painful popping ears

gubby

Thankfully,, (I suppose) I dont get to travel by plane very often but when I do ohmygod the pain of popping ears in terrible. it goes right down my neck behind my ears and last for days after. What I am wondering is. How come some people suffer a lot from this and others hardly notice it? and does anyone have any foolproof cure for this. I have tried earplugs and chewing etc but it still excruciating.

coylemj

gubby wrote: »

Thankfully,, (I suppose) I dont get to travel by plane very often but when I do ohmygod the pain of popping ears in terrible. it goes right down my neck behind my ears and last for days after. What I am wondering is. How come some people suffer a lot from this and others hardly notice it? and does anyone have any foolproof cure for this. I have tried earplugs and chewing etc but it still excruciating.

Have you tried travel ear plugs? Ordinary ear plugs like what you'd wear in bed or midflight to shut out noise will do nothing for you taking off and landing because they're not designed to deal with changes to air pressure.

This was discussed in a previous thread, here was my contribution......

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=80727090&postcount=4

seven_eleven

squeeze your nose so that you can breath through them, then try blow air out through your nose. Always works for me.

mikom

The old ear popping tricks that normal people tell you are not worth a fuck to those of us that really suffer with air cabin pressure and ascent/descent
I get the same sort of pain as you describe and to be honest I would be close to crying with it......... and I never normally cry.
Dose yourself with Sudafed before flying.
It seems if you have any little touch of sinus pressure or congestion then the pain is ramped up, so Sudafed helps to loosen things up a bit.

Oracle

Stop flying Ryanair. They're deadly for this, their pilots drop the plane like a stone.

westies4ever

Hold your nose and close your mouth. blow through your nose (while pinching it) and your ears will pop. do this every 30 seconds or so when ascending or descending. i suffered with the painful ears thing once on a flight and never again - its excruciating - chewing, ear plugs etc simply do not work.

Madam

I used to get this all the time - the pain would be so severe as to make me cry with it. The only tip I have that worked for me(from a pilot no less)was chewing gum and I'd tried everything before from all sorts of ear plugs(even those really expensive ones), no bother at all now and I wish I had tried it before!

coylemj

Have any of you people actually tried travel ear plugs? They do work and I should know, I had terrible trouble with air pressure but I now pop in travel ear plugs on the ground and there is no problem whatsoever, I don't have to hum a tune with my mount closed or swallow or hold my nose. I feel absolutely nothing in my ears and as soon as the seatbelt sign is switched off (meaning the plane has levelled off), you can take them out.

Pop them back in about 25 minutes before landing and they will do the biz at the end of the trip as well. Leave them in for the entire flight if you want to avoid damage to your eardrums in the event of sudden cabin de-pressurization.

Madam

coylemj wrote: »

Have any of you people actually tried travel ear plugs? They do work and I should know, I had terrible trouble with air pressure but I now pop in travel ear plugs on the ground and there is no problem whatsoever, I don't have to hum a tune with my mount closed or swallow or hold my nose. I feel absolutely nothing in my ears and as soon as the seatbelt sign is switched off (meaning the plane has levelled off), you can take them out.

Pop them back in about 25 minutes before landing and they will do the biz at the end of the trip as well. Leave them in for the entire flight if you want to avoid damage to your eardrums in the event of sudden cabin de-pressurization.

Oh I've tried those too and they do work but I'll stick to my gum chewing a lot less uncomfortable and a lot cheaper:)

Oh the only reason I don't like to use the earplugs - hate the earwax that comes away with them.

coylemj

Oracle wrote: »

Stop flying Ryanair. They're deadly for this, their pilots drop the plane like a stone.

The (negative) vertical speed during landing is nothing like the rate of climb when taking off so that just doesn't add up.

A commercial plane takes a matter of 10 minutes to climb to cruising altitude (say cross-channel) whereas descent to land takes the guts of 20 or 25 minutes.

Oracle

coylemj wrote: »

The (negative) vertical speed during landing is nothing like the rate of climb when taking off so that just doesn't add up.

A commercial plane takes a matter of 10 minutes to climb to cruising altitude (say cross-channel) whereas descent to land takes the guts of 20 or 25 minutes.

I'm not sure about your analysis. I can only go by my own experience. In the past I've had major ear problems during descent on Ryanair flights, because they descend too quickly. Although Ryanair have improved this in recent years and I've had no problems.

coylemj

Oracle wrote: »

I'm not sure about your analysis.

If you look out the window when taking off and landing it's pretty clear that you go up a lot faster than you come down.

People can handle positive 'g' forces better than negative 'g' forces. If they came down at the same rate as they go up, there would be a sensation of weightlessness and people would be throwing up all over the place. Light aircraft come down at a terrifying rate but commercial planes all do gradual descents.

username123

I suffer with my sinuses and find 2 solphasinus 20 minutes before take off (and landing if the flight is longer than 3 hours) do the trick.

