Have had a bad cold for a couple of days, and when trying to equalize
middle/inner ear pressure, i got a severe overpressure for about a minute.
I would bet my last dollar on the fact that you're trying to equalize in the wrong direction!!
Don't forget, I'm a pilot not a doctor...but I've had years of getting round blocked ears, often where there is no medical help.
Any feeling unwell, or throbbing etc., get to that doctor - pronto.
During an infection, it's often difficult to know which way the drum is being pressed. If you're not flying, atmospheric pressure changes alone will alter things daily. It's probably safest to
assume a buildup of pressure and SNIFF like hell a few times. Gentle blowing with the nose blocked should then undo the sniffing...
but the last thing you want to do is pressurize the inner ear to an uncomfortable level.
If you sniff hard, then apply saline solution into your nasal cavity, (search my things on salt.) you should get a minute amount going into the eustation tube.
Repeat this, always being cautious about over pressuring.
Eustation Tube Symptoms, Treatments and Resources - MedHelp
By the way, my tinnitus ALWAYS gets louder when I catch a virus. It is just like a warning signal, and increases before any other symptoms occur.