Sharp Pain In The Ear: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments

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What causes sharp pain in the ear and how to treat it

Medically reviewed by Skye D. Quamina, Au.D., CCC-A — Written by Helen Millar — Updated on August 27, 2025

Causes
Symptoms
Treatment
Home care
Prevention
Seeing a doctor
Summary

There are several causes of sharp pain in the ear, including pressure changes and infections. Most cases of ear pain do not require medical treatment and resolve independently.

The medical name for ear pain is “otalgia.” If the pain comes from within the ear, doctors call it primary otalgia. If it originates outside the ear, the term is secondary otalgia.

Below, we describe the many possible causes of ear pain and their accompanying symptoms. We also outline ways to treat and prevent ear pain.

Causes of sharp pain in the ear

A person holding their neck, behind their ear. Ear pain is marked with a red cross — Serge Filimonov/Stocksy

The ear is a complex sensory system divided into three parts: the inner, middle, and outer ear. Within these sections, a combination of tubes, membranes, and chambers processes sound and regulates balance. Dysfunction in any part of the ear can cause sharp pain.

Otitis

Otitis is an infection in the middle ear and is one of the most common causes of ear pain.

An infection of the middle ear affects the eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the nasal cavity and the upper throat. This usually has a viral cause and is most common among children.

An infection of the outer ear affects the ear canal, the tube that connects the outer ear to the eardrum. It usually involves direct irritation of the ear canal, such as from water or objects such as Q-tips. It is most common in adults.

Besides sharp pain, some possible symptoms of an ear infection include:

difficulty hearing
a feeling of pressure or fullness in the ear
discharge from the ear
itchiness or irritation in and around the ear
a fever
low energy

Each ear contains a narrow tube called an eustachian tube. It helps regulate the pressure inside the ear so that it matches the air pressure outside, enabling the eardrum to function properly.

Sometimes there is an imbalance in ear pressure, which may result from a blocked eustachian tube or a change in air pressure or altitude.

External pressure changes can cause a type of temporary ear damage called ear barotrauma. The symptoms can include:

a feeling of pressure within the ear
a sharp or dull pain in the ear
hearing loss
dizziness

Sinus infection

A sharp pain in the ear can sometimes result from a bacterial or viral infection of the sinuses (sinusitis). The sinuses are a network of air-filled cavities in the skull, connected to the nasal passage.

Due to the shared connection to the nasal passage, an infection in any of the sinuses can cause pain in the ears.

Temporomandibular disorder

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a musculoskeletal condition that primarily affects the joints that connect the jawbone to the skull.

People with TMD may experience sharp or dull jaw pain that radiates to the ears and temples.

Other possible symptoms of TMD include:

clicking, popping, or grinding noises when moving the jaw
difficulty opening the mouth fully
the jaw locking when opening the mouth

TMD is not usually serious and tends to get better on its own.

A foreign object in the ear

A foreign object may become stuck in the ear canal. Children, for example, prone to inserting objects into their ears out of curiosity.

A foreign object lodged in the ear can cause:

sharp or dull pain
drainage from the ear
hearing loss
an infection

A person attempting to remove the object at home could inadvertently push it farther into the ear canal. Instead, see a healthcare professional who uses specially developed tools and procedures to remove these objects.

Symptoms

Depending on the cause of the ear pain, a person may also experience:

a loss of hearing
tinnitus, which involves perceiving noises that come from inside the ear
a loss of balance
vertigo
facial nerve paralysis

A person may only experience sharp ear pain in certain situations, such as when yawning or swallowing. These motions open the eustachian tubes, changing the pressure within the ear.

Treatment

The treatment for sharp ear pain depends on its cause; for example, removing a foreign object will enable the ear to start healing naturally, typically reducing pain symptoms.

Recovery from an ear or sinus infection is also usually spontaneous, so treatment is not always necessary. However, if the infection is bacterial, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics.

In cases of TMD, a doctor will work to establish the cause and may then recommend one or more of the following:

a prescription for stronger pain medication
a referral to a dentist, if an issue such as teeth grinding or an incorrect bite is responsible
a referral to a psychologist, if stress and anxiety are contributing

Ear pain from pressure or altitude changes will typically resolve once a person returns to a safe altitude, pressure changes resolve, or the eustachian tube obstruction is removed.

»FIND CARE:Find an ear, nose, and throat specialist in your area today

Home remedies

Regardless of the cause of sharp ear pain, over-the-counter pain relief medication, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil) may help ease minor to moderate ear pain and discomfort.

Also, holding a warm or cool compress against their ear may help alleviate the pain.

Some people use Q-tips to try to remove earwax, but this can actually push the wax back into the ear canal, causing problems. Anyone concerned about earwax buildups should see a doctor.

»More on this:Home remedies for ear and sinus pressure

Prevention

Ear infections are often responsible for a sharp pain in the ears, and these infections can be tricky to prevent. However, it can help to:

not probe the ears with Q-tips or fingers
prevent water and shampoo from entering the ears when showering or bathing
use earplugs or a swimming cap when swimming
treat eczema and other skin conditions
treat any allergies to materials in hearing aids, if a person wears them
avoid smoking and smoky environments

To prevent ear pain caused by changes in external pressure or altitude, try:

yawning
swallowing
chewing gum
sucking on hard candy
blowing gently through pinched nostrils and swallowing

These can help open up the eustachian tubes, equalizing the pressure inside and outside the ear.

When to see a doctor

Sharp ear pain may resolve on its own. But if the pain is severe or the ear is bleeding, the person needs immediate medical care.

If someone experiences any of the following, they should consult a doctor:

an earache that persists for more than 3 days
recurrent ear infections
swelling around the ear
fluid draining from the ear
hearing loss or another change in hearing
a severe sore throat
vomiting
dizziness
a fever or chills

Also, if sharp ear pain occurs in someone with any of the following health issues, they should see a doctor:

diabetes
a neurological disease
heart disease
lung disease
kidney disease
a weakened immune system

Summary

Sharp ear pain commonly results from an infection or a temporary change in air pressure or altitude. In other cases, it may stem from TMD or a foreign object lodged in the ear.

The pain, though unpleasant, may be no cause for concern and may resolve without treatment.

However, if the pain is severe or persistent, or if it accompanies any other symptoms, such as bleeding or discharge, see a doctor. Sharp pain in the ear can stem from health issues that require prompt medical attention.

Ear, Nose, and Throat
Pain / Anesthetics

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Berry WS. (2018). Otitis, sinusitis, and mastoiditis.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7153047/
Ear infections. (2025).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ear-infections/
Earwood JS, et al. (2018). Ear pain: Diagnosing common and uncommon causes.https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0101/p20.html
Sinusitis (sinus infection). (2024).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sinusitis-sinus-infection/
Temporomandibular disorder (TMD). (2023).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/temporomandibular-disorder-tmd/

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Medically reviewed by Skye D. Quamina, Au.D., CCC-A — Written by Helen Millar — Updated on August 27, 2025

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