Ear Cartilage Pain when Sleeping on Side

Many people experience ear cartilage pain while sleeping on their side. The outer ear is usually made up of cartilage and skin. You may feel tenderness on the outer ear, which can radiate to the side of the jaw. The difference between pain in the ear cartilage and pain within the ear is often easy to discern.

You may be wondering why your ears hurt after sleeping on them.

What causes pain in your ear when you sleep on your side?

The ear is one of the most complex parts of the body. You don’t need to be an expert in anatomy to understand this. The outer ear is made up of a large amount of cartilage, which is meant to be flexible. This can be a problem, as we’ll discover when we examine the most common causes of outer ear pain while sleeping on your left side.

Extremely soft ears

The fibrocartilage, which makes up the outer part of the ear, is much softer and more flexible than usual. Consequently, this means that they will weigh about 12 pounds. Imagine what happens when sleeping on your side. Gravity and the weight of your body are pressing down on your pillow. The force of the pillow will be felt on your side and even in your ear if it is too firm. You will experience ear pain as the cartilage and outer ear structures are small and delicate.

Find a pillow with less resistance and more comfort. You can choose softer pillows or those made of memory foam, which will allow your head to be dispersed better. This should reduce the pain.

Too long sleeping on one side.

In the same way, sleeping too long on one side could also cause ear discomfort. This is again mainly due to the pressure you put on your ear while lying on it. You should feel less pain if you sleep on your other side.

If you sleep on the same side too much, even with a good mattress and pillow, you may still experience ear cartilage discomfort. Many people find side sleeping to be beneficial. In one study, it was found that side sleeping can be beneficial for people who suffer from acid reflux. Another study suggested that this is the best position for removing waste material from your brain.

If you are constantly experiencing ear pains, it’s best to change your sleeping position. Sleeping on your back is much better than on your stomach. There is countless proof that stomach sleeping is bad for your spine. Sleeping on your back has similar benefits as side sleeping but without the risk of ear pain. You can try it to see if it works for you.

Ear piercings

Your outer ear pain may be due to a newly pierced ear or an existing one. You may experience tenderness in your ears after a recent ear piercing. Sleeping on the pierced ear can cause pain in the morning.

Sleeping with piercings in your ears can also cause pain, as the piercing is pressing on the cartilage. If you tend to sleep on your side, make sure to remove your piercings before going to bed. You should avoid sleeping on the side where you recently got a piercing if this is your usual sleeping position.