Painful ears when flying, any tips?

You're probably suffering the effects of pressurization and change in altitude.

Try these:

1) Chew gum or suck on a hard candy during ascent and descent.

2) If you feel your ears are plugged up, hold your nose and blow lightly. It sounds silly but it should clear up the pressure in your ear.

Another trick: try tapping the skin immediately behind and under your ear. This can help open your internal auditory canal (but may not...)

Yawning is the easiest way for myself to pop my ears.

Hi guys me again,

Thanks, I think it's a case of nothing I do will make my ears pop until days later.
I'm fine on ascent, its when I get to a certain altitude, like way above the clouds that it becomes unbearable, I'm wondering is there anything I could get off my doc?

Buy some safety ear covers like people wear on a shooting range or airmen wear on a flight deck. These can be found at sporting goods stores in the U.S.A., but may be harder to find in Ireland. Some radio headsets can also be tight enough over the ears to keep the noise out.

I would talk to your doctor about this. The problem is that your Eustachian tube, which runs from the throat to the middle ear, isn't opening to equalize the air pressure....something usually called Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. Doctors can recommend or prescribe some sort of antihistamine or steroid nasal spray, or a decongestant of some sort, to try to alleviate this problem.

Thanks for taking time to reply,I have tried the usual sucking sweets, yawning etc, so might consult my G.P
Thanks again guys.

I've never tried them, but there is a product called "Earplanes" that's supposed to help with this problem:

http://www.cirrushealthcare.com/EarPlanes-C8.aspx

They're probably available in Ireland.

Something to try, but kinda hard to explain...I usually push my lower jaw outwards and breathe out through my mouth at the same time. If you feel your ears "click," then you've heard the Eustachian tube opening and closing to equalize the air pressure. But in your case, a visit to the doctor would still be advisable. Try to consult an ear/nose/throat specialist if possible. In some cases, the problem can be caused by Temporo-Mandibular joint issues...that's where your lower jaw hinges on the skull, which happens to be just in front of and a little below your ear. Sometimes, stress or teeth grinding can cause a tightening in that area, leading to Eustachian tube problems.

Earplanes do help. There are other brands too. They help to equalize pressure.

I also have had the same excrutiating pain as you describe;however, my pain didn't last the entire flight. I used Earplanes on my last flight, also I held my nose and blew as someone else suggested. I'm not sure which method prevented the pain...maybe a combination of the two, but I was determined not to suffer from this anymore. The decongestants also help with this.

Thank you all so much I'm going to try the earplanes, and maybe the decongestant. I'm not going away with my husband and children till June , but already I can 'feel' the pain, so hopefully all your helpful tips might work.thanks again..

Earplanes! I use them all the time and they are great. They have little ceramic balls inside that move back and forth to equalize the pressure. I recommend them to everyone.

Thanks to all who wrote about earplanes. I just got back from a flight and my right ear is still aching. I am going to look into them for my next flight. It seems I have trouble whenever I have a sinus problem. Thanks Ellen for asking this question.

The previously mentioned methods of holding your nose and blowing out through your nose and shifting your jaw accomplish the same thing. As Norm mentioned, it equalizes the pressure in your Eustachian tube and the outside air. Scuba divers use these techniques since divers encounter the same issue with air pressure. The key to using these techniques is to do them AS SOON as you start to feel the pressure. If you wait until the pressure gets painful, it's too late. I hold my nose and blow a minimum of 10 times during each ascent and descent.

Also, as previously mentioned, consult with a specialist. I slightly injured my right ear diving in cold water 20 years ago and to this day, that ear causes 90% of my problems on a flight. You could very well have a physical issue that prevents you from equalizing.

I got the following advice from a friend who flew with a cold - I have followed it for the past 15 years with no ear problems. (1) About 20 minutes before the flight, take a pseudoephedrine pill [Sudafed or generic, now behind the counter]. (2) As the plane is taxiing for takeoff, sniff a Vicks inhaler tube [little thing, looks like a chapstick]. I can feel the cold air whooshing through my eustachian tubes! If my ears are trying to stop up during descent, I sniff the inhaler again. I used to have lots of ear problems when flying, and the swallowing-drinking-gum chewing never really did it for me. Good luck!

I have had severe ear problems when flying for many years. The last time I had a problem (about 10 years ago) my ENT recommended a product known as "Ear Planes". They are like a special ear plug made originally for the Air Force. You can buy them at most large drug stores in the US (CVS, Walgreens, etc). I never leave home without them (and a few extra pairs just in case). They are approx. $5. per pair. CVS now sells a similar product under their brand name. The last time I had my ear drums treated by my ENT he told me I couldn't have that done again without permanent damage to the drum, so I was forced to buy the ear planes. They work wonderfully and I have never had another problem. One other trick, which I learned from a flight attendant---get some hot water, use a washcloth and place the hot washcloth next to your ear. It works well, too, but not as well as the ear planes.

Definately see your Doc. No one should experience the excrutiating pain which you describe. Something could be wrong. Maybe you might see an ENT Specialist. That might be a more lasting solution to the problem.

I don't think safety ear covers like for a shooting range are the answer. Never seen that, YET! It would impair your ability to hear the Crew in an Emergency and that could cause a real problem. You would be asked to remove them, especially during take-off and landing. Sorry...Nice try though.

Earplanes don't inhibit your ability to hear, at least not much. They aren't designed to block noise, only to equalize pressure.

Ellen,

Here's what they taught us in flight school:

First, is the pain in your ear or sinus? Many mistake sinus pain for ear pressure. If it above your teeth, in your cheeks or forehead it's sinus. Sinus comes from trapped air behind a blockage expanding as you ascend. It can be very painful. Being fully hydrated helps. Two good ways to relieve sinus pressure - gargle warm salt water and take pseudophed. Both reduce congestion and allow trapped air to escape. If it's above your teeth, it may take a trip to the dentist to cure.

If it's in your ear, are you ascending or descending? If you are ascending you need to get trapped air out of your inner ear. If it's congestion related gargle salt water or take psuedophed to reduce congestion and allow air to pass through your eustacian tubes. Also chewing gum helps. Extending your head/neck so you "stretch" the effected ear then dropping your jaw and moving it right and left can also work.

If you are descending, it's the opposite. You need to force air into your inner ear. Again chewing gum and stretching your eustacian tubes/moving your jaw helps. Plugging your nose a doing a quick sneezelike blow (not out your mouth but into your plugged nose) will also send air into your middle ear. Think of when you are stuffed up and blowing your nose makes your ears pop.

Being fully hydrated always helps, as you dehydrate mucous gets thicker and is more likely to cause blockage/trapped air.

I hope this helps you. The worst for me was when I first had to fly on oxygen. Your body absorbs the pure oxygen in your inner ear and creates some horrific vacuums. I would sometimes wake up in the middle of the night with a pop that felt like my eardrum was ripping. Of course, I didn't tell anyone because I didn't want to get kicked out. For some reason I got used to it over time and it didn't bother me any more.