My husband got a nasty ear infection on one holiday and the doctor prescribed some nose drops to take before the take off and landing - they were like super super sudafeds, he said he has never been able to whoosh so much air through his sinuses before!!

I must try the ear plugs - anyone got a link for them?

coylemj

username123 wrote: »

I must try the ear plugs - anyone got a link for them?

Boots stock them, about €6 for two pairs. You must ask for travel ear plugs.

This is what they look like, the ribbed design ensures that the ear canal is airtight so that air can only enter (when landing) and leave (taking off) via the tiny hole in the centre of the plugs, that happens very slowly which gives the inner ear time to adjust, hence no pain or discomfort.

meoklmrk91

I have suffered terribly for as long as I can remember, I even go almost completely deaf for atleast an hour after, usually it's a couple of days before I can hear right again.

All the usual stuff never worked for me, especially holding your nose and blowing, if you realised how much it hurts then you would never tell somebody who really suffers to do it, especially as it doesn't work, even a little.

The only thing that ever worked for me was a good pair of in ear headphones, the little bud ones. First time I brought my iPod on a plane I was listening to music and waiting for the pain and it never came, I had slight deafness but the difference was unbelievable.

username123

coylemj wrote: »

Boots stock them, about €6 for two pairs. You must ask for travel ear plugs.

This is what they look like, the ribbed design ensures that the ear canal is airtight so that air can only enter (when landing) and leave (taking off) via the tiny hole in the centre of the plugs, that happens very slowly which gives the inner ear time to adjust, hence no pain or discomfort.

Thank you, they look exactly like the ones I use to swim, except obviously the swim ones dont have a tiny hole in the centre.

Ill definitely try them next time.

westies4ever

meoklmrk91 wrote: »

All the usual stuff never worked for me, especially holding your nose and blowing, if you realised how much it hurts then you would never tell somebody who really suffers to do it, especially as it doesn't work, even a little.

I HAVE suffered with the pain - its excruciating (did you read my post??? - and I had the deafness after a flight as well. The holding your nose and blowing works for me. You do it as a preventative measure - BEFORE the pain starts - every 20-30 secs while ascending or descending preventing a build up of pressure. Its doesnt hurt at all that way and it works. I've been using the method for 20 years. Ear plugs didnt do a thing for me. Everyones different - horses for courses and all that.

Spanish Eyes

Get Otrivine nasal drops/spray, and use half an hour before take off. They are decongestant and are brill as they clear out the eustqchian tube , which if blocked causes the problem.

After putting the drops in do the hold your nose and blow thing, and your ears will stay popped for the flight. Use the earplugs as well.

I used to suffer badly, but doing the above has sorted it. Get the odd twinge if the descent is quick, but nothing like I had before.

Hope that helps.

gubby

Thanks so much to everyone for your replies. I am not great with earplugs but I will try anything. I was flying Air Lingus so its not Ryan air. I agree with meoklmrk91 I tried that holding nose and blowing and it was excruciating and did not help.
in any case with the way the finances are around here I don't expect I will be off on holidays for a few years at least and sure they make have an new invention for this by then.

faceman

There is an alternative and cheaper option. It may sound barmy but i promise it will work. Many years ago I had a sinus problem and my ears wouldnt pop on a plane, (particularly when landing) but a flight attendant on an Air France flight was able to help.

Basically ask them to steep some tissue paper in hot water (the water must be hot but obviously not boiling!) and to stuff the paper into the bottom of 2 paper cups. Place the paper cups over your ears when landing (and taking off if you have problems too) Dont take them off your ears until you land.

I think it works by create some kind of atmosphere vacuum, but Im no scientist!

If you tell the cabin crew they might already be aware of it as something that helps but if not just explain it to them. They're pretty understanding.

I know you might think I am making this up, but I had to use it on a number of flights and can swear by it!

coylemj

Never seen anyone ask for that solution and TBH I can't see the airlines encouraging it either. Imagine if even 5 people on a flight asked for it - two paper cups per passenger with paper serviettes at the bottom of each cup doused in hot water :eek:

I suspect the warm vapour from the hot water has the effect of lowering the air pressure in the ear, there's certainly no vacuum involved.

One pair of travel ear plugs costs about 2-3 euros and you are in full control of the situation, your solution requires co-operation from the cabin crew and I suspect your chances of getting it organised before take-off are nil.

antodeco

If I tried that cup method I would have to start quacking like a duck and rock back and forth in my seat!

