Please any help or information available?


Over the years I have read posts on here about flying on an airplane. Most people are fine, and my neurologist said I was just stressed when I described the intense head pain and ear blocking and cheekbones swelling (Eustachian tube Dysfunction), throat swells too. I understand stress increases headaches, but this is an intense headache pain.Pain starts on takeoff and lasts throughout the flight. Doesn't get better inflight and landing it doesn't get worse.

I went to an ENT and he said it could be a sinus problem. I had no problems ever before on a plane or with allergies or sinus infections. He did an xray that showed clear sinuses. Somehow my sinuses are affected with the pressure since my concussion. How is this possible? I have learned that the sinus headaches are supposed to worse on landing but mine isn't.I have neck injury which affects nerves. I have tried to hold my neck when plane is vertical, didn't make a difference in pain.

The pain is extreme. I live in Hawaii and have taken a short flight to the outer islands to test out my headache. Only 30 minutes and in extreme pain. I don't know if I can ever go to the mainland again to visit family.I stay home when everyone else goes. It will be four years for me since my injury and I still have this flying problem.

I tried ear plugs, special ear planes ear plugs, bose headphones- made it worse on plane. Pain meds, hydration, deep breathing helps to make it through. This is not just anxiety because it does not feel like a panic attack. Worse symptoms is extreme headache. I can usually tolerate my high level of pain daily so I am not just being wimpy.

Please me help me understand why this happens.It means so much to me, I have been testing this for years! I have missed out on so much. Any thoughts would be helpful.

Please! and thank you.

I have researched and found this... some commenters have had previous concussions:
http://neurocritic.blogspot.com/2010...-headache.html

Also, I had barotrauma or Airplane Ears my last short flight, I had some cold symptoms previous to my flight. But had no cold symptoms before on two other short flights and still had pain, ear block on both sides. I also did an elimination diet before my flight to rule out any food allergies I may have. Anything else I can do? Thoughts on nerves or blood vessel, low oxygen problem? No one else can help me, anyone with any experience please share your opinion?

ENT said to take nose spray Afrin, and sudafed. But I never had this before my concussion! How is this related? How can this be only due to sinuses, ENT said there is no structural damage to sinuses on xray or examination. He did say that because it is so bad on short flight, my ears could rupture on a mainland flight. I don't mind that but he said I could lose my hearing if they don't heal properly. I read that if your ear ruptures it will be painful but then the pain will stop when it ruptures. I don't mind that but the head pain is so bad, it must be something related to the nerves. Also, feel extreme nausea on flights.

Zofran helps nausea and i just don't eat anything hours before flight. Please any thoughts?

Anxiety does not need to include an anxiety attack. Take a blood pressure kit with you on the short hop to see if your BP increases. You should get used to taking your BP occasionally to get a sense of your normal BP. Then check it when you have a head ache or head pressure.

There are some sinuses in the brain that may be subject to pressure changes.

Here is what Mayo Clinic has to say: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/headaches/AN00751

Thank you, I know how to check my pulse and have checked it on the flights. After years of being an athlete, I can check it easily without a clock. It is normal and normally my BP is low. 100-110/68ish.

Should I take a migrane med?
Pain med? Benadryl to sleep?

I can only take small amounts of medicine and only one type at a time. I just wish I could find out what the issue is. What do you think it is?

I do not feel nervous on the plane, just the pain. No claustrophobia. It would be really nice if it was just anxiety, I would say that yes I am a bit worried but I am at the point where I want to not miss out on life any more. I am not scared to rupture my ears if necessary or feel really nauseated and have some pain, but I would just like help understanding why this happens. It is def related to the pressure changes though, as your article mentioned. There is not really a medicine for that, or is there?

Thank you so much. What should I do?

Mark, this is what I have done:

Nov 09- injured
About 2 years later when able to be out most of day:
Honolulu to Kauai: Flight about 20 minutes.
Foam earplugs, Bose headphones, Zofran for nausea. Didn't eat before. Headache felt like migrane 10/10 on takeoff and stayed about 2 hours after landing.then went back down to my usual pain normal.

1 year later
Honolulu to Maui: 30 minute flight
Foam earplugs, Bose headphones, Ibuprofen and Zofran. Migrane and pressure headache. Also came during takeoff. Not as nauseated this time, I think due to improvement of PCS.Pain 8/10 but handleable for short time.

Last month: Honolulu to Kona. 50 minute flight.
Wore earplanes. http://www.google.com/search?client=...UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

No pain meds to try out. Pain less of migrane, more behind eyes and forehead.On return flight, pain 10/10 tried sudafed right before.

PLease help thank you. I thought because my PCS has improved so much I would have no problems flying by now.

It is your Blood Pressure you need to check. Your blood pressure can elevate with normal pulse rates. You need a BP cuff to measure your blood pressure. You can buy them at the drug store for $30 or so. The arm cuffs are more accurate than the wrist cuffs.

You may not feel nervous but your body/brain may be reacting to the situation in ways where only your BP elevates. Aircraft have sounds and vibrations that can over-stimulate your brain. There are visual clutter that can cause a problem with visual over-stimulation.

But then, the Mayo Clinic does validate air pressure related head aches.

Thank you very much. I will check my blood pressure. Are you thinking that if it is high I could take a medication to lower it while in air?

The doctor said if I take Sudafed I will increase my BP and feel wired. That is kind of the opposite of relaxing on the plane. It is hard to decide what to take. Because if it is a sinus headache Sudafed is supposedly wonderful for flights.

I am trying to narrow it down.

Could be some sinus problems (decongestant)this is what is advised and ENT prescribed:http://www.amazon.com/review/R3HU5Y14YGRQ40

combined with pressure problems (? don't know what to take)
and nerve issues ( pain pills to kill the nerve pain)


Another headache study:
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/search...ize=10&index=9

Any other thoughts. I appreciate this so much. Thank you.