Pain Behind the Ear with Tension Down the Neck

Ear Pain and Tinnitus

Pain Behind the Ear with Tension Down the Neck

How People Describe This Pain Pattern
How You Activate and Intensify This Pain Pattern
Self-Care – Getting Relief on Your Own
Musculoskeletal Anatomy Behind Your Pain
Therapy Notes for Massage and Bodywork

Want to skip ahead?
Here’s a link to my post about
getting relief on your own.

How People Describe This Pain Pattern

Pain Behind Ear

Mostly, people complain of pain behind the ear. Often, they complain about “ear pain.” Then, when asked to touch the pain, they get more specific. Sometimes, they refer to as an earache.

I ask if any sensations refer up, down, or anywhere else. So, this helps to differentiate it from other patterns that refer to the ear. Occasionally, they complain of tension in the neck or pain behind the eye. They describe the stiffness in the neck as a band of tightness that extends from behind the ear along the side of the neck.

It’s worth noting that this pattern is unusual and you should look at other patterns that create pain around the ear.

How You Activate and Intensify This Pain Pattern

Awkward position

This is a classic case of aggravating the muscles and joints with an awkward, sustained position. These people complain of having “slept wrong” or “worked on a document too long.”

Of course, occasionally this comes from an accident or fall. Almost always, their neck is twisted when they get bumped.

The Musculoskeletal Anatomy Behind Your Pain

anatomy for longissimus of the erector spinae

Musculoskeletal Anatomy

About these Illustrations…

This post on anatomy contains the standard information about origin, insertion, function, and innervation. It also includes information on functional considerations and anomalies. This is also the place to find all posts related to this muscle.

Getting Relief on Your Own

Clinically Proven
Self-Care Strategies

This post has strategies for getting relief on your own. Explore how to change your activities, stretch, ice, and more to relieve the pain associated with this trigger point.

Therapy Notes for Massage and Bodywork

Better Bodywork
Through Shared Expertise

This post has techniques, tips, treatment routines, and anatomy illustrations to improve the bodyworker’s approach.

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The Integrative Model

This vid eo is a brief overview of the Integrative Bodywork Model. It explores the difference between integrated and integrated approaches. Additionally., it walks through an example.

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Tony Preston has a practice in Atlanta, Georgia, where he sees clients. He has written materials and instructed classes since the mid-90s. This includes anatomy, trigger points, cranial, and neuromuscular.

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*This site is undergoing significant changes. We are reformatting and expanding the posts to make them easier to read. The result will also be more accessible and include more patterns with better self-care. Meanwhile, there may be formatting, content presentation, and readability inconsistencies. Until we get older posts updated, please excuse our mess.

Tony Preston

Tony Preston, LMT has been treating adults and children since the early 90s. He has authored a number of texts on neuromuscular and craniosacral techniques. He has taught Neuromuscular Therapy for ASHA School of Massage and craniosacral the National Institute of Craniosacral Studies. He currently teaches seminars in Integrative Craniosacral techniques at The Body Guild.