what causes ear cartilage to be tender while lying down
Causes of Outer Ear Tenderness. Pain or tenderness in the auricle can sometimes be due to simple causes like sleeping on one side against a hard surface. Persistent or recurrent pain should always be investigated as it may sometimes be due to serious causes like cancer even though there is no obvious lesion.
Injury to the outer ear is by far the most common cause of tenderness and pain. The injury is usually obvious like with an ear piercing or blow to the ear. Trauma leads to inflammation which is characterized by pain, redness and swelling.