Wow! Fingers and paws crossed for you here from another "oldie". I think the worst part is every day, something else hurts, one ache goes away and is replaced buy another.

I have a lot of problems with my ears due to sinus and allergies. One of the last time I flew on a plane it was in the middle of a bad allergy attack and one of my ears got completely plugged and I was totally deaf in it when we landed and about half deaf in the other. They crackled and popped once we landed and I was on the way to get my luggage and for a month afterwards, whenever I bent over, I'd hear a "whoosh"... I finally ended up having to go to the doctor and got the pred treatment too. Cleared mine right up, lets hope it does the same for you.