Severe Ear Pain during Flight - Scared of Flying

honest-gary on 14/02/2025 - 08:23
Last edited 14/02/2025 - 10:15 by 1 other user

Hi, my brother in law recently came to Australia for first time. He had severe ear pain during all three flights that lasted as long as plane was descending.

He took Panadol etc , did those manoeuvres (hold nose with fingers and blow) but nothing helped. Even after one week he is experiencing ear pain. We took him to GP and GP said there is lot of fluid and asked us to take Zyrtec and gave referral for a nasal spray.

My question is how can he manage this in future flights? Are there any devices or plugs that can help balance the pressure? I also sometimes will get ear pain but that only lasts for few seconds, during descent, but he said he was just holding his ears and in pain the whole duration of flight descent and ascent on all three flights.

Thanks all.

Health & Beauty

Comments

Master Bates on 14/02/2025 - 08:31

+5
Lazy copy pasta from the chatty GPT:

If you’re struggling to equalize ear pressure on a plane and the usual methods (swallowing, drinking, holding your nose and blowing) aren’t working, try these:

Try the Toynbee Maneuver
• Pinch your nose and swallow at the same time.
• This can be more effective than the Valsalva maneuver (blowing while pinching your nose).

Use the Frenzel Maneuver
• Pinch your nose and make a “K” sound (as if saying “kick”).
• This moves the back of your tongue to push air into the Eustachian tubes.

Chewing Gum or Sucking on a Candy
• Encourages constant swallowing, which helps open the Eustachian tubes.

Yawning or Jaw Movements
• Exaggerate a yawn or move your jaw side to side to help open the tubes.

Steam or a Hot Drink
• If you can, drink something warm or inhale steam to loosen congestion.

Decongestants or Nasal Sprays (Before Flying)
• If you have allergies or a cold, using a nasal decongestant (like oxymetazoline or pseudoephedrine) 30 minutes before takeoff and landing can help reduce swelling in the Eustachian tubes.

EarPlanes (Filtered Earplugs)
• Special earplugs that regulate pressure changes gradually.

Try the Low-Pressure Descent Technique
• If you’re still in the air, ask the flight attendant if the pilot can request a slower descent, which helps ears adjust more gradually.

If none of these work and you still have ear pain or blockage for more than a few days after flying, it might be barotrauma, and you should see a doctor.
- Master Bates on 14/02/2025 - 08:33
  
  +2
  
  Barotrauma:
  
  Barotrauma is an injury caused by pressure changes, typically affecting air-filled spaces in the body like the ears, sinuses, and lungs. It happens when the pressure inside these spaces doesn’t equalize with the surrounding environment, leading to discomfort or damage.
  
  Ear Barotrauma (Most Common in Flying & Diving)
  
  When your Eustachian tubes (which connect your middle ear to the back of your throat) can’t open properly, the pressure difference causes:
  • Mild cases: Muffled hearing, discomfort, or a feeling of fullness.
  • Moderate cases: Sharp pain, dizziness, or ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
  • Severe cases: Eardrum rupture, hearing loss, or fluid buildup behind the eardrum.
  
  Other Types of Barotrauma
  • Sinus Barotrauma: Pain or pressure in the forehead, cheeks, or behind the eyes due to blocked sinuses.
  • Pulmonary Barotrauma: More serious, happens in divers or people on ventilators when air pressure in the lungs is not balanced, possibly leading to lung collapse (pneumothorax).
  
  Treatment & Prevention
  • For mild ear barotrauma, symptoms usually go away on their own. Chewing gum, yawning, or nasal decongestants can help.
  • If symptoms last more than a few days, or there’s severe pain, dizziness, or hearing loss, see a doctor.
  • In severe cases (like eardrum rupture), medical treatment may be needed, but most eardrums heal on their own in a few weeks.
  
  If you’re prone to it, using decongestants or special earplugs (like EarPlanes) before flying can help prevent issues.
  - Master Bates on 14/02/2025 - 08:35
    
    +1
    
    I have no experience with them, but here’s an example of Earplanes
- HeWhoKnows on 15/02/2025 - 07:54
  
  -4
  
  Excellent 5 seconds of reseach!
  
  Just demonstrates how many people here are SO LAZY!
  They want us to do thier research.
  
  My standard answer for such requests for information is to ASK GOOGLE!
  - Master Bates on 15/02/2025 - 09:58
    
    +1
    
    Posting the results took longer than the search itself, but sharing the information directly was more helpful than just telling people to look it up, despite some objections to my post.
    
    It’s unclear why people prefer advice from random strangers over a tool that provides factual search results.
Yummy on 14/02/2025 - 08:31

+2

Swallow hard, every 5 min.
- Protractor on 14/02/2025 - 10:01
  
  +3
  
  You've described 99% of X users
  - Yummy on 14/02/2025 - 10:38
    
    The other 1% must be condoms muncher.
honest-gary on 14/02/2025 - 08:44

alright thanks all for these recommendations. I have passed this on to my brother. Those Earplanes from CWH looks promising as well.
npc on 14/02/2025 - 08:45

+2

I had exactly the same problem - terrible pain! After several attempts I have found a solution that works super reliably! You'll need a decongestant, e.g. something with Phenylephrine as the main ingredient, could be a tablet or a nasal spray, use it approx. 20 mins before landing.

