inflammatory process compressing the nerve, which would cause pain and numbness experienced at your auricle.

Solution: Proper positioning of neck and head while working, stretching of sternocleidomastoid (ideally see a physiotherapist or chiropractor for advice), strengthen opposing muscles.

Tissue damage at the ear: We're all wearing masks nowadays, and the loop that goes around the ear puts pressure on the skin. With prolonged use, this could cause damage. Other causes here could include your glasses being too tight, using headphones that are ill-fitting, bumping your ear on something, or poor sleeping position.

Solution: If you can, sleep lying on your back so your ears have no pressure on them at night. Buy good-fitting masks and glasses. Take breaks when you can/when it's safe from mask wearing/glasses wearing. Quote React Add post Share Bookmark careforhealthy · 05/08/2021 18:04

Hi everyone,

I too have experienced really similar symptoms to what everyone has been posting.

It started for me about 3 days ago, and slowly, the amount of numbing/tingling has started to be more frequent.

For me, the root cause was that I had had an earwax blockage in my ear. After I went to the doctor to get it removed, I felt normal for 2 days, and then this "numbing" sensation began.

I've done a lot of googling, but haven't really found much. The only thing I could find was "paresthesia" and "hearing loss" but like what many have echoed, I can hear fine out of the year.

Hopefully this anecdotal information will be helpful for someone. I'll post an update in 1 month. (hopefully it will have disappeared by then)

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark Claudette828 · 20/12/2021 01:40

Anyone have an update on their condition? I've had the same exact condition off and on for a couple of weeks now. My ears are clean and I don't think it's from sleeping on that side. I generally sleep on my back and the tingling usually starts up at night. Would love to hear how others are doing after a few months (or years in some cases!)

Claudette

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark 2blunt2filter · 09/05/2022 07:29

I’m interested in any updates? I have been experiencing the same thing, I thought it was odd. I’ve googled but found nothing relating to what We’ve been experiencing. That fizzy/tingly then numbing sensation in the outer ear. It just started for me sometime last week and find it really weird and concerning. Like what is this?

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark Woopsy123 · 08/06/2022 11:09

Are there any update on this? Any of you mommas diagnosed with something? I only have it for few days now. It's really concerning me now.

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Ashwoman22 · 05/09/2022 11:53

I have a theory on this because I mostly seem to get a numb (outer) ear when I wake up feeling ill or I have a headache or something. I wondered why this mostly only happens when I'm ill, but I think it has something to do with unconsciously tensing certain muscles that cause more pressure on your ear. When I feel ill, I think my body must tense my neck/shoulder muscles, which then causes me to sleep in a weird position so my head is putting more pressure on my ear, making it numb when I wake up. The other theory is that when I feel unwell, my body sends me into a deep sleep so that I don't move around at all, and I end up laying on my ear for longer. So when I then wake up, my ear is numb. Just a theory but it seems a weird coincidence....

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark Ncdude85 · 02/10/2022 15:14

Woke up this Morning to a crisp October 1, left ear numb as F, like I have bigger ears than the average person and leftie done had a stroke or sumthin cause I can’t feel shiiiiit. I literally just woke up tho and google brought me here, had to do the sign up here circus but wanted to jump on this cause stg if my left ear had a mouth, one side is dragging the floor, stroked out…literally woke up 30 min ago tho…sumthin makin me feel like there’s a connection there….

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark Faatality · 12/11/2022 09:35

Hi all. I found this thread trying to figure out why my outer ear would tingle. I would have a few episodes an hour lasting about a minute each. I went through this for six months. One day I felt it tingle and noticed if I thrusted my jaw forward like a bulldog with an underbite it would instantly go away. This all started after intense dental work and the way my bite comes down now puts a lot of stress on the TMJ (Jaw joint) which is connected to the ear. It's usually just a tingle, but sometimes pain, and sometimes vertigo. I'm relieved to have figured it out, but learning I have TMJD is no unsettling. I'm curious to know if any of you that previously posted has figured out what's thing on and if it's resolved? Thanks!

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