Blocked ears caused by pressure change

[BHX86]

Just your views guys and girls on how you deal with blocked ears caused by pressure change. I tend to get it and it can become really painful. I have been told that 'pinch noce and blow' is the best method to deal with it.

Has anybody else got any suggestions.

[low n' slow]

From what I understand, blocked ears are a result of having the eustachian tube blocked and thus the middle ear cannot equalize the pressure.
Pinching the nose and blowing is one way of dealing with it, but it can be painful and I also find it very uncomfortable. If you try to lean your head backwards and away from the side that is blocked, you can straighten up the tube and by a yawning motion with the jaw, you can create a free passage through the tube. If the blockage is only minor, sometimes it's enough to just tension the muscles in the back of the tongue a little bit and this will have the same effect.

This isn't a very scientific explanation, but I've had a lot of problems with my throat lately which in turn produces ear problems. Hope it was helpful!

/LnS

[Rxlc]

an otologist told me once to chew always some gum, at take off, to air the cavities n make it circulate through. i took his advice and as a pax ive had no problems.. ill see soon as a crew.

[Mark_Space]

For some reason, I have had this problem from my earliest days flying. My suggestion:

1. Pinch nose;

2. Plug one ear with a finger and gently blow; and

3. Switch ears and repeat.

Works for me every time, although I have garnered my fair share of odd looks...

[pilotmike]

Be very careful pinching the nose and blowing.

This pressurises the eardrum outwards, which is fine to equalise an increasing pressure during descent.

But if tried during the climb, when the discomfort is due to the reducing pressure, this seriously risks perforating the eardrum, which is already curving outwards under pressure. This, I can assure you, would teach you exactly what SERIOUS pain is, and you'd wonder why you considered the 'pressure discomfort' painful!

Generally, ears will 'self pop' on the way up, and should only need 'help' during descent. If any ear needs help during the climb, think very seriousy before 'helping' it, as it is a seriously bad omen for the way down! In these circumstances, I would seriously consider leaving well alone for the duration of the flight, accepting the discomfort, knowing that the descent will cure the pressure imbalance, and hence the discomfort.

PM

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

My wife has suffered with ear problems during descent all her life. One of my AME's suggested using nasal decongestant drops at top of descent and although that helps, it doesn't fix it. After many years to trying "remedies" she now uses a well-known type of ear-plug which is readily obtainable from pilots' shops and duty-free pharmacies. She still gets slight problems, but doesn't bang her head against the seat in front with pain..

[Atishoo]

I burst an eardrum once when we had a take off then a landing 15 mins later then taking off again, i had, had a bit of a cold too. the pain before the drum burst was excruciating, but oddly enough after it burst the pressure was released and the pain wasnt so bad. It bled, and i was deaf for a month and ENT hospital gave me a hearing aid that whistled so i gave up on that as everyone was taking the P*** out of me !!

Seriously though now i ALWAYS use those earlplane plug thingies, they are brilliant, ive never had any pain since, and i use them on my kids, who tend to suffer more than adults, and they havent had any probs either. Try those, they might help. Good luck

[Atishoo]

And a Pilot once told me , he uses them a lot too, so they must be ok :D:ok:

[AR1]

I used to suffer chronically with it in my 20's. I was in a C-141 which dropped some USNavy seals and then descended from 10,000 ft plus, to bugger all in a matter of seconds, I was contorted in pain, there was a huge bang in my left ear , even more pain and deafness. My hearing gradually recovered over a couple of weeks and I haven't suffered since.

Not a recommended solution though. Regular flights seem to be the key.

[Pandora's Box]

I was always told that if your ears hurt then you have blocked sinuses. I usually find Sudafed is very good for this or Otrivine nasal spray.

Be very careful flying with a heavy cold though, I once flew a 2 sector day with a heavy cold, nearly burst my eardrums and was signed off for a week.

Now if i have a bad cold, i wont fly as i aint risky it :=

[Chronistin]

Not Crew, sorry to intrude (andon my first post, hope I'm not breaking too many rules here) :uhoh: - but reading this made me remember an ear-pressure-story I've been wondering about for years.

I was on a flight with friend who had a cold. On the descend for a stopover, he experienced a lot of pain because of this (strangely enough not while climbing), so on the second leg he asked the friendly crew lady if she had anything available to keep the pain away. She told him not to worry, and when we started descending, she brought 2 plastic cups containing hot wet dabbers and told him to put those cups (with the dabbers) on his ears for the descent. He did, and did not experience any discomfort while descending.

Ever since, I've been wondering: How can this work? I mean, can it work? Or was it just in his mind? :suspect:

[Cdn F/A]

Yep, they do work...in my neck of the woods, we call these "hot cups" but their use is frowned upon by company as they have been found to be a liability...i.e. people burning themselves...you have to soak the wipes in very hot water for them to be effective and then drain the remaining water from the cups (use coffee cups though!) I personally still use these for any troubles I may have and they really work...think it's a combo of the hot steam and the suction of the cups.

[Chronistin]

Thanks for answering! Suction and hot steam, yes, but still I don't see how to create a vacuum with all the hair around the ears? Anyway, I'm content to hear it works for someone else, too.

I don't think there was much risk of burning - dabbers stuffed really tight in the bottom of the cups - noticed a serious risk of looking insanely stupid, though. :)

[MsXta]

I suffer from blocked ears during landing from time to time as well. Have discovered Menthol Crystals recently. It works wonders for me whenever I have blocked ears or feel them coming on. I use them just before starting decent, together with swallowing hard and gently blowing my nose if necessary. It has never failed to unblock my ears or even prevent me from having it. You might have heard of them, they are like Karvol but much much stronger. The first sniff you take is like whooa, strong stuff!!! :ok:You can buy them in Boots, behind the counter. Hope it helps.:) I also think that Boots own make Decongestant and Nasonex nose spary is great stuff, but the latter is prescribtion only...

[sharkyhk]

My own little cure for MINOR ear block is to put some tissue in a paper cup and pour hot water JUST ENOUGH TO SOAK the tissue and put the cups on ur ear. The steam from the tissue will unblock MINOR ear block. My colllegues put a slice on lemon in for what reason i dont know :}:}
I once flew from LHR with a cold and upon landing, the pain from my ear was so bad i nearly screamed from my crew seat. Went to the doctor on arrival and asked him about wether blowing a blocked ear helps. The doctor said it helps but blowing really hard with nose pinched could damage the ear drum. He also recommended buying a nose spray for blocked nose as it clears the pleghm and somehow unblocks the eustachian tube.