If you have a "thick" sensation in the ear, I've had that and my mother too. We suspect it is a swelling of the inner parts of the ear that connects to the throat. Just as in your case, there were no visible reasons when the doc poked at the ear with his light-thingy.
It does disappear, but apparently can take up to two weeks. I got temporary relief by doing the pressurisation trick. I tried anti-swelling drugs but don't remember if they worked or not.