Ear Pain After Skydiving ((free))
"Uh oh," Sarah said, her expression shifting to concern. "Reverse block? You dove with a cold? That’s a one-way ticket to the doctor, man."
Pressure-regulating earplugs can help slow down the pressure change for your eardrum.
The deceleration was instantaneous. The roar of freefall vanished, replaced by the serene rustle of the parachute. Elias grabbed the toggles and began his turn checks. He was floating, a master of the air. He inhaled deeply through his nose, happy to find it mostly clear.
The good news is that ear barotrauma from skydiving is usually temporary and treatable. For most jumpers, the pain subsides within a few hours or a day as the Eustachian tubes naturally open and pressure equalizes. Over-the-counter decongestants and nasal sprays can help reduce inflammation and open the tubes, but these should be used with caution and ideally only after consulting a doctor. More severe cases, characterized by persistent pain, dizziness, fluid drainage from the ear, or sudden hearing loss, require prompt medical attention from an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist). Prevention, however, is the best medicine. Skydivers are strongly advised never to jump when congested, to use decongestants proactively (if cleared by a doctor), and to practice equalization techniques throughout the descent, just as a scuba diver would on ascent. ear pain after skydiving
The doctor was an older man with a calm, clinical demeanor. He looked inside Elias’s ear with an otoscope. He winced.
Elias sat down on a packing crate. The pain sharpened into a hot, tearing sensation. It felt as though his eardrum was being stretched to its breaking point, like a balloon about to pop in a silent room. He tried to yawn, a desperate, jaw-cracking motion, hoping to open the tubes. Nothing.
Whump.
"Not yet, but it's bulging. You have a significant middle ear barotrauma. You came down too fast with blocked tubes. The air inside your ear couldn't escape, so it expanded against the eardrum."
Then, he made the mistake of checking his altitude one last time before setting up his final approach. He looked up at the canopy to ensure the cells were fully inflated.
Pinch your nose and take a few sips of water. How Long Will It Last? "Uh oh," Sarah said, her expression shifting to concern
He spiraled down toward the drop zone. He focused on his target: the grassy circle between the hanger and the pond. But as he dropped below 1,000 feet, the pressure shifted from uncomfortable to alarming. It felt less like a thumb and more like a blunt needle being driven slowly into his auditory canal.
Your Eustachian tubes are responsible for equalizing this pressure. If they are blocked—often due to a cold, allergies, or sinus congestion —they cannot open quickly enough to balance the pressure, leading to pain or even a ruptured eardrum. Common Symptoms
