The bone behind your ear is called the mastoid bone, which is part of your skull. If this bone becomes painful and red, you may have a very serious infection called mastoiditis.

What causes the pain behind the ear?

One of the most common causes of a headache behind the ear is a condition called occipital neuralgia. Occipital neuralgia occurs when the occipital nerves, or the nerves that run from the top of the spinal cord up through the scalp, are injured or inflamed.

What causes lymph nodes behind ear to swell?

The glands (lymph nodes) on either side of the neck, under the jaw, or behind the ears commonly swell when you have a cold or sore throat. More serious infections may cause the glands to enlarge and become very firm and tender.