I have nyal spray in the pocket each time I'm on a plane…
- AlbiesDad on 20/02/2025 - 14:12
  
  +2
  
  I'd recommend Pseudoephedrine as main ingredient (e.g. Sudafed Original, not Sudafed PE), which is only available from behind the counter by providing ID. Phenylephrine is no better than placebo.
  - npc on 20/02/2025 - 14:22
    
    Yep, pseudoephedrine is definitely much stronger. I had success with sudafed pe and didn't need to complicate it.
boomramada on 14/02/2025 - 08:46

+5

Sometimes you get that when you have a cold or flu or blocked nose. Better check with a GP or ENT than Ozb :)
GordonD on 14/02/2025 - 08:47

+4

If there's one thing crazier than looking for legal advice from a bunch of randoms on a bargain web site, it has to be seeking medical advice. This is OzBargain … what does the OP want, the cheapest way of doing it?
- brad1-8tsi on 14/02/2025 - 09:10
  
  Not sure why you are getting negs. Couldn't agree with u more.
  - boomramada on 14/02/2025 - 09:58
    
    +1
    
    negs = you telling the truth and I can't handle it any more!
- beltdrive on 14/02/2025 - 09:53
  
  Agreed. Guy needs to go to a GP, and then will likely get a referral to an ENT clinic.
  - coffeeinmyveins on 14/02/2025 - 09:54
    
    +1
    
    they did to go a GP and didn't like the answer lol
- Protractor on 14/02/2025 - 10:02
  
  -1
  
  I agree the OP's brother is in need of a boiling water jalapeno butt flush.That's my professional advice.
- Baysew on 14/02/2025 - 10:20
  
  +1
  
  It is not crazy to seek legal or medical advice on OzBargain, what might be crazy would be to act on some of it.
  
  OP is just looking for shared experiences.
Pufff on 14/02/2025 - 08:58

+3

He may have had a pre-existing condition that was exacerbated by the flight. As a general rule you should not hold the nose and blow hard as it could burst the ear drums.
Some have said swallowing can help. Another method he can try is by lowering the jaw and moving it several times side ways left right. Was taught this by a scuba diving instructor.
valleyrain on 14/02/2025 - 09:08

-1

Getting the ears cleaned by a GP might help. They might have earwax, which could make it worse.
- coffeeinmyveins on 14/02/2025 - 09:54
  
  -1
  
  did you read the post. that was my first thought too, until i read what they said.
  - valleyrain on 14/02/2025 - 09:58
    
    +1
    
    The post doesn't confirm if the OP had or didn't have earwax.
    
    gp said there is lot of fluid
    
    What is this fluid?
    
    Also, generally it's good to clean your ears if you have a buildup of earwax.
- Pelicannn on 14/02/2025 - 14:59
  
  +1
  
  If this was indeed a barotrauma, any amount of earwax on the outside of the drum would have had zero effect or causation.
Protractor on 14/02/2025 - 09:59

+1

Dr Rudy here.

Protractor on 14/02/2025 - 09:59 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
- boomramada on 14/02/2025 - 10:31
  
  +1
  
  OP wasn't after a Dr.
  - Protractor on 14/02/2025 - 10:35
    
    I have a Doctorate in validation and confirmation bias. AMA (all consults are considered long consults,no bulk billing)
    - boomramada on 14/02/2025 - 10:39
      
      Severe Ear Pain during Flight - Scared of Flying
      
      Maybe, OP's brother in law don't want to return back to where he came from ?
      - Protractor on 14/02/2025 - 10:46
        
        @boomramada: DIY raft to Guantanamo? I hear there's vacancies. Maybe even gainful employment building big walls.
Duckie2hh on 14/02/2025 - 10:20

+1

Just eat food during descent. The chewing and swallowing helps. #solved.
ForkSnorter on 14/02/2025 - 10:25

I've only had this happen once. I just put up with the pain. But I know someone who can't fly because it happens every time.
morse on 14/02/2025 - 10:52

+1

The only thing to add would be if he has chronic glue ear or frequent ear infections or is looking to fly regularly, he could look into grommet surgery. It's more commonly done in children but can be an option for adults if other strategies don't work.
scrimshaw on 14/02/2025 - 11:12

There is a device called an otovent which apparently helps to equalize the pressure in your ears when you fly. It's also used to treat glue ear.

https://otovent.com/adults/

It's sold at various chemists for less than $29. e.g

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/355545712700
https://www.yourdiscountchemist.com.au/otovent-ear-nose-thro…
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/316229242858?

For people with this issue it's very likely they have an eustachian tube dysfunction. If it's chronic, and if they want to get rid of the issue permanently they might need surgery to correct it.
- Sammy2000 on 14/02/2025 - 22:44
  
  Ozbargain way would be to find a regular balloon.
Ocker on 14/02/2025 - 12:08

Hold a little paper cup over each ear when starting to descend. This will equalise the air pressure.
Pelicannn on 14/02/2025 - 14:02

+3

What you’ve described is a barotrauma. My own experience is very common with these in my job. I’ve unfortunately had 3 bad ones in my life.

