What a wonderful wonderful wonderful thread seriously! I, too, had this happen to me on at about a dozen of flights, and it is incredibly painful. I actually can't bear it to the point that some FA would look at me weirdly (but never ask if anything was wrong, maybe I can contain the look on my face somewhat, maybe they just dont care).

I want to add that I have a chronic sinus problem (have to blow my nose from mild congestion about every hour or so), and that is certainly attributable to the pain.
Following advice from the board, i will now buy Afrin and use it before take off. Thank you!