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Sinus Pain? More like an Icepick in my Head..

Sinus Pain? More like an Icepick in my Head..

Old Mar 26, 2010, 3:14 pm
  #61  
 
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Drink coffee

I always have a cup of coffee before a flight and one before landing and I have never had any major pain or allergies since. Years ago I had problems clearing my ears after a flight but now after having a cup of coffee I don't have the sharp pain that I used to have. Its better than Sudafed or Allegra.
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Old Mar 26, 2010, 3:34 pm
  #62  
 
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i use neosenophren (sp?) spray. i also find that excedrine migraine works better for me that many other oral decongestants. somekind of spray is important though. i also find that if i am dehydrated i am more likely to have pain. make sure to drink plenty the day of a transcon

Last edited by gj83; Mar 26, 2010 at 3:36 pm
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Old Mar 27, 2010, 9:16 pm
  #63  
 
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Ear Clicking

First of all sorry if this is in the wrong forum .

Ever since 1999 when I took a flight my ears swelled shut and I was in pain. Since then I have had clicking in the ear and sinus pain. When I gently clean the ear I feel a dull pain. Sometimes dark earwax comes out of the ear and it smells putrid. My ENT said there was nothing wrong and I took sudafed, allegra and other medicines. I was even put on Cyproo when I had an ear infection. On yet another flight my sinus hurt so bad and my mouth hurt as a result of it. My dentist said that I did not have TMJ.

How do I fix it? It feels as if I want to pop my ear but the eustacian tube won;t open? The clicking happens when I swallow and sometimes I hear roaring in the ear and feel a little vertigo. My eyes are dry and burning. Like I said no medications helped thus far. Can a FT god help me to cure this annoying condition. I have been trying things for years including Afrin.

Thanks
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Old Mar 28, 2010, 10:14 am
  #64  
 
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Thanks for your suggestions

Its great to know that I'm not the only one experiencing the symptoms. My Dr. said that I can still fly as he cannot find the cause for my pain. I will have to try the allegra and/or sudafed with a few Advil. I usually do not like to drug myself before a flight for more reasons than I care to discuss. I like a good coffee before my flight.

I'm off to Cabos in less than an hour and will have time at the airport to enjoy an Illys at SJC(: I've found that coffee helps to keep the congestion down even with a cold.
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Old Apr 28, 2010, 1:06 pm
  #65  
 
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Ice pick pain

Hi,

I too have suffered the 'ice pick' pain, on a couple of occasions, and have actually collapsed as a result of it.

The first time it happened I was on the way to Australia. We had a fuel stop in Hong Kong and as the plane descended into Hong Kong I experienced an incredible pain in my left eye which spread upwards to my eyebrow and into my head. It is difficult to describe how painful this was, it is no exaggeration to say that it felt as though my eye was going to pop and that I was being repeatedly stabbed in my head. I actually fell unconscious for a couple of minutes before coming around and vomiting all over my wife (sorry dear!).

When I returned to the UK my doctor referred me to an ophthalmologist and then a neurologist. I had a number of tests including EEG and CT scans but there was nothing obviously wrong. The reason that I was sent for the tests it that I suffered migranes and dizzy spells for several weeks after the event.

The initial pain was attributed to the change in air pressure on descent. The reason that I collapsed was because my brain 'shut down' due to the severe pain that I experienced. The headaches and dizzy spells that I suffered were never properly diagnosed and eventually went away. I never pursued the matter as I have an irrational fear of hospitals and was glad that I had recovered. Interestingly, neither my doctor or the two specialists made any mention of sinus trouble, and surely any sinus problems would have shown on my CT scan?

Anyhow, I have flown several times since (including the return journey from Australia) and have only suffered the problem on one other occasion. This past Monday when I flew from London to Belfast. This time the pain was on the right side of my head rather than the left, and I didn't collapse, but it involved a similar level of pain and I have suffered headaches ever since. It seems strange that it happens on some journeys but not others. Please note that I am a fairly fit bloke and was not suffering any form of illness at the times of the flights.

I have a couple of questions if anyone can help. Firstly, has anyone had a definitive diagnoses of the problem? Secondly, playing devils advocate, how can people taking sudafed etc be sure that this is helping? The severity of the symptoms could simply depend on how quickly the plane descends and the resultant impact on the air pressures involved?


Thanks,
Crog
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Old Apr 28, 2010, 4:36 pm
  #66  
 
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Originally Posted by crog
Please note that I am a fairly fit bloke and was not suffering any form of illness at the times of the flights.
Are you did not have any kind of cold? Were you sleeping when the flight took off?
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Old Dec 28, 2010, 11:17 pm
  #67  
 
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Sorry to dredge up such an old thread but just had to say thanks to all of the contributors. I don't feel so crazy now.