Root cause is a blockage in the eustachian tube. This tube connects your inner ear, with the back of your throat. When you get a cold, your tonsils, sinus etc become swollen and blocked. This blocks the tube from allowing air to pass freely between the inner ear (behind the ear drum) and the atmosphere.

Pain only occurs on descent because as we go up in the atmosphere, air located inside the ear drum expands and vents out the tube. You don’t notice this too much. This then leaves a lower pressure inside the ear drum against the tube, which effectively ‘sucks’ it closed. Combine this with localised swelling from a cold (even minor) and you have a problem.

As you descend in the aircraft, external atmospheric pressure builds and now you’ve got an area of low pressure (inner ear) and an area of high pressure (outer ear) being separated only by the ear drum. It’s this pushing of the high pressure trying to move to low pressure that causes the pain.

Fixes have been mentioned above, but it will not always work. The best method from my experience is, as soon as the aircraft starts descending, start popping your ears or lightly conducting the valsalva manoeuvre (pinch nose and lightly squeeze a small amount of air). Doing this at top of descent minimises the pressure differential that is being experienced locally at the closed eustachion tube opening and inner ear. The longer you leave it, the harder it will be to get air in there after the fact.

Other methods include opening and closing or moving your jaw from left to right, or using a decongestant prior to top of descent.

If you are experiencing pain, let cabin crew know. The pilots can (and usually will) adjust descent rates to a slower rate. This will allow you more time to continue to ‘equalise’ the pressure. For what it’s worth, I’ve had to blow what I thought was pretty significant to unblock sometimes and I’ve never blown an eardrum doing it, though it has made me nervous. Not to mention, the pain IS from differential pressure. If you burst the drum, pain will disappear almost immediately but you run the risk of infection etc.

Now onto prevention - I ended up having a lot of surgery to prevent sickness - RIT, tonsillectomy, uvulectomy, septoplasty etc. because unfortunately for me, my eustachion tubes would block as a first symptom of a cold, not a runny nose or cough so I would regularly go flying without even knowing what was about to occur. After surgery I get significantly less colds (maybe once every 18 months) and when I do, without the stuff all through the nose and mouth, my airways remain relatively unswollen.

Other prevention methods include aircraft type. Cabin pressures vary across different aircraft. For example, a 787 cabin altitude is around the 6,000ft mark. Older airliners can be upwards of 8,000 to 9,000ft. The higher the final pressure altitude (note different to cruise altitude) the higher the differential pressure will be when you come back down.

Take a decongestant with you. A doctor should be able to prescribe a fast acting one meant for the job. I have one that I carry in my helmet bag in the cockpit.

Finally, bulletproof fix - If you ever have a cold, my recommendation as much as it might be expensive, is to not go flying and see if you can delay flights a week. Travel insurance would cover your inability to fly with blocked tubes with a medical cert anyway.
Sweet3st on 14/02/2025 - 17:35

+1

I regularly have pain on descent, it's scary and planes are stressful anyway. Earplanes and similar equalising earplugs work for me. I use Ear Jobs from Amazon. You still have to pay attention and keep popping your ears. I hate flying for this reason!
Love a bargain on 14/02/2025 - 20:26

That reminds me of a personal experience. I'm normally fine with flights but once upon a time, i was travelling while I had a cold & man, no amount of yawning or blowing could take away that pain in flight & it wouldn't go away for weeks after that flight - not fun!

So I guess my suggestion would be to fix the underlying issue that's causing the build-up of fluid in his ears and he should feel heaps better. & of course bring plenty of chewing gum with him just in case and start popping those earrings early.
Ughhh on 14/02/2025 - 20:57

+1

Suck on a lolly or chew on a gum usually helps.
viTRifY13 on 14/02/2025 - 21:03

+2

Experience this quite a bit and none of the methods above worked for me. Took me many years to figure out the best "trick" and it takes a bit of technique to do it correctly. Need to plug nose and you will blow (pressurize the nasal cavity) - but not yet! Doing that will do nothing. The trick is to take a deep breathe, extend your lower jaw all the way forward (bottom teeth way in front of the top teeth), tilt your head to your shoulder (ear almost touching shoulder) and then blow / pressurize your nasal cavity. This should work for the ear up in the air. Now do the same thing but on the other ear. Keep doing this every time you start feeling pressure from the ascent / descent
Andrew0415 on 15/02/2025 - 11:29

I suffered from the exact same thing. I have a deviated septum and an ear injury from when I was a child and I thought my head was going to explode. It was excruciating. It was so bad my ear eventually started bleeding from the pressure.

The thing that has helped me on subsequent flights is making sure I'm really diligent about equalising the pressure as the plane is taking off and ascending by regularly pinching my nose and blowing air into my sinus. Also opening your jaw as wide as possible. Do that at least once a minute until you reach altitude. Same applies on the descent to landing.

Severe Ear Pain during Flight - Scared of Flying

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