The cartilage bit above my actual ear hole, but not the outside bit, is REALLY painful (sorry I don't know the correct medical terminology). For the last 4/5 days it has only been sore to touch, but now I can feel a dull ache all the time. Its even sore when I lie on the pillow at night. My hubby's had a look but says he can't see anything, but its starting to worry me. Any ideas?
Mary....it is nothing serious or dangerous and is known as perichondritis. It has many causes one of which is a low grade bacterial infection. Another cause is a patch of eczema in the ear canal that becomes infected.
A trip to ypur GP and a course of antibiotics and "Bob's your uncle"
Good luck Mary.
squad is right, but it may also be - something a suffer from - what we call - 'Blind Boils'! You don't see them as such, but are bloody sore and will ease in a few days. Try rubbing a wee bit of warm olive oil on a bit of cotton wool round the affected area, - I also apply Tea-Tree Oil along with it. That should keep any infection at bay. Hope it gets better soon, nothing worse than ear-ache of any kind!