Has anyone ever had extreme pain when when flying in an airplane when it is landing?

Question

I feel the normal pressure in my ears like everyone else, but it increases as the plane descends. The pressure travels up my sinuses and I feel intents pressure in my eyebrow - a throbbing pain. The last time it happened it hurt so bad my eyes started watering and I had to apply pressure on my eyebrow to stop some of the pain. It subsides a little upon landing but it takes almost all day before the pressure finally goes away. This has only happened twice but I don't want it to happen again. Does anyone know what this is and how to prevent it?

Answer 1

chewing gum is not going to help that kind of pain.
I talked to my doctor, and happens mostly to people who have bad allergies or have serious sinus problems. You could have a head cold and not know it. Make sure to take an Antihistamine about 30 mins before landing to try and relieve some of the head congestion before starting the decent. If you have any kind of stuffy head while landing your going to get this headache. Also put earplugs in before starting to land. There is a great brand called "ear-planes"
http://www.cirrushealthcare.com/EarPlanes-C8.aspx

And lastly try to fly only on JET airlines. They don't fly as high up as the larger planes so the decent is less.

Answer 2

YES!! It's a major league pain. It's worse on some flights. It comes from the lack of pressure equalization in the inner ear. As the plane goes up, pressure in the cabin and your inner ear goes down. When the plan descends, pressure in the cabin goes up. Pain comes from the pressure in the inner ear NOT going up setting up a pressure differential and, thus, the pain. I've never found a sure-fire cure. It helps me to yawn very, very hard and again, and again as soon as I notice the pressure differential. Some people say chew gum. Didn't help me. Pilots will close their nose and mouth and try to blow out to force air into the inner ear. That will sometimes work if you begin early as the plane descends. (It also hurts a little.) Let ME know (at yahoo.com) if you find a sure fire cure.

Answer 3

I had this happen to me too. It was so bad I had tears streaming down my face. It hurt so bad I could not even talk. Since then I always take a Benadryl or sinus medicine before I get on the plane and I make sure I have really chewy gum. I am pretty sure it is a sinus problem but when it happened to me I wasn't experiencing a sinus infection, so I'm not sure why it happens.

Answer 4

Yeah, it happened to me too. After the plane landed my husband had to take me to the hospital and after x-rays they told me that my sinus cavities had abscessed. It was the most painful thing I have been through in a long time. Lots of medication and a week later I was much better.

Answer 5

You should chew sweets or gum to restore the pressure within your ears to normal. If you don't have any, yawn loudly!

Do you have any allergies or a sinus problem?

I would go through a whole packet of sweets in anticipation of that terrible pain.

Answer 6

try visiting a chiropractor just before and as soon as possible after flying... they can adjust your sinuses to help prevent and relieve the pressure... it's the only way i can fly without wicked pain.

Answer 7

use smelling salt, sometimes the attendants have some...or chew some gum...and never fly when you are sick or your allergies are acting up, it makes it worse...otherwise you just have to deal with it. it mostly has to do with the cabin pressure changing dramatically.

Answer 8

chew gum to equalize pressure

Answer 9

yes suck a boiled sweet it works as i used to have tha same prob