Ear Block & Sinus Block

[Bernoulli]

Any of you ever experienced ear block or sinus block? If so please share your experiences... also... If you ever blew an ear drum please comment on how it has effected your abilities as a pilot now... such as, can you still qualify for a first class medical and can you still hear as well as you had prior to the blow out. Thanks in advance for any comments.

 

[jetexas]

I had a sinus block as a passenger when I was kid. It was one of the most excrutiating pains in memory. It didn't clear until about 30 minutes 'after' the flight was on the ground.
I always carry some Afrin around with me, just in case. I also don't fly with any kind of sinus congestion, flu, cold, etc. If you find yourself getting blocked on the descent, shoot as much of that stuff in each nostril as possible. It will help clear the pressure long enough 'hopefully' to get on the ground. Don't overdo it though..ie 'emergency use only'. Afrin irritates your sinus cavities and can inflame them, worsening the situation down the road.

 

[Stepclimb]

Afrin

Afrin irritates your sinus cavities and will inflame them, worsening the situation.

Actually Afrin (Oxymetazoline hydrochloride) is a vasoconstrictor, and reduces inflamation by shrinking the blood vessels in your mucous membranes. However, you are correct that afrin should be used only when absolutely necessary as prolonged use can decrease its effectiveness and can even lead to addiction in some people.
-Stepclimb

 

[subzero]

I had this same problem 3 weeks ago. Ears would not clear in the decent. Very, very painfull. No fun to fly with. Had to call in sick for last turn. Went to Med. Clinic and they wrote me a presc. for the infection. Problem went away within days and no lasting effects as of yet. Did not blow an eardrum.
Shane

 

[jetexas]

Actually Afrin (Oxymetazoline hydrochloride) is a vasoconstrictor, and reduces inflamation by shrinking the blood vessels in your mucous membranes.

I stand corrected. Thanks for the info.

 

[SkyWestCRJPilot]

I've had blocked Eustachian tubes about 3 times now. There are a bad thing. The first two times was when I was flying freight in an unpressurized airplane. The first time it was just an slight annoyance and cleared after a few minutes. The second time it was so painful that it was hard to land the airplane. The pain stopped after 30 minutes but didn't clear for about 6 hours. The third time was just last year when I was a passenger. I was sick with pneumonia and trying to get home. I didn't realize I had congestion until descent when both ears hurt badly. The pain again subsided after 30 minutes on the ground but they didn't clear for two days. I couldn't hear out of one ear for those two days. On none of the occurances did I ever break an eardrum though once I went to an emergency room and the doctor said there wasn't much to do until it cleared on its own. Also on all three times I didn't realize I was congested until after it was too late. I've never experienced sinus pain but only ear pain. Don't go flying (as a passenger either) when you have congestion. It's not a good thing.

 

[bobbysamd]

Eardrum problems and sinus

Theoretically, you shouldn't be flying if you have blocked sinuses and eardrums.

Having said that, if you have blocked ears, try squeezing your nostrils and blowing against them with the Valsava maneuver. That should help for the short-term.

I knew an ERAU student who blew-out his eardrum. He told me he couldn't fly for eighteen months after his injury. He apparently got back his medical because he came back to fly with us.

Finally, www.leftseat.com is an excellent medical website. If you are an AOPA member, try calling one of its medical counselors for advice.

Hope that helps some more.

 

[350DRIVER]

It depends on the severity of the congestion. Many people have flown with a mild case of congestion and have had no major side effects of complications to the extent of what the above poster has experienced, I being one of them. It is a given during the winter months when living in certain parts of the country that you will at some point experience some sort of congestion and or a minor cold.

Ear pain associated with flying is simply due to unequal pressure between your middle ear and the cabin of the airplane. Normally, the eustachian tube, which connects your middle ear to the back of your nose and throat, equalizes the pressure. But if the tube is blocked because of congestion or some other problem, the unequal pressure on your eardrum may impair your hearing and cause ringing in your ear (tinnitus), dizziness and ear pain. If the eustachian tube is completely blocked, pressure changes may be severe enough to cause fluid buildup, ruptured capillaries and bleeding in your middle ear. Certain nasal sprays seem to work when I am congested and flying.

