Another Ruptured Eardrurn

(sandman59) · (sandman59) **Join Date: Aug 2002** 06-20-2003, 6:22 PM

This morning I paid for a 30 minute session with Shaun Murray and ended up with a hole in my eardrum. (I have never been behind a fully weighted Air Nautique before...Wow) The doctor at the emergency room said up to two monthes to heal by itself, faster if I go to a specialist to help the healing. Any thoughts out there on estimate time before I go back in the water? I am going to the specialist asap. Two monthes is about the lenght of our season in PA.

Rich

(thane_dogg) · (thane_dogg) **Join Date: Jun 2002** 06-20-2003, 7:43 PM

I'm pretty sure I busted mine on Sunday at lake mead. I just put an ear plug in and rode on monday and I'm planning on riding this weekend. I went to the doctor and she prescribed me some antibiotics and told me to come back in a week, so Mon. or Tues. I heard it takes a couple weeks to heal by itself, maybe your's is really bad?

(bob) · (bob) **Join Date: Feb 2001** 06-22-2003, 10:26 PM

Thane what were you doing at the time??

(justridin) · (justridin) **Join Date: Oct 2002** 06-23-2003, 12:13 AM

Richard,

I blew mine right out a couple of years ago and the doc said the same thing, two months. I resisted the call for about five days. Just kept the lakewater out of that ear. I stuffed it full of an earplug material that was like silly putty before riding and wore a headband to hold it in place. Looked silly and my balance was off but at least the season was not done.

The above in no way constitutes medical advice!

(shutupandboard)

Holy crap. When i busted mine. I couldn't stop crying for a freckin week. I didn't feel like doing ANYTHING for a couple weeks.
PS. It's been over a year and it's still not right.

(yeah_bud) · (yeah_bud) **Join Date: Jun 2003** 06-23-2003, 4:40 AM

I busted my eardrum diving out of the rafters of an inn door pool. I then busted it 7 or 8 times after that because it wasn't healing properly. All I had to do was go underwater and it would bust again. I would always get that Garlicy taste and get dizzy. Anyway I had to have 2 surgerys (called a fat patch)last summer and I'm ridding again now. They take some fat from the back of your earlobe and patch the hole with it. The only problem was the first time it slipped out of place, so I had to do it again. Out of the water 4 months.

Anyway take it seriously it can cause damage! Give it time to heel. Also some water can cause infection which will really mess you up.

(thane_dogg) · (thane_dogg) **Join Date: Jun 2002** 06-23-2003, 9:15 AM

Bob - I just did a wake to wake 180, kinda sketched the landed my back foot came around and WHAM!! it was definitely the hardest hit I've ever taken, and the people in the boat said that it was the worst face plant they had ever seen, but I guess that happens. I would have kept riding, I didn't feel any pain, it just kinda freaked me out, and I couldn't hear.

(sandman59) · (sandman59) **Join Date: Aug 2002** 06-23-2003, 7:40 PM

I went to a ear/nose/throat specialist today and he installed a patch over the ruptured area of the ear drum. I am now looking at getting back in the water (with a silicon type earplug) during the 4th of July week-end. I also ordered a Darin Shapiro designed wakeboarding helmet with detachable earflaps today. I figure on using it the rest of the year. If it isn't too much of a pain in the ass, I may alway wear one.

(cramey) · (cramey) **Join Date: Jun 2001** 06-23-2003, 9:33 PM

i've 'ruptured' both my eardrums, my left first. With a helmet and without.

for me it only took about 2-4 weeks to heal completely.

Just don't mess with it, leave it alone, don't try to blow air out, use the antibiotic. and once it heals, you'll know... then just take it easy for a week or so.