a case for camphor
I got caught out on a flight a couple of years ago.
As a child I used to have a lot of problems when descending - ear pain, nosebleeds the works (it's worth knowing that children are more susceptible to these things - I'm always sympathetic if a child cries when the plane goes up or down) but after years of problem free travel, I encountered the kind of excruciating pain you other ladies are describing when descending into Milan.
I was on Buzz, a LCC (with top class service) and it felt like there was a golfball in my head just at the point of exploding. The FA brought me a cup with camphor inside it and a cloth so I could inhale from it and it did so much to alleviate the problem.
I mention camphor particularly because it's someting that can be found in most countries - the brands that have been mentioned aren't always available.