strangelove

Like you said, different MDs will recommend different things. I've personally seen more people harmed than helped by hydrogen peroxide (it can be very irritating and some people get a severe inflammatory reaction from it). Vinegar can be good, and I often recommend it, but for some people it can burn like heck and often takes longer to treat an infection than medicated drops would. Medicated drops would certainly be first-line treatment. The most imporant thing is really to avoid water and mechanical irritation of the ear canal. Anyone who tells you any different doesn't understand the mechanism of how otitis externa works. A simple infection should clear in 1-2 wk. If it persists after that then you have to think of more unusual causes. It sounds like 909s case was not one of a simple otitis infection and thus treatment changes drastically. When you get into non-standard causes different people might tell you different treatments based on what they think the cause is. But like I said before, go see an ENT. All this is speculation without a physical exam to base it on.

I would highly recommend against most of that advice. If you have an external ear infection the best thing to do is keep water out of the ear. Even if it's only irritated, any type of soap or especially hydrogen peroxide could make it a lot worse. Any mechanical irritation (Qtips) could prolong the symptoms. I recommend Motrin because if it is an otitis externa it will help with the pain. If it's TMJ syndrome, it also helps with the pain and the inflammation that is the main problem. See an ENT in person though.

Hey cool, another otolaryngologist (I'm one as well). I agree with what was said above. Likely had an otitis externa and your ear is still sensitive. You might need more drops. Keep water out of your ear and avoid using Qtips. Could be TMJ, but less likely. Either way I'd recommend Motrin for the pain.