Barotrauma Airplane [repack] Access

David swallowed hard, a reflex to clear the pressure, but there was no pressure to clear—only a vacuum where the air used to be. He felt a sharp, stabbing pain in his left ear, excruciating and localized, as if an ice pick had been driven through his eardrum. The air trapped in his middle ear was expanding rapidly, desperate to escape the confined space of the tympanic cavity. The eustachian tube, usually a regulator, became a blocked valve. He felt the membrane stretch, a thin sheet of skin fighting the weight of the atmosphere, and then—a wet, audible pop .

Note: A ruptured eardrum from barotrauma usually heals on its own in a few weeks, but requires an ENT evaluation. barotrauma airplane

While most "airplane ear" resolves within a few hours of landing, you should seek medical attention if: Ear blockage or muffled hearing lasts more than a few days. David swallowed hard, a reflex to clear the