Let me first say that I've been to 3 different Dr's, including 2 ENT DRs.

I had an ear infection 2 months ago. It was a ***** to get rid of. The infection is gone but now I have an incredibly painful sensation in my ear when I burp or hiccup. It feels like it is cause by air going in and out. It hurts so bad that I feel like I'm going to throw up when it happens. I have a high tolerance to pain but this is unbearable. It feels like someone is jamming a pencil into my ear with a strong force.

The strange thing is that it only hurts when I burp or hiccup or yawn. After one of those events it is uncomfortable for 30 minutes or so.

I was at the Dr 2 days ago and he gave me a steroid but he said he did not see ANY infection.

How can this be? The pain is incredibly terrible that there has to be something wrong.

Does anyone have any comments or suggestions or experience with anything like this?

Oh...my hear is not impacted...as far as I can tell.

Thanks,
Steve

It might be TMJ or an infected tooth. I was at the ENT for a similar problem, and he immediately told me to go to the dentist because it was a tooth problem. I said, but you stupid doctor, the pain is in my EAR!! He said because of how the eustacian tube is connected and how close it is with all of the jaw bone and stuff like that, it can cause a tooth infection to actually hurt the ear.

So my dentist took a look and realized I was clenching and grinding my teeth really badly because I have TMJ and he made a bite guard for me to wear at night while sleeping. It cost $350 and was not covered by insurance. I actually lost it, stupid me, but i still have the container, at least. I hope I find it because I feel like I need to start wearing it again.

The clue for me about your symptoms is that it hurts when you yawn. That's so like a TMJ symptom!! Seriously, check out your dentist and see if he/she thinks it could be TMJ. If there is no infection visible in your ear, it has to be something else, and I really believe it's something in your jaw or something.