Ear Pain

[Chummer 0]

Hey I just made my first tandem jump a couple of days ago and it was awesome. Definitely want to get my license. During the end of freefall my ears started to hurt fairly intensely. One ear was blocked for a good hour. My tandem guy said it just takes some getting used to and it goes away after time. The ride up was fine, my ears popped normally without pain. I also did not have any cold or head congestion. I realize that it has to do with the rapid increase of pressure. I have heard to take sudafed to clear everything up before a jump, so will this work even if i have no congestion at all? Thanks

[chuckbrown 0]

Talk to a doctor. Ear problems and freefall can be a nasty combination.

[TheDonMan 0]

Quote

Hey I just made my first tandem jump a couple of days ago and it was awesome. Definitely want to get my license. During the end of freefall my ears started to hurt fairly intensely. One ear was blocked for a good hour. My tandem guy said it just takes some getting used to and it goes away after time. The ride up was fine, my ears popped normally without pain. I also did not have any cold or head congestion. I realize that it has to do with the rapid increase of pressure. I have heard to take sudafed to clear everything up before a jump, so will this work even if i have no congestion at all? Thanks

Once you start jumping alot your ear drum becomes more flexible just like scuba divers..

I would definantly check with your doctor..

The world is full of willing people, some willing to work, the rest willing to let them.

[steveorino 7]

Also talk to SCUBA divers about using the valsalvo method for clearing your ears. It is harder to do as a solo flyer (especially flying camera like me) but it is fairly easy to clear your ears at first sign of pressure as a tandem.

steveOrino

[arai 0]

yeah get someone to check them or at least get adivce.

my mom will never be able to scubadive because her instructors didnt fill her in on the importance of clearing your ears as you decend, or at least why its so important, so when she was getting the licence she just thought it was supposed to hurt. She reptured her ear drum 2 years ago and I still think it hasnt healed enough that she would be able to dive today.