Is this an ear infection??

[H3R01234]

Hello again, everyone!
Just about a week or so ago, I started getting this strange feeling in my right ear. I felt pressure, like something was stuff deep inside. It's like a clogging feeling. I tried cleaning it and it didn't do much. Lately it's been getting worse. I feel like my headphone is stuck in my ear all day even when it isn't. I've started having pain to the point where I feel it in my jaw. If I pull on it a bit, it feels like it's opened and better, but if I let it go it just goes back. I wanna get it checked out but I literally went to the doc less than a week ago for my knees. I took some decongestant less than an hour ago to see if it would do something. Usually this wouldn't bother me, but it's affecting work (I'm a lifeguard) and it's painful to be in the water. It feels like it gets more clogged than it should be. Any comments?

[H3R01234]

I'm sorry. I posted this a while ago, but I just had to pinch my nose and put pressure in my mouth and it was fine ._. Thank you for the help!

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

There are tubes called ‘Eustachian tubes’ which connect the middle ear to the throat, this balances the air pressure in the ears. This tube can get blocked due to infections of the throat, which can give lead to a feeling of fullness in the ears. This can also result in infection of the ears. Decongestants, steroid nasal sprays and antihistamine medications may help clear the tubes and facilitate drainage. The blocked ears can also be opened up by the valsalva maneuver, where air is blown into the cheeks against a closed nostrils, this sometimes helps to open up the tubes. Steam inhalations and warm salt water gargles can help clear the tube. Please consult your family physician.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.