Is pain in the ear a middle ear infection? Not necessarily. Common causes of pain in the ear are as follows: Ear neuralgia 1. Large nerve in the ear, trigeminal neuralgia may cause ear pain often stabbing, more intense pain, pain duration ranging from a few seconds or a few hours. 2, clear ear neuralgia, should be ruled out by MRI organic lesions of the skull and nerves (that is, do not grow a tumor or something like that) Temporomandibular joint pain (how many black pots for ear pain) 1, the temporomandibular joint is located in front of the external ear canal, pain here can also be mistaken for ear pain, this pain often tends to occur in cases such as chewing hard things. 2. Diagnosis requires an otolaryngologist or stomatologist to diagnose the temporomandibular joint, and also to rule out parotid lesions. Acute otitis media causes earache 1. It is common in children especially after upper respiratory tract infections and often strikes in the middle of the night. The pain is so severe that they cannot sleep, but the pain does not last too long. 2. If there is no fluid in the external ear canal, the pain is often severe, and if there is fluid outflow, the eardrum may have been perforated. External ear canal cancer and middle ear cancer can cause severe and persistent pain 1. A very small percentage of patients with long-term untreated otitis media, or with sudden bleeding from otitis media, should be aware of the risk of middle ear cancer. 2. Middle ear cancer will often have pain as the first symptom, imaging is necessary, and pathological tissue biopsy is needed if highly suspected. Common chronic otitis media will rarely lead to ear pain. Early detection and early treatment are necessary to stay away from otitis media.