Recovery time for most patients is about 4 months. During this time many people will experience nighttime pain, stiffness, popping, catching, and feelings of tightness. All of that is normal! In fact, most people continue to experience symptoms for up to a year from the time of surgery.
Normal appearance of the tympanic membrane. (Figures 1, 2, and 3 courtesy of Janet Griffin, MD, Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron, Ohio.) Acute otitis media with effusion. The tympanic membrane is injected but landmarks are still clearly visualized. Acute otitis media. The tympanic membrane is bulging and hyperemic, and yellow purulent fluid is seen in the middle ear space.
Answer Wiki. Tympanic membrane (ear drum for the laymen) has an amazing ability to heal itself in healthy ears. If the perforation (hole) was traumatic, say someone got slapped on the side of face which resulted in the perforation, the ear drum will heal within few weeks provided that no further insults to the affected ear occur.