Ear pain with Meniere's disease: what to know

Meniere's disease affects the inner ear and can cause episodes of vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, a blocked or pressured feeling, and ringing in the ears. Pain may instead come from an outer-ear infection, middle-ear infection, wax, jaw tension, or irritation of the ear canal. A cluster of ear pressure, ringing, hearing change and vertigo can fit Meniere's disease, but pain should not be used to identify its cause.

Note when the pain began, whether it is on one or both sides, and whether it changes with vertigo, discharge, fever, chewing or touching the ear. Keep the ear dry and avoid inserting cotton buds or drops unless a clinician has recommended them. Arrange a GP Consultation if pain persists, hearing changes, or attacks are recurring; a Hearing Test may help clarify the pattern.

Seek urgent medical help for sudden hearing loss, severe spinning with new weakness or trouble speaking, swelling behind the ear, severe headache, or an ear injury. Prompt assessment is also sensible for fever, fluid or pus from the ear, marked tenderness, or pain that is rapidly worsening.

Ask whether the pain suggests an ear-canal or middle-ear problem, whether your hearing should be tested, and which symptoms should prompt urgent review during a vertigo episode.