3 5 0

 

[Jon-Kyle Mohr]

I had this happen on my first airline flight at the age of two. Everything was fine and dandy, I had taken a load off in my fathers lap and it was all over the place. Great fun

We started to descend and all I can remember is some of the worst pain I've ever felt. I could'nt hear anything and it felt like my head was going to explode. This said, you now had a two year old child with poo seaking out his pants screaming bloody murder. I'm sure everyone loved me on that flight.

I don't seem to have much of a problem with it now when flying.

 

[88_MALIBU]

I had a sinus block once. I knew better than to fly but did it anyways. I didnt realize the magnitude of what can happen. I also experienced a similar pain while scuba diving. Seems my tooth fillings were not properly done right. Tooth and sinus pressure is right up there on the list of most painful experiences.

 

[SMOE]

While I was still a crew chief in the Air Force I had the "pleasure" of a sinus block in the back of a C-130 on climb-out. Imagine someone driving a railroad spike through your eye...
Doing a valvsalva several times aleviated the condition but for a few days afterwards, if I bent over, the rush of blood to my head would replicate the pain (to a lesser extent). In 27 years of aviation, its the only time I've had this kind of problem. After that though, I always made it a point to carry a small bottle of Afrin (free from the flight surgeon's office) for emergency use only.

 

[Bernoulli]

I had this happen on my first airline flight at the age of two. Everything was fine and dandy, I had taken a load off in my fathers lap and it was all over the place. Great fun.

Too bad for the passengers you didn't have anal block as well. Ha Ha

 

[Metro752]

It Hurts very very very bad.

 

[GravityHater]

I was climbing out once 2 yrs ago and heard a high pitched squeal in the cabin, thought the engine was going to sieze or maybe a tachometer cable about to quit or something. Couldn't find a thing wrong. I happened a couple of times before I realized the squeal was emanating from.. me!!
I had a partially obstructed sinus foramen (its a hole between the nasal and sinus passages. When I ascended, air would leak out of the passage like an aneroid wafer I suppose, and make a whistle! I had to have surgery to remove polyps and open things up.
I still have the original problem of allergies which caused the polyps but they are under better control now.

 

[wild bill kelso]

I had my left ear drum rupture then removed and replaced with some sort of prothtetic. My hearing is down about 25% in that ear. First class med, no problem.

 

[Russ]

It caused my first and only trip to the ER so far. Never again will I be that foolish to put myself through that much pain just becuase I didn't the company to have to call in a reserve guy for me.

 

[BD King]

Huh??? Sorry,but could ya speak up?...............Yeah, it hurts like hell.

 

[mar]

Interesting story from dubious source

I don't know if it's true or not, but someone told me that young German fighter pilots would deliberately have their ear drums pierced with a needle to help with rapid equalization during dive bombing.

Get this: They found the scar tissue *improved* their hearing.

Like I say, take it as an internet rumor...

I've never experienced a blown out ear drum but I did have a very serious sinus block once as a young CFI. I was pretty much incapacitated. I can't describe the pain.

Best advice (as stated above): A healthy shot of Afrin and a handful of Ibuprofen or some other NSAID. Call me in the morning.

 

[JetProp]

I recently had pneumonia that was cleared with antibiotics. Unfortunately, the infection worked its way into my middle ear and the eardrum ruptured. I went to the doc and he said it would heal on its own in a couple of weeks. Afterward, I had fluid stuck behind the eardrum; combined with the ruptured eardrum, my hearing was fuzzy. It all cleared and the doc returned me to flying. No problems with my hearing now or with equalizing pressure during climbs/descents.

The doc prescribed Allegra and Flonase to prevent congestion and open-up the plumbing. I carry sudafed and Affrin "just in case".

Bottom line for me is I will not fly sick or with congestion.

The Mayo Clinic has a pretty good site with some good info:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=DS00303