Stinicker

I had this happen to me this year with Air Asia flying into Thailand and it was horrible, it hadn't happened to me in years since the very first time I flew Ryanair. Whatever it did made my ears sore for a day and again a few weeks later when I flew home again to Ireland with Emirates it happened again. I went to my GP as my ears felt like they were full of water and she looked in and said they were inflamed but it was nothing to worry about and it went away by itself after a few days. I was flying with a horrible cold and nasal congestion which I think caused it.

naughtysmurf

Can you get these travel earplugs for kids, our seven year old is the only one among us who suffers during take off / landing

faceman

coylemj wrote: »

Never seen anyone ask for that solution and TBH I can't see the airlines encouraging it either. Imagine if even 5 people on a flight asked for it - two paper cups per passenger with paper serviettes at the bottom of each cup doused in hot water :eek:

I was never refused

Never tried it on Ryanair though.

coylemj

faceman wrote: »

I was never refused

Never tried it on Ryanair though.

Cups: €2 each
Paper Napkins: €1 each
Hot water: €2 per cup

irishgeo

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

Get Otrivine nasal drops/spray, and use half an hour before take off. They are decongestant and are brill as they clear out the eustqchian tube , which if blocked causes the problem.

After putting the drops in do the hold your nose and blow thing, and your ears will stay popped for the flight. Use the earplugs as well.

I used to suffer badly, but doing the above has sorted it. Get the odd twinge if the descent is quick, but nothing like I had before.

Hope that helps.

I use that spray and its great sorted out my problem and even recommended it to guy at work.he was delighted with it. i start the drops a few days before i travel.

i used to get the pain so bad it used to across the top of my eyelash and i could not bear too touch it. I hate it when only one ears pops.

sallymomo

faceman wrote: »

There is an alternative and cheaper option. It may sound barmy but i promise it will work. Many years ago I had a sinus problem and my ears wouldnt pop on a plane, (particularly when landing) but a flight attendant on an Air France flight was able to help.

Basically ask them to steep some tissue paper in hot water (the water must be hot but obviously not boiling!) and to stuff the paper into the bottom of 2 paper cups. Place the paper cups over your ears when landing (and taking off if you have problems too) Dont take them off your ears until you land.

I think it works by create some kind of atmosphere vacuum, but Im no scientist!

If you tell the cabin crew they might already be aware of it as something that helps but if not just explain it to them. They're pretty understanding.

I know you might think I am making this up, but I had to use it on a number of flights and can swear by it!

I can completely back this up!! I do get blocked up on planes and chew gum, blow nose etc these days which helps. I suffered extremely badly, once, on a flight about 12 years ago to Copenhagen. The pain was immense and i was close to tears..(bad when you're surrounded by your own football team!) Anyway, I mentioned it to the SAS air hostess and a few mins later she came back with two cups and wet tissue. She put the tissue at the end of the cups and told me to put over my ears. I thought one of the lads had put her up to it but by god it worked! Pain eased quick enough and I was happy out. I felt like a complete tool sitting there with two cups on my ears but the embarrassment went when the pain eased

Still no idea how it works

L'prof

Does yawning work for anyone else? I remember my first flight and I didn't have a clue what was going on, very painful and I could bairly hear a thing when I got off. Now I find that yawning a few times while taking off and landing relieves the pressure completely.

username123

L'prof wrote: »

Does yawning work for anyone else? I remember my first flight and I didn't have a clue what was going on, very painful and I could bairly hear a thing when I got off. Now I find that yawning a few times while taking off and landing relieves the pressure completely.

Yawning is the same as holding your nose and blowing, swallowing etc... For people with no sinus issues or with eustachian tubes that can clear easily, all the ordinary stuff works.

For those of us who have problems clearing the eustachian tubes, or have any inflammation or irritation or issues with the sinuses its a totally different ballgame. I have flown and been unable to pop my ears and that night at home in bed being awoken by horrific sharp pain in the inner ear and a loud squelch sound - the doctor told me Id busted an eardrum from the pressure and my bodies inability to handle the pressure change.

I would imagine that people like me or the OP with problems with the ears and flying also have problems with the pressure change for diving too? Ive never tried it myself, I know I wouldnt be able to pop my ears.

coylemj

username123 wrote: »

I would imagine that people like me or the OP with problems with the ears and flying also have problems with the pressure change for diving too? Ive never tried it myself, I know I wouldnt be able to pop my ears.

You're dead right there. The air pressure in a plane stabilises to the equivalent of atmospheric pressure at about 5,000 feet so no matter how high it climbs, the pressure never goes below a certain level but if you go scuba diving, the pressure level increases in direct proportion to the depth.

At a depth of ten feet the pressure on the body is double that at the surface because a column of water 10 feet high exerts the same pressure per sq. cm. as air does at sea level. Go down to 20 feet and the overall pressure is 3X atmospheric pressure so if you couldn't equalize the pressure in your inner ear you'd have a serious problem.

You'd also need to avoid travelling in a fast elevator to the observation deck of a skyscraper.

