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Blown Eardrum. Experiences?

M

Muscles

Michael Peterson status
Jun 1, 2013
2,648
3,719
113
California/Hawaii
Long story short, last week I had a freak accident while surfing and suffered a blown eardrum. Fell wrong and felt it happen as I hit the water. Lost all equilibrium underwater and became totally disoriented. Thankfully I was able to just stand up and get my bearings.

The pain was really intense once I got out of the water. I went to the ER and was able to be seen immediately by an ENT specialist. The Doctor scoped my ear and said there is a minor tear in my eardrum and significant trauma indicated by severe bruising. I was told it will heal on its own and to stay out of the water until your ear feels better.

That night my ear started draining pus and blood. It still drains throughout the day and is still painful almost a week after the injury. I'm also growing concerned since I can't hear anything out of my ear and am suffering from severe tinnitus. I was given ear drops to prevent infection and told to keep the ear dry when taking a shower.

Looking for anyone who experienced this type of injury. Any insight would be helpful. I'm becoming more and more concerned about permanent damage when I research this injury.

Thank you for coming to my Ted talk.
 
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rowjimmytour

Tom Curren status
Feb 7, 2009
11,534
5,839
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Muscles said:
Long story short, last week I had a freak accident while surfing and suffered a blown eardrum. Fell wrong and felt it happen as I hit the water. Lost all equilibrium underwater and became totally disoriented. Thankfully I was able to just stand up and get my bearings.

The pain was really intense once I got out of the water. I went to the ER and was able to be seen immediately by an ENT specialist. The Doctor scoped my ear and said there is a minor tear in my eardrum and significant trauma indicated by severe bruising. I was told it will heal on its own and to stay out of the water until your ear feels better.

That night my ear started draining pus and blood. It still drains throughout the day and is still painful almost a week after the injury. I'm also growing concerned since I can't hear anything out of my ear and am suffering from severe tinnitus. I was given ear drops to prevent infection and told to keep the ear dry when taking a shower.

Looking for anyone who experienced this type of injury. Any insight would be helpful. I'm becoming more and more concerned about permanent damage when I research this injury.

Thank you for coming to my Ted talk.
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Go to urgent care and have write you prescription for antibiotics. The eardrum once the infection is gone well heal alone.
 
john4surf

john4surf

Kelly Slater status
May 28, 2005
9,895
5,772
113
CBS, CA
I’ve punctured my right ear drum twice (water related). First time as a teen, as I popped it trying a 2 ½ summersault dive off the 1 meter board and turned my head just before impact with the water and took it in the ear. I went to the clinic and the doc looked and said, no, I don’t think it’s punctured. I told him to look again so, he took the little plastic funnel eye piece and looked in my ear (as I held my nose/closed my lips an blew air and water out the ear). Got him right in the eye and he changed his opinion. Gave me 3 prescriptions; antibiotic, pain and I think a prescription level antihistamine to help dry up the inner-ear canal. No more water sports for 3 or so weeks as far as I can recall. Second time, in the water I perforated again and after getting over the light headedness, took some over the counter antihistamine pills and kept the ear dry for a few weeks. Healed on its own.

I had to have my right ear dremeled in my late 40s (surf, wind, cold water, etc). I now have substantial hearing loss in the right ear compared to less hearing loss in my left ear. Doc said it could have been age related, noise from shooting guns in the military (pre ear protection) or loud music but the odd thing is my left ear has very little hearing loss. Of course, as a teen I was an idiot and used to take a drag off my cigarette, hold my nose and blow the smoke out my ear (but I didn’t tell any adults at the time). G’luck with your recovery Muscles! John
 
M

Muscles

Michael Peterson status
Jun 1, 2013
2,648
3,719
113
California/Hawaii
littlewave said:
Dude, see an ENT, stat...ER didn't give you follow up instructions to see an ENT?
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I went straight from the ER to an ENT doctor who diagnosed it. He used a specialized scope to look closer at my ear drum and gave me some ear drops to prevent infection.

I'm just starting to grow more concerned since it happened almost a week ago and I still can't hear. I have a follow up today with my primary care doctor to see what he thinks.
 
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Bob Dobbalina

Miki Dora status
Feb 23, 2016
5,441
6,105
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I blew mine out 3 times.

Some worse than others. One time was exactly how you described it. water hit me square in the right ear, went down and felt water pass through the tear under pressure and it was a shocking feeling. Lots of white noise. Came up dizzy, hearing really off.

My mom worked at a pediatrics office at the time and had me come in. The student doc looked and said nothing was wrong. The main doctor (also a surfer), was like, "yeah, you gotta get behind that big piece of inflammation there...." and it was obviously torn.

antibiotics
out of the water
It heals.
 
L

littlewave

Michael Peterson status
Nov 15, 2009
2,928
178
63
Orange County
Muscles said:
I went straight from the ER to an ENT doctor who diagnosed it. He used a specialized scope to look closer at my ear drum and gave me some ear drops to prevent infection.

I'm just starting to grow more concerned since it happened almost a week ago and I still can't hear. I have a follow up today with my primary care doctor to see what he thinks.
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As a frequent flyer at the ENT, had that scope many times. Just finishing up two weeks of not being able to hear from a, get this, fungal ear infection. Took one trip to primary, and four to ENT to finally find out it was fungal, got the right drops in there and started to clear up. Obviously not your situation, but I guess my point is just keep following up with ENT until you get somewhere. No shame in following up until you're comfortable.
 
casa_mugrienta

casa_mugrienta

Duke status
Apr 13, 2008
47,143
21,768
113
Petak Island
Unfortunately I consider myself an expert on the topic.

