To fix the problem, it helps to understand the mechanics. Your ear has a middle section separated from the outside world by the eardrum. Inside that middle ear is air, and that air needs to be at the same pressure as the air outside your body.
A doctor can prescribe decongestants, nasal steroids, or in rare cases, perform a myringotomy (a tiny incision in the eardrum) to relieve the pressure. how to get ears to pop after flying