This happened to me recently during the descent on a long-haul from US to Japan. This was the first time I have ever had an issue and really had no idea what was going on. I was able to 'clear' my ears just fine and had no other sinus infection symptoms so did not think it was sinus related and was worried it was something much more serious. The pain was completely debilitating and well described throughout this thread. I just wished I had checked FT during the layover as the same thing happen on the next segment.

I took sudafed starting 24 hours prior to my return trip and had no issues. Will keep some of these other tricks in mind for the future.
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Old Jan 11, 2011, 9:47 pm
  #68  
 
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So happy to have found all of you. I think we should find someone to do a specific study on us, including our health at the time and the kind of plane we were in.

I have experienced the frightening ice-pick feeling, KNOWING my eyeball is going to explode feeling. Twice. About a year apart. Both times on the decent. Unknown planes. The first time I had my toddler son with me. Second time I was holding my infant daughter and seated next to my now three-year-old son (yes, both born without a hint of drugs and yes this pain is far worse). All I could think of was how they were going to be traumatized for life when they watched my eyeball explode.

The most frightening part of the whole event was, both times, that I felt as though I was having this near-death experience, and my whole body was shaking, my hands searching, searching, without my doing so, for someone or something to help me. I could open my eyes for brief moments - and seeing that no one around me even noticed any of this happening - this was the most frightening part. Felt as though I was losing my mind.

When the flight attendant noticed something was amiss, and tried to talk to me, I could not answer. My mind was lost, just completely lost. She suggested holding my nose and blowing, and I'm sorry but I just wanted to shake her. She had absolutely no idea the horror I was going through.

Both of my experiences were on the first flight of a multi-flight journey. In between, I took two ibuprofen and sprayed oxymetazoline HCl 0.05% in each nostril. And the remaining flights were fine.

I have two small-plane flights ahead of me this week, again with the two children. And I have a sinus infection. I am scared. SCARED.

I will add to my plan a saline nasal spray, sudafed, and LOADS of water leading up to the flights. All of these drugs freak me out, as I am nursing my daughter. But a few hours' worth of drugs, which are listed as an L3 Lactation Risk (L1 being the safest), are better in my mind than the two kids witnessing an eyeball explosion. Last time I was out of my mind with fright and lingering pain for an hour or two after the flight - completely unable to competently care for the children. Frightening. Frightening stuff, this is.
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Old Jan 12, 2011, 9:05 am
  #69  
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It make sound hookey, but accupressure helps me. I was shown it by a practitioner, when I had a nasty cold and it involves pressing and releasing different areas on the face in a pattern. I can't accurately describe, but you could try and find a practitioner in your area to show you? It really helped me with that eye ball searing pain thing (which I also get, on the ground, with migraines, and I was told by a doctor in those instances it was to do with blood flow, and I now take caffine, and use heated washcloths to increase blood vessel size and reduce the pressure in the vessel. I also press my eyeball into its socket, which hurts, but less than not doing so!)
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Old Jan 12, 2011, 6:06 pm
  #70  
 
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I actually know EXACTLY what you have, as I've consulted with a neurologist about having this. It's called a cluster headache. It feels like an icepick in your eye/sinus, and is extremely intense. Nobody really knows what triggers them, and triggers are different for different people. For example, my triggers are nicotine, and I guess for you, pressure changes. Sadly, there aren't really any treatments, other than LSD or serious surgery...
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Old Oct 17, 2011, 10:51 am
  #71  
 
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Exclamation

Thank goodness Ive found this thread! Ill describe my experience (much the same as what each of you have said). I was on a flight from the UK to Menorca. The plane started to descend into Menorca from 35,000 ft. I could feel pressure building up in my ears, I swallowed, sipped on a drink and my ears just would not pop. I could feel the pressure in my ears building and building and the plane slowly descended. I had no idea what all this was building up to but had a gut feeling it wasnt going to be good, initially it was just uncomfortable and strange as the peopleds voices around me started sounding more and more distant. Then as you say an intense pain above my left eye, I thought it might go away. It didnt. The pain spread down to the corner of my left eye. By this point I thought something was really wrong, as described earlier it felt like a needle was being pushed into my eye, it felt as though the pain was building and building and that something worse was to come (I genuinely thought either my eye was going to burst, blood was going to come out of my nose or my brain might pop). My girlfriend didnt have a clue what was wrong and the pain was so intense I could barely talk. I had my head in my hands squeezing my face about in the hope of some kind of relief. The pain was then accompanied by an extreme panic, it was basically this really hurts and its not stopping its actually getting worse, what the hell am I going to do? Am I dying?! Why is everyone around me ok?!, Why meeee!. To best describe how it felt.You know that scene in Total Recall, where Arnies visor smashes and his head reacts to the lack of atmosphere and his head almost explodes?



