Surfer's Ear

[KymE]

Is this for real? It was mentioned to me a few years ago and now just mentioned in my last post. :?

Does keeping your head above water help stop it

Who is more prone to getting it Exactly what is it - someone did mention bone growing over but didn't know too much about it.

Is there anything to do to avoid getting surfers ear

It will not deter me from surfing over winter - as it is my absoulute favourite time to surf. Less people - better wave quality.

The price we pay for having fun, hey

[Spoon]

Hey Kyme, There was a thread awhile back on this which was fairly in depth. To give you a quick insight you get a growth in you ear canal which is a way your body trys to adapt to stopping the amount of water getting in. The end result which I am currently dealing with at the moment is the need to get you ear canal drilled to open it up. I have the letter from my doc for the specialist but with at least 6-8 weeks out of the water, no getting wet at all, even in showers, and when I got the left one done about 8 years ago it cost me about $1100 all up so I have been delaying abit. I have also discovered the wonders of bluetack which has helped seal the affected ear when in the water so the delays continue. You just have to put up with regular earaches from wind and water. I will get it done this year so I will do a report when it happens.

[munch]

http://forum.realsurf.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3705
http://forum.realsurf.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1637

[Johnno]

Does keeping your head above water help stop it

No, but it will help your breathing ..................

Wind and water are the cause of it with ppl on the east coast more likely to have the right ear affected due to the southerlies.

Is there anything to do to avoid getting surfers ear

Don't surf ..................... , or wear ear plugs ...........

[munch]

http://forum.realsurf.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2047

[KymE]

Thanks for your replies - and Spoon - good luck with it - I'll catch a couple of waves for you !

Will look up previous posts

[sean--]

Does keeping your head above water help stop it

No, but it will help your breathing ..................

Wind and water are the cause of it with ppl on the east coast more likely to have the right ear affected due to the southerlies.

Is there anything to do to avoid getting surfers ear

Don't surf ..................... , or wear ear plugs ...........

I've got it pretty bad in the left ear. Blu tac is about the best I have found to keep the water out. If you can avoid getting you're ear bored out then do it because I've heard its pretty painful

[Spoon]

I've had my left ear done and don't recall it being that painful just really annoying and frustrating.

[marty]

apparently eyeline make some ear-plugs that are suitable for surfing. well thats what the ear-specialist recommended anyways.

my right ear is well and truly worse then my left ear. said specialist mentioned this due to southerly winds (as already mentioned). He described them as umm knuckles that eventually block your ear passage, which will then have to be drilled.

its definately for real. so do something about it while you can.

[grazza]

Wind and water are the cause of it with ppl on the east coast more likely to have the right ear affected due to the southerlies.

This is true. I have quite bad surfer's ear in my right ear but almost none in my left. As I am deaf in my right ear this doesn't really worry me at all.

[sean--]

Wind and water are the cause of it with ppl on the east coast more likely to have the right ear affected due to the southerlies.

In which case you should keep an eye on this thread - http://forum.realsurf.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5916

And Headmaster Skinner - FWIW I was told by my ear doc that blu-tac and things that block your ear totally are dangerous in big surf because of the possibility of percussion damage - which is why the surfers type plugs have little holes in them.

I only use blu tac because I cant seem to get a proper seal with the plugs. There are silicone ones as well but they dont seem to be much good either.

[el gringo rattis]

its basically little speed humps. Your ear just grows inwards.
the term swimmers/surfers ear is actually the infection that results from the blockage and build up of crap (aka tropical ear). I had my ears checked today- a ok (yay) except for a lot of wax/sand/bluetak hehe i'll spare you the details
apparently ear plugs sometimes just tend to trap the cold water in...... an ear specialist i saw recommended a swimming cap haha.

[bookster]

Anyone got any recommendations for something you put in you ear to get excess wax out? I have had my ears blocked before and got the warm water syringe treatment before, but I'm wondering if there is anything that keeps the wax buildup down...

[Johnno]

Try just a drop or two of olive oil in each ear, every day .

What it will do is stop the wax from going hard and building up in the ear.

[yanks r us]

THE BEST THING TO DO

go to the doctors and they will clean it 100%, when i went there was all dead skin and wax the size of a gold ball.

olive oil doesnt really do nethn except make it easier for the doctore to get all of it out. dont do it your self u mite damage ur eardrum

[bookster]

Yeah, I've been to the quack before, it was amazing how much crap came out of my ears. I was thinking more along the lines of "maintenance" to prevent having to go back for another clean, Johhno's idea sounds ok...

[bradad]

Try just a drop or two of olive oil in each ear, every day .

What it will do is stop the wax from going hard and building up in the ear.

That's what my doctor told me.