With Barotrauma — Flying

Here is a comprehensive guide on the risks, management, and precautions for flying with barotrauma.

I felt it first as a dull recognition, a fullness like cotton soaked in seawater. Then, as the Boeing’s landing gear retracted with a thud, the fullness crystallized into a needle. Not a sharp prick, but a slow, rotating drill bit pushing from my eardrum inward toward my jaw. My own head had become a pressure chamber, and the only valve was jammed. flying with barotrauma

If you must fly or are currently recovering, follow these steps to minimize pressure changes. Here is a comprehensive guide on the risks,

Barotrauma is caused by a pressure imbalance between the environment and the air-filled space in the middle ear. The , which connects the middle ear to the back of the throat, normally opens to equalize this pressure. If this tube is blocked or fails to function, pressure differences can cause the eardrum to stretch, leading to discomfort or injury. Common Symptoms Not a sharp prick, but a slow, rotating

If you received barotrauma from , you must strictly adhere to diving medicine rules. You should wait until you are medically cleared by a diving doctor before flying. Flying too soon after diving causes decompression sickness (the bends), which is far more dangerous than standard barotrauma.