Pretty much thats how I felt, in reality I probably just looked like a silent man crying into his hands. It was honestly one of the most traumatic experiences of my life, inside I was screaming in pain and honestly thought I might cry out in agony but managed not to.
When I got off the plane the pain had pretty much gone but my hearing was completely messed up. It sounded like I had small headphones on with the treble turned up high and the volume on very low. I couldnt really hear much at all and thought my hearing might be permanently damaged. I then was told to close my eyes, hold my nose shut with finger and thumb, keep my mouth shut and blow out (while not actually blowing out but causing a pressure buildup) This kind of worked but was painful and I still couldnt hear much but some of the pressure was gone. Dont think it did my eardrums much good, when they popped while doing this it sort of sounded like a trumpet being blown too hard. Anywayit appears I am not alone. Im not sure it was a cluster headache? Just some kind of sinus blockage. Either way, next time I fly Im doing everything in my power to prevent this. It was horrific.
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Old Oct 21, 2011, 7:43 pm
  #72  
 
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Had the ice pick once - was flying from JFK to AUH. Was really worried would have to ask the plane to land / turn around. Had no idea what was going on. Ended up being able to sleep it off, but scared me pretty badly.
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Old Oct 21, 2011, 9:29 pm
  #73  
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Welcome to FT BrainPoppingUK..

Neat attachment you got there.^
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Old Dec 6, 2011, 10:07 pm
  #74  
 
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Originally Posted by anneatwood
Your right It does feel like your being stabbed in the head with a ice pic.
I went to Thailand this year and boy was i terrified about the 7 flight I had to take. The first one was to china , then to bangkok the rest of the flight were commuter planes around Thailand. The big flight over there I did not experience the pain..........I thougt that's weird I always get the pain. I guess I just lucked out!!!!! Well all the 5 rest of the flights around Thailand were bad head pain everytime . I did find something to take alot of the pain away. 45 min before landing take 2 Excederin , then follow with nasal spray . I have tried many nasal sprays this one works . make sure its a 12 hour nasal spray that says oxymetazoline hydrochloride 0.05%.
Well, 10 days time I too will travel to Thailand. I've never experienced this pain before in my life previously to my last trip around 4 months ago, where 6 of the 8 flights I was in pretty much had me writing a will. The other 2 flights were bearable, but still I had enough pain that would make someone think something was terribly wrong. It's amazingly scary how 15 years of flying beforehand i've never had any problems, but suddenly this problem creeps up. The last few years I've had sinus problems with one nasal passage blocked completely, but it was only a few months ago this happened.

Anyway, I got nasal spray from my doctor when I came back from my trip (still waiting for my ENT appointment!). It's called Fluticason-propionaat 50 miligrams. Does anyone know if this will do anything for me?

Originally Posted by jpatokal
Just wanted to thank FT for this trick. A friend of mine, recovering from flu, started getting major ear pain on descent during a recent flight -- the FA was initially a bit puzzled by my request, but the hot-towel-in-cup routine worked wonders. ^
2 hot towels in a cup? I'll definitely try this. As well as holding my nose and blowing out.

Also, can anyone tell me the procedure for taking pills/tablets on a plane that is going to help my sinuses? Never done it before so I'm not sure if you are allowed to take a pack of pills in my hand-luggage or something. I'm flying EDI-FRA - BKK.

appreciate help
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Old Dec 7, 2011, 7:40 pm
  #75  
 
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I've suffered from chronic sinutitus for years with infections 3 or 4 times every year. After a number of physicians it has determined that my problem is inoperable, I just need to follow a maintenance plan that includes the daily use of a prescription nasal spray, decongestant and a full coarse of antibiotics the day I can sense an infection starting.

The prescription nasal spray I take is Nasonex (furoate) though over the years I've taken other products such as Flonase. While I'm supposed to take the spray on a daily basis, I admit that at times I get lazy and forget to take my spray for a number of days which often leads to infection.

Having suffered through this eye piercing pain on a number of flights, I know your concern. Just last year I flew from Manchester to Toronto across the north Atlantic with a sinus infection. I spent over 7 hours in a range of pain with my eyes closed and head down. Landing was a nighmare. It was my own fault as I know better. As a relatively frequent flyer, I know that if I take my spray for days in advance of a flight and take a decongestant or fight an infection, I'll be okay.

Due your preventive maintanance and you will be fine.
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