Tips to unblock a painful blocked ear?

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

Remnant of a cold, which was/is chesty cough type, plus bunged up (not really runny) nose.

Ear has been blocked for a day, almost unblocked with a couple of crunches, then today it was half way there, but then started to hurt and now is blocked and painful.

It really hurts, esp when I put pressure on it. Feels like it needs/wants a really good pop and all will be ok.

Any tips? How do i do the olive oil thing? how hot with the oil? cotton wool soaked in it, or oil straight into ear then wool on top? Any other ones? Would prefer not to go into labour with a blocked ear its a bit annoying!

lay on that side on a warm hot water bottle (with something on top to collect the yuck)

warmed olive oil or almond oil, dropped into the ear via hanky. lie on side for half an hour.

might soften, but needs to be done regulrly atleast few days.

sometimes after cold the tissue inside you ear is just swollen, so it may go down and not be wax/snot type that's the prob.

I've never done the olive oil thing, but I think you're supposed to warm it until it's about blood temp (ie feels the same temp as your skin) and then get someone to pour a few drops in to your ear. Then stay on your side for a few mins to allow the oil to loosen anything that's in there.

Don't stick anything down there, you can push wax etc further down and cause a further blockage.

is there anything i can do to reduce the swelling if that is all it is?

I am not convinced it is wax. I have never had a wax problem before.

headfairy, you might like the cotton bud i used earlier

I did, but i did not prod it in, just wiped around the edge to see if there was anything on the outside, clean as a whistle!

Edge is ok, but don't stick it any further. Dh has terrible wax problems, has to have his ears syringed every six months or he's as deaf as a post and the docs always say most ear infections are caused by people sticking cotton buds down their ears, causing wax to get impacted.

Oh but it feels sooooo good

No did not stick into the canal itself, that would currently bloody well hurt anyway as the whole ear hurts. It feels like i need a really good yawn.

Q

Q - ?

Have you got something like Ibuprofen? I know that can act as an anti inflammatory, which might reduce the swelling you have in your ear.

Oh and I do not have a hot water bottle...can anything else be used?

I have memories of being a very young girl (6 or so) and lying on my side with oil in my ear and a hot water bottle wrapped in a tea towel, and crying because of the pain. I have no idea if it helped, but the thought is comforting as it reminds me of mum looking after me!

You know, like eating cheese and potato pie when you have a sore throat/fever etc. Probably does nought to help but reminds me of my mum and makes me feel better.

headfairy 39wks pg, so no to the ibruprofen, else would have taken it like a shot, along with co-codemol for the pain

arrrghhh, nightmare (I feel your pain, got terrible back ache from falling down the stairs this morning and as I'm 33 weeks pg the flipping paracetamol just isn't doing it)

Maybe the warm olive oil will soothe and reduce the swelling.

Can't stick an ice cube down there can you?

If you don't have a hot water bottle, could you do something similar to steaming.. ie under a towel over a bowl of steaming water, but with your head turned to the side so the steam goes up your ear?

Could possibly be a ridiculous idea, but might work.

Pinch your nose, close your mouth and blow - like you would do to pop your ears on a plane. Swallow while you're doing this and it'll open up your eustachian tube.

Alternatively - head over a bowl of steaming water with your mouth open, breathing deeply.

HTH

Argh with the back pain, how horrible. How scary to fall while pg.

You know, if the hot oil does nothing, i might even try some icey water, see if either extreme works Can't make it worse can it!

bella ouch that will hurt! won't it possibly burst my eardrum blowing like that? altough might try the steam, that can't hurt.

Tonight, i shall be mostly trying remedies to unblock my ears

What Bella said, plus lots of jaw wiggling?

It was horrible falling down the stairs, ds starting crying in fear and I had to suppress my own tears to give him a cuddle. I'm now hobbling like an old woman!

Ok, just did as suggested by bella and the other ear squeaked and popped! So, at least no blockage in that one!!! Can i try it again or will it mess that ear up too?

Pavlov - it'll unblock your ear, honest - if it just needs a pop, that is.

Unless you have a ear infection

x post - do it as many times as you like. I have a dodgy eustachian tube and do it all the time

Oh yes, have another go. I'm pretty sure you can't burst your ear drum just by equalising it... and it's such relief when it does pop (I was a diving instructor for years and have had all sorts of ear blockages/infections/watery ears etc)

thanks for the hotwater bottle Bella.... Much appreciated

pmsl - I read that as driving instructor and couldn't work out why that would mess with your ears, headfairy!

You know what? i bloody well worked!!!!! It did hurt, but it made an enormous squeak/pop/crunch and cleared! It still hurts, and there is a little pop left I think, but bloody YEY!!!!! (perhaps like a little after pain kind of hurting now)

I was so worried I would have to go to GP er-gain, for the millionth time and say 'oh, and another thing wrong with me is...'

bella if you were closer, I would kiss you, so in the absence of that...have a big kiss to say thanks!