 [ Symptoms ] i have chronic back pain neurosurgeon wants to do another decompression surgery [ Disease ] as a diabetic you are considered to be immunocompromised    more prone to infections and more prone to infections becoming serious pseumomonas is among the most common organisms that cause otitis externa so this is not uncommon having painful cold sores herpes in the ear is more rare but does happen think of it as having shingles in the ear the disease is called ramsay hunt syndrome assuming you were properly diagnosed the treatment of a bacterial infection is with antibiotics but a viral infection like herpes requires antiviral medications if you have not seen an ear specialist or dermatologist this may be something to consider since having a definitive diagnosis is essential if you are to be properly treated