Good Read on Surfers Ear in the AC press today

Interesting article. I think alot of people have ear problems with the surf and ocean and not just frequent, cold water surfing. I've had many ear aches after being in the ocean. I have a friend who only goes to the ocean for 1 week each summer, and he's had to go to the ER 2x in recent years to get treated for severe ear pain after swimming and playing in the surf. Now he always brings ear plugs or just doesn't go in.

 

Have an Uncle with tinitus. He reduced his salt intake (food) and it mada a major difference.

 

ya, i know this topic has been discussed quite a bit on these forums... just do a search for "surfers ear". I unfortunately deal with ear/sinus problems, and the ENT doc told me I have surers ear - but not terrible.

 

interesting

What's the correlation between salt and ear pain ??

 

I feel like everyone experiences ear ringing from just tech. In general And cell phone radiation


I saw a add in surf mag for a portable hot air ear dryer for surfers .. you should buy one.

 

Just curious .Anyone know how cold the water has too be to really get any effects on Surfers ear?

 

it doesnt really have to be cold, just water in your ear paired with wind can do it. ive read articles about guys in hawaii with surfers ear

 

Is the bone growth visible or touchable.. or deep in the canals where u would not know how to find it ...

 

Pretty sure it's deep into the ear canal. You'd probably have to dig a bit if you wanted to touch it . They use some tiny drills to get rid of the bone growth in there, gives me the chills thinking about it. Not enough to stop me from surfing the cold water though. Cheers!

 

Last winter/spring i had some serious problems with surfers ear. After every session i would have water trapped deep in my ear that would stay there for up to a couple days when it was at its worst. I haven't gone to a doctor yet but i have experienced a loss of hearing and i'll definately be investing in some earplugs this year when the hood comes off. For anyone that uses plugs any suggestions on a brand?

 

I was at that stage about three-five years ago and have been to an ear doctor several times and been told i'm 80-90% closed up with bone growth. I've had the surgery scheduled and then cancelled it due to being so freaked out about the drilling.

Whenever i'm not wearing a hood, i'm pretty much wearing plugs. That routine has kept me relatively symptom free for about two years now.

Doc's pro plugs (soft plastic cups that sort of fit into your ear opening) are the choice of many but i didnt like the way they felt and have have to be fitted properly or they will just fall out. You can hear better with Doc's

I use Mack's silicone putty plugs and just break off the right amount of putty, form ball and shove it in. If the waves are small, i usually make the whole session without either one falling out. If its big, your lose one or both eventually but if your ears are not already infected, one session here and there with the plugs missing is fine.

Not hearing people around you in the lineup talking unless you paddle over is wieird.

This:

 

^ can you just get those at CVS or Riteaid or what?

 

yep............

 

yep, i prefer macks as well. Doc Pro Plugs fall out, and I lose them, plus they are more expensive. I hate no hearing impairment in the water tho.

And, as far as tinnitus... I first started noticing it around 7 years ago or so, and it never went away. Every doc I talked to hasn't offered me too many suggestions. I notice when I'm well rested it seems better. I generally only notice it when i'm in bed and everything is quiet... Its not terrible for me, but if it got worse it would suck!

 

do you think the ear plugs throw off your balance? I know when I first throw on the hood in the fall/winter the first few sessions are bad because I have to adjust.

 

There is also a chisel method vs the drilling.
Interesting link on it from the great SurfySurfy blog. Graphic pics and video included.

Edit: I just saw that the article mentioned the chisel method