Ears hurting from swollen membranes

My 10 year old daughter has problems with her ears hurting her a lot.  Everytime we go to the dr. he tells her that she doesn't have an ear infection, but that her membranes are swollen.  He tells her to pop her ears every hour and he either prescribes an allergy pill or he tells her to take claritin.  He also gives her a nasal spray.  Right now she is taking claritin and Flonase.  Sometimes all of this helps, but it will come right back.  Does anyone have any suggestions.  She's been having trouble breathing at night, I don't know if it's related to this or if it's from something else.  The dr. says she doesn't have asthma, but she does have a lot of panic attacks.  I don't know what's causing her pain in her ears,  she doesn't have a cold or even a runny nose, just her ears hurting, so I wouldn't think it would be sinus related.  Please help.