I don't really have earache pain so I can't comment on that, or how soon before things improve. But I too have a lot of itchiness and stuffiness in my inner ears. Sometimes it feels like they tubes have collapsed in on themselves - very odd feeling like congestion or hayfeverish symptoms in the tubes - and they would itch like crazy in a place I could not possibly scratch. I've always believed it was allergies until my recent TMJ diagnosis. I would think this is nerve-related, and will abate as your other symptoms do. Do you have any allergy symptoms also?