Who has the worst surfer's ear?

Smokin Rock · Post by **Smokin Rock** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 7:45 am

i've found that having one deaf ear makes for marital bliss, for me at least maybe not my wife.

Wheelo · Post by **Wheelo** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 10:57 pm

Plugs and Cap... year-round.... have really helped me !
I previously got several Knarley middle-ear infections (behind ear drum) not -fun ... I was lucky to "see the light" on this-one @1981 Thanks to several surfing "Docs" going public with the whole ear thing.
Before that..... the sand just pored out...

surfhorn · Post by **surfhorn** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 7:42 am

Just had my ears checked yesterday: Left ear 70% closed and the right ear has been having problems since Labor Day weekend when I body surfed The Wedge and had forgotten to pack my Doc's Pro Plugs.

Its the first time I've had ear problems since 1979, the year I started wearing Doc's Pro Plugs.

The problem with my right ear goes way beyond just surfing. One of my gigs is that I'm a pro trumpeter and a plugged ear really makes playing music difficult.

Earplugs and/or a hood is the call for all you younger (and older) KBers out there. Start now and don't surf w/out protection. I've spoken with
Doc Scott and he will be on site with his tent and ear plugs/info for the US Champiionships in Santa Cruz Nov 18-20.

K-man · Post by **K-man** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 10:31 am

mornin all,

In the bottom of my surf pack there is a small plastic bag of cotton balls.
Forget the plugs?Make ctton ball to size,wad and put in,works great with or without hood.Water will not leak through

cheers

caples_creek · Post by **caples_creek** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 8:29 am

A fellow by the name of Doctor Wells, San Clemente. When I lived in Socal he was the guy for sure.

He fixed my ear big time.

barry · Post by **barry** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 6:03 pm

Maybe some of you people with ear issues should try 'ear cones'
there is a recent photo in the misc file. I have benefited from these treatments. It couldn't hurt (non invasive) and inexpensive....
might even help, worked for me and lots of others

DrStrange · Post by **DrStrange** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 6:51 pm

Ears are back up front tonight. Was just cruising at Swaylocks and read this:

Back in 1978 I had a terrible case of surfers ear so bad that one ear canal eas 80% closed and the other ear was about 60% closed. The doctor said he wished he had a camera that took ear pics since mine was one of the worst cases he'd seen. I started using a mixture of half alcohol and half vinegar in my ears after every surf and shower. 11 years later I had them checked again and the doctor said they were fine and very open. He felt hat the vinegar was the secret since it abates boney growth and after 11 years the growths were gone. They say that vinegar helps with arthritus which is also calcium deposits which is what is growing in your ears.

Actually what we call surfers ear is a malady that fisherman have been suffering from before surfing was invented. Any one who spends a lot of time on the ocean or lakes where there is a lot of cold wind is subject to it. I have to disagree about the vinegar since your skin will absorb the vinegar and eventually it reaches the exostosis underneath. The alcohol evaporates but not the vinegar. The surfers ear drops with glycerin never worked for me. All it does is dry the ear canal and like you said the glycerin is added to help prevent cracking of the skin. It was an Ear specialist who informed me that the vinegar does abate the boney growths but you have to use it almost every day in order for it to have an effect. Another thing which helps is an ear bulb syringe for flushing the accumulated crud in the ear canal that ear wax can't get out because of the exostosis. It's a maintenance program that can take years but it works and one of the scariest things about the operation is there is a faint possibility that the surgery can cause a stroke if not done correctlly The doctor told me he wished he had before and after pictures of my ear canals for medical journal information.

I know some swear by the Ear Candles but when I tried it looked to me what showed up in the cone was wax from the cone, not my ears. I have also used drugstore drops of special thick peroxide several days in a row and then hosed em out with a rubber bulb thingy used also for baby's butts and got lotta more nasty gunk out than you want to know about or was in the candles...

surfhorn · Post by **surfhorn** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 8:07 pm

This has been my worst year for ear problems since 1980. I've barely been able to surf since Labor Day weekend.

Thank gawd for cordless drills............

DrStrange · Post by **DrStrange** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:57 am

Thank gawd for cordless drills............

ok...ok...now don't mooooovvvvveeee......

Duane Bosch · Post by **Duane Bosch** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 3:25 am

Hey guys.

I've never had the surgery but I have been getting ear infections ever since I started surfing.

I recently tried a bit of wakeboarding and went down hard. The short story is that I got a massive middle ear infection and went off to the doctor.

She prescribed anitbiotics, painkillers and a set of tablets to stop me getting the runs from the antibiotics. I had an alergic reaction to the painkillers similar to a bad case of food poisoning. Nightmare.

For those of you who like me seem to be prone to ear infections my doctor has one bit of advice. DON'T USE EARBUDS TO CLEAN YOUR EARS. Basically what they do is push most of the earwax deeper into your ear. This coupled with the water in your ear will cause an infection.

Surfers and swimmers are not the only people to gat surfers ear. Cyclists, Motorcyclists and factory workers have been known to get it.

Imagine living in North Dakota having never even seen the ocean and being diagnosed with surfers ear.

HALFMANRIPS/MIKE GARRETT · Tue Jan 11, 2005 8:41 am

it suck's !

i have it pretty good so i go to the ent about 3 times a year and have them do a deep

cleaning of the ear drum.

after showers i use the blow dryer on med to dry them out !

sucks gettin old

good luck !!!

surfhorn · Post by **surfhorn** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 9:18 am

My ears are so screwed up you need to

hit the Cap Lock and then hit BOLD

K-man · Post by **K-man** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 11:54 am

Way too much wining

.....

The answers are in the past threads,in the forums.One more time...I've been at this for[40+yrs]Had major ear problems,all the stuff you talk about.Passed on the operation-we all know what happens,they grow back,.There are at least three styles of ear plugs on the market,and they all work.Keeps out the water,and breaks down the wind aspect.I've even used cotton balls,and they achieve the same purpose.On cold days The rubber hat is on,and even with pulgs on I can hear what needs to be heard....Or I can ignore what I don't need to hear

The doc says that my ears are in better shape than 20yrs ago...I've heard all kinds of excuses,I can't hear!!You'd rather have an ear infection

Don't hear the cousins bitching about this stuff,do ya?wonder why.No brain,no pain.

No doubt I'll get some shite about this one.....

K

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Who has the worst surfer's ear?

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