Severe cabin pressure

[linzro1]

I'm going to New York next week, But I suffer really badly from cabin pressure when flying and have done for about 10yrs. I experience spilting headaches and it feels like the back of my head, neck, shoulders and spine have been placed in a vice that is constantly being tightened. My ears pop continuosly and i am in so much pain that I cant move and I am either crying or screaming with pain. Which isn't the best thing to do on a busy flight. I take paracetomol before flights but it no longer works. I use ear plugs and drink plenty of water but it still happens. Can anybody help me?  Ps I'm asthmatic

[Londres70]

Try chewing gum and sucking on hard candy as the above poster mentioned. Also, try to move your jaw and yawn frequently; this will help equalize the pressure in your head via your ears.  You can also ask your physician about recommending a decongestant, i.e. Afrin spray, for you to take prior to your flight.  This will open the nasal passages and ears thus relieving pressure.  

[brandy796]

Gum, chewing gum once the flight is about to take off helps with the ears. I also try to take a cozy travel pillow and small throw along with me along with taking slow relaxing breaths. If you have an ipod and/or headphones with music or a book to listen to it helps to drown out the noises of the planes and other passengers.

[Narble]

This may be a dumb question, but can you get to NY without taking a plane? If not, then I'd suggest making an appt. with the doctor who prescribed your paracetomol to see about a replacement med for it. You might also try learning deep relaxation exercises, which help some people with migraines, panic attacks, and such, but it generally takes more than a week to get good at these.