A short while ago, I discovered a small pimple behind my right earlobe. After a few days, the whole area become inflamed and the swelling pushed my ear out so that I resembled at least half a bat. It was quite painful, so I assumed that there was some kind of infection.

I went to a polyclinic here in moscow, and the doctor asked me if I had been fighting recently, as this kind of injury was common among boxers who had been smacked in the ear. I told her no, but she didn't really believe me, so I was labelled some kind of pugilist-in-denial.

Anyway, I was referred to a physiotherapist and given no antibiotics, but rather a five session course of either ultrasound or microwave treatment (i couldn't get a clear answer on that one as my medical russian is not so good), in which my earlobe was clamped in an electronic device for ten minutes a day for five days. It got a bit hot, but the treatment worked perfectly and my ear chilled out and returned to its normal position.

Does anyone have an idea about the mechanism of this treatment? It seemed to be completely routine for them, but I have never heard of anything like it.