When I was a child I've had this blocked-ear feeling and my grandmother said it might be air in the ear. She threaded a grain of garlic (a grain that would fit snugly in the ear-hole) and stuck it in the ear, fastening the thread around the ear. I went to bed with it and next morning when she removed the garlic I felt a very sharp pain and the release of warm air. The pain went away.
Another thing she told me to do was to take my thumb and index finger and lightly pinched my nostrils closed, then swallow. When I swallowed I felt air coming out of my ear and that was a bit painful too. But it worked.