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Pain starts when mucus or pus builds up behind the eardrum.
The more the fluid builds, the greater the pressure and pain. While antibiotic treatment can resolve the infection that's causing the pain, there are some things you can do for yourself to get temporary relief. Warm up to relief. Resoak the towel as it cools and use it as often as you need to, even while you are being treated for an underlying infection, he suggests. Try a liquid pillow.