Problems with ears during ascent

[erincherie]

I know this probably isn't a common problem, but I have problems with my ears during asent. I don't have any issue equalizing during descent, but on my way up I usually suffer from "reverse squeeze". Often I will hear a "pop" noise when air pressure does release and sometimes it can take several hours after a dive for my ears to feel completely normal. Last year during a Coz trip, I had to skip the last day of diving (5th consecutive day) because of my ears hurting. Of course that was the day the group did Punta Sur and Devil's Throat and saw several large reef sharks. After several days in a row of diving my left ear gets tender and almost feels swollen inside. My theory is that it is because I have small sinus passages and a little "pea" head and the pressure can't get out easily.
Anyone else have this problem or know what can be done about it? I know I shouldn't, but I take sinus meds before I dive to help open up my sinus passages.
I probably need to go to a ear, nose and throat Dr and let him check it out. We just booked a week long dive trip to the Caymans for Oct and I don't want my ear problems to keep me from diving.
Thanks!

 

[don Francisco]

A visit to the ENT might help, but even though your problem manifests on ascent, I'd bet it's rooted in poor clearing during descent. For most folks the physics and biology make it easier to clear ears against dropping external pressure, as in ascent vs. descent.

I suspect that you're clearing aggressivly in a effort to get down, and during the hour of your dive the tissues around the ear swell from the rough treatment. Then on rising, the sensitized swollen tissues are mugged again and protest.

Try descending slower without using the Valsalva maneuver. Clear your ears the natural way, by swallowing, with your nose pinched if it helps, chewing, moving your jaw, or other non-violent methods, keeping the Valsalva maneuver in reserve only for rare occasions. Whether it helps with the ascent or not careful descents will reduce the cumulative injury that causes the tunnel effect after a few dives.

BTW- there's an excellent link about lots of divers ear issues. Unfortunately, I'm too senile to remember it, but I'm sure one of the next few posters will.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I have similar problems and sometimes experience intense verigo when one ear vents and the other doesn't. It is very weird because I can frredive down to 60 feet in 20 seconds and I never seem to get a reverse block on the ascent when freedivng; only scuba (thank god).

However, on scuba some of my worst problems have been on very shallow dives where the depth changes from 10-20-10 feet sometimes really bothers me. I have found that if one ear will not vent on ascent, I need to immediately shoot down to depth where the pain stops and then try the ascent again. If that still doesn't work, then I go back down once more to the neutral depth and remove mask and blow my nose. This ususally fixes it.

If my ears are stuffy before the dive, I will snort seawater while still on the boat. Taking a sudaphed or 2 during the day also helps to keep the ears clear when I am doing multiple day trips. Sometimes it is almost funny, after lunch I have to eat rollaids for acid indigestion, psuedophed for my ears and ibuprofen for all the aches and pains...