Blew my left ear after botching a backside bottom turnabout 8 years ago.

It never healed. Was told it may never heal.

Nine months out of the water and 4 ENTs later finally found a good doctor who did a tympanoplasty, 2 months later finally got the go ahead to surf.

Also, you're wearing earplugs from here on out unless you want it to perforate again. Because otherwise it will.

What I learned:

First, most ENTs simply aren't that great. Being in my field I was always told this - once I became a patient I began to understand this. Every ENT seems to have a different opinion. I don't know why this is. Some seem very familiar with one aspect of ENT practice and very unfamiliar with other aspects and will need to send you to their buddy. Pretty shitty.

Second, your ear will only heal - and heal fully - if:
- it is kept infection free
- it is kept 100% dry (a drop of water and it's won't heal.)
- it is vascular enough (has good blood supply)

Lots of eardrum do not heal completely. You need to make sure yours is healed completely before you go back in the water.

Buy some silicone ear covers and keep your ear canal plugged when showering. Traditional advice from an ENT will say smear a piece of cotton with vaseline. For myself personally I'm not too fond of putting vaseline, which can harbor dirt and bacteria, near an area I'm trying to keep infection free and I would find an alternative method if I had to do it again.

Oh and since the injury I have roaring tinnitus in that ear 24/7.:)
 
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M

Muscles

Michael Peterson status
Jun 1, 2013
2,648
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113
California/Hawaii
@casa_mugrienta Thanks for sharing your first hand experience. I purchased Mack's silicon ear plugs and plug my ear every time I shower. I've read so many things from people who said it was no big deal to people who share your experience. A friend of mine blew his the same way I did and said he was sidelined for 6 months. I'm just hoping and praying that I don't suffer long term hearing loss since I already had some hearing issues from a previous job.

I went to my primary care doc today and he prescribed naproxen for the pain and said to follow up in a few weeks to get a hearing test done. So right now I'm just taking it easy and hoping it heals correctly.
 
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K

kai kane

OTF status
May 15, 2003
332
7
18
pacific
Hi - had similar experience. Face plant on late drop (only head high wave) and my head was spinning underwater immediately. Based on friends' stories, I had pretty good idea what happened and avoided immediate panic. It definitely helped that I could stand on reef while getting reoriented. Long story short, I also saw doctor who confirmed it was a small tear and would eventually heal. I had the same probs with hearing loss, puss, etc. Those mostly went away in about 6 weeks but was careful to avoid direct water contact. Longer term that ear has been far more prone to infection and now I need to wear plug in it every session. That has kept the repeated infections in check. It's hard but taking time to let it heal will pay off in long term. From every story I heard you don't want the small tear turn into large one requiring surgery.
 
casa_mugrienta

casa_mugrienta

Duke status
Apr 13, 2008
47,143
21,768
113
Petak Island
kai kane said:
Longer term that ear has been far more prone to infection and now I need to wear plug in it every session. That has kept the repeated infections in check.
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Repeat infections...has an ENT taken a good look at the ear to see if it's completely healed? Sometimes they don't completely heal - primary care doctor may not have a good eye for it but and ENT should.

Does it pop just like your other ear on a plane?
 
V

VaB

Michael Peterson status
Nov 14, 2004
3,128
747
113
Virginia Beach, VA
Muscles said:
@casa_mugrienta Thanks for sharing your first hand experience. I purchased Mack's silicon ear plugs and plug my ear every time I shower. I've read so many things from people who said it was no big deal to people who share your experience. A friend of mine blew his the same way I did and said he was sidelined for 6 months. I'm just hoping and praying that I don't suffer long term hearing loss since I already had some hearing issues from a previous job.

I went to my primary care doc today and he prescribed naproxen for the pain and said to follow up in a few weeks to get a hearing test done. So right now I'm just taking it easy and hoping it heals correctly.
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I ruptured mine back in 2005 which actually brought me to this forum ironically. my buddy, vbsurfer posted a question for surf doc.

Be cautious. I'd stay in contact with your ENT over your PCP as they have more specialized knowledge for pretty much any concern regarding infection, healing or pain.

What casa said about being 100% better before submerging your head is completely true. I would put Vaseline on a cotton ball to plug the ear canal every time I would even shower. Get the ok from the ENT or you could develop a very dangerous infection.

My course was fairly uneventful. Healed after a few weeks ( 8 maybe? ) and no long term complications.
 
M

Muscles

Michael Peterson status
Jun 1, 2013
2,648
3,719
113
California/Hawaii
Update:

PCP appointment yesterday and he calmed me down and told me hearing loss and tinnitus at this point is normal. He said to revisit an ENT in 3-4 weeks so they can do a hearing test and reexamine the ear drum.

Thanks for all the well wishes. Being sidelined isn't fun but I guess I can concentrate on all the house projects I've been putting off.
 
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000

000

Duke status
Feb 20, 2003
27,072
9,115
113
blew mine out when a wave hit it just right
i could feel water goin in deeper than usual, hurt but want that bad. i am sure i coulda blown it out worse.
but it healed up good as new eventually. had to stay outta the water for awhile though
 
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