I am 73 years old and have been having this painful, red ear problem for several years. Just last year an ENT doctor diagnosed it as relapsing polychondritis. It affects one ear or the other, sometimes both. When it happens, the ear is not only red but becomes very swollen and extremely painful. And it doesn't come and go in an hour or two as in some of the "red ear" cases here. Mine will last about ten days. It starts slowly, peaks for about 4 days and then starts, very slowly, getting better. There is no known cause or cure but it has something to do with the autoimmune system. It does just affect the cartilage and not the ear lobe. When I get an episode the only thing I can do is to take Advil for the pain and put an ice pack on my ear. I have learned to live with it. My husband has almost the same problem. But with him, the cartilage between the breast bone and the rib cage is affected and it is called Costochondritis.
Hi Everyone. I have had a carcanoid tumour removed (1979) and did have the horrible flushing. I recently (2001) well I guess not so recently was diagnosed with relapsing polychondritis. It affects any cartilegde, so could affect the upper part of your ear but not your ear lobe as there is no cartiledge there. Hopes this helps.
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I am 73 years old and have been having this painful, red ear problem for several years. Just last year an ENT doctor diagnosed it as relapsing polychondritis. It affects one ear or the other, sometimes both. When it happens, the ear is not only red but becomes very swollen and extremely painful. And it doesn't come and go in an hour or two as in some of the "red ear" cases here. Mine will last about ten days. It starts slowly, peaks for about 4 days and then starts, very slowly, getting better. There is no known cause or cure but it has something to do with the autoimmune system. It does just affect the cartilage and not the ear lobe. When I get an episode the only thing I can do is to take Advil for the pain and put an ice pack on my ear. I have learned to live with it. My husband has almost the same problem. But with him, the cartilage between the breast bone and the rib cage is affected and it is called Costochondritis.
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Hi Everyone. I have had a carcanoid tumour removed (1979) and did have the horrible flushing. I recently (2001) well I guess not so recently was diagnosed with relapsing polychondritis. It affects any cartilegde, so could affect the upper part of your ear but not your ear lobe as there is no cartiledge there. Hopes this helps.