It could have been worse — it could have been an earwig.
That happened to my father several years ago. He had an earwig in his ear and it was very painful. We got him to the doctor asap and the doctor got it out.
Got an earwig in my ear one hot humid Austin night almost 30 years ago. Excruciating pain. Nothing I did would dislodge it; it would just burrow deeper.
Finally poured some rubbing alcohol in my ear and he fell out dead.
Probably not the best plan, but it worked.