I just got over an ear infection a week or so ago...

Mostly, my ear hurt (same as you, to talk, lay down, swallowing, god forbid I hiccup, I thought my brain was going to explode...) and he actually flushed it out at the doctor cuz my ears were pretty waxy. It hurt pretty bad, but it helped a lot.

Heat also helped, so I'd try the hair dryer trick, lol.