InTheTrees

Very few mentions of nasal congestion. If you have a cold or are in the slightest bit stuffed up it'll make it 10000% worse.

Be careful with the decongestant sprays too because they can make you more sniffly if you use too much.

username123

InTheTrees wrote: »

Very few mentions of nasal congestion.

I thought I covered that when I said any inflammation or irritation or issues with the sinuses!?

A permanent state of affairs for me.

Solair

This is what works for me:

1 hour before the flight - take flixonase nasal spray.
Chew copious quantities of gum during the flight.
Olbus oil chewable pastels are great too!

If it's a really bad, on-going problem, I would suggest that you make an appointment with an ENT specialist.
The pressure changes in a normal flight shouldn't really be significant enough to hurt your ears that badly.

username123

Solair wrote: »

If it's a really bad, on-going problem, I would suggest that you make an appointment with an ENT specialist.
The pressure changes in a normal flight shouldn't really be significant enough to hurt your ears that badly.

My ENT just shakes his head sadly at me

tatli_lokma

meoklmrk91 wrote: »

IAll the usual stuff never worked for me, especially holding your nose and blowing, if you realised how much it hurts then you would never tell somebody who really suffers to do it, especially as it doesn't work, even a little.

westies4ever wrote: »

The holding your nose and blowing works for me. You do it as a preventative measure - BEFORE the pain starts - every 20-30 secs while ascending or descending preventing a build up of pressure.

username123 wrote: »

For those of us who have problems clearing the eustachian tubes, or have any inflammation or irritation or issues with the sinuses its a totally different ballgame. I have flown and been unable to pop my ears and that night at home in bed being awoken by horrific sharp pain in the inner ear and a loud squelch sound - the doctor told me Id busted an eardrum from the pressure and my bodies inability to handle the pressure change.

Folks as a long time sufferer of sinus and ear pressure problems I feel it necessary to point out that the holding your nose and blowing does work for some, but if the pressure is already high, you do run the risk of perforating an eardrum. For me sadly it is a normal everyday occurrance to have intense pressure and I have had my eardrum perforated more times than I can count, but as a result my ear drums are kind of elastic. But for some people if you pop your ears too vigourously or too much in too short a space of time then you could end up with a burst ear drum and on a plane with increased pressure this can end up in inner ear fluid leaking from the ear and by the time you get to your destination you will have a nasty ear infection.

If you suffer only on planes, then I recommend a good nasal spray such as otrivine, decent decongestants taken 1 hour before take off (and again 1 hour before landing if the flight is over 2 hours long), drink plenty of fluids (so you will swollow plenty), and an antihistamine. If you have a blocked nose or sinuses prior to flying then even a visit to a GP might be worthwhile and get a decongestant spray with a steroid in such as nasonex.

InTheTrees

username123 wrote: »

I thought I covered that when I said any inflammation or irritation or issues with the sinuses!?

A permanent state of affairs for me.

Ow.

tatli_lokma

I think posting on this thread has jinxed me - supposed to be flying next Wednesday and since I posted here I have developed a pain in my ear canal on the right and my left is totally blocked, as are my nasal sinuses and the ear won't pop.

Right ear already has a perforated eardrum so highly likely that that one won't pain me but the pressure will cause the fluid to escape and then because planes are horrible germ incubators I'll end up with a gross infection. As for the left, well since its not popping at normal altitude I may just accept the fact that my head may well burst like a balloon at 5,000 feet!

oh the joys! Think yourself lucky if all you experience is trouble 'popping' your ears. What I wouldn't give for that!

Lapin

westies4ever wrote: »

Hold your nose and close your mouth. blow through your nose (while pinching it) and your ears will pop. do this every 30 seconds or so when ascending or descending. i suffered with the painful ears thing once on a flight and never again - its excruciating - chewing, ear plugs etc simply do not work.

This is not recommended as it can cause lasting damage to the inner ear.

tatli_lokma

Lapin wrote: »

This is not recommended as it can cause lasting damage to the inner ear.

Well it depends on who you talk to...one ENT told me DO NOT DO IT cos it causes the ear drum to become flaccid. Another told me to take my nasal spray 3 times a day and after each dose to pop my ears 10 times quickly in a row. A third ENT told me that it was absolutely imperative that pop my ears when on a flight as the increase in pressure could cause an ear drum perforation, and so I must pop my ears every 10 mins on the flight to avoid this. An audiologist told me that to do it occasionally was okay, but not to do it regularly or to force it too much.
My current ENT guy says that my ear drums are so damaged anyway, if it gives relief work away. Due to the perforated ear drum at present I can play an impressive little tune out of the right one if I do it!

InTheTrees

I've heard that the new Boeing (dreamliner? 787?) is built of such high tech materials that the internal pressurization is so efficient and unintrusive that you barely feel it.