Helen, im so sorry! I used to work in a drs office & the treatment was to have the wax softened & then the dr irrigated the ear canal with sterile water until the hard wax fell out into a basin. I read that the wax works as an antiseptic coating the canal & if disturbed by a q-tip or cotton swab then the loosened wax leaves an area of the lining unprotected & infection of the walls of the canal cause them to swell, redden, become painful & can swell shut. A wax plug is different it can be flushed out but sometimes it cant come out due to swelling & prednisone &/or antibiotics are given to help swelling, inflammation. I think that it might be helpful to go to dr. to see if you have an infection or severe swelling. Im sorry, helen you certainly have enough to deal with already! I hope it resolves quickly!