Ear drilling

scottnorby · Wed Mar 12, 08 8:26 am **Ear drilling**

Just a heads up to those of you who don't wear any ear protection.
I am not paranoid but I have certainly learned a hard lesson.

I grew up surfing in Oregon since I was a young boy.
I have been in cold water and wind for 25 years.
I developed severe exostosis in both ears. The bones grow shut and I have 80% closure in each ear. Also called Surfer's ear.

Yesterday I had my right ear drilled. 2 weeks of recovery and then we drill out the left ear.
$10,000 an ear if you don't have insurance. Luckily my insurance covers it.

Kiteboarding in cold air and wind is new to a lot of you.
I would highly suggest getting a pair of DOC'S EARPLUGS to save you from this issue.

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2103 Posts PNW Bigfoot

Question? So both cold wind and cold water cause the bone to grow? So in theory, skiing/boarding can also cause this to happen? Is this true?

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1692 Posts XTreme Poster

Exostoses of the external auditory canal
Ear, Nose & Throat Journal, April, 2001 by Jack L. Pulec, Christian Deguine
E-mail Print Link The otoscopic view is that of a left ear with a single large globular sessile exostosis that almost completely obstructs the ear canal. The surgical approach is similar to that for canal skin tympanoplasty. The patient is placed under a local or general anesthetic, and the surgeon works through a speculum. An incision is made in the normal portion of the ear canal. The canal skin and periosteum are elevated from the bone of the exostosis until there is no space for the instruments to move medially. The bone is then removed with a small drill or curette until enough space is again made to elevate more skin toward the annulus. This procedure is repeated by alternately removing bone and elevating skin and periosteum until the entire exostosis has been removed and the ear canal has a normal contour.

rich · Since 30 Nov 2005 306 Posts portland Obsessed

tonski · Since 11 Jun 2005 332 Posts NW Portland Obsessed

Best wishes for a smooth recovery Scott - what are the symptoms to look out for ?

jsj · Since 11 Sep 2006 83 Posts Hood River

Scott-

Bummer. hope you have a good outcome. I wasn't so lucky - went to a crappy surgeon and missed a couple years in the water getting it fixed.

For everybody else: you know you're in trouble when you go to a doc for something, they look in your ears and say, "...you surf, right?" From various docs I've talked to, it sounds like its the combination of cold water and wind. Kayaking, surfing, kiting (and windsurfing of course) all contribute to it.

Pro plugs are good and cheap, I used them for years. Since I got my surgery I've been using custom molded (Westone) plugs that are so much more comfortable that I will never go back. Hoods probably also help, since they keep the wind off.

Its important to realize that the symptoms of surfer's ear (ear infections, water trapped in ear), are just that. The actual problem is bone growth in the ear canal, trapping water (and ear wax) and creating a perfect environment for bacteria to grow.

It's also worth noting that there are two versions of the surgery - the "old" one where they peel your ear back and have go at the ear canal, and the newer "microsurgery" where they peel up flaps of skin from inside the ear canal. Anybody who is contemplating getting it done should talk to more than one surgeon, and make a point of asking which technique they use. If they don't do the microsurgery, find somebody else.

If you ride the coast, or surf a lot, it's going to happen to you - get some plugs to slow it down.

John

shredjim · Since 07 Jun 2006 188 Posts Stoked

Can one of you guys post a link to the recommended place we could buy the ear plugs? I white water kayaked every weekend for 7 years and over the past few years have noticed my hearing ability going down somewhat. I don't think I need the drill yet, but I want to buy some ear plugs to hopefully slow down the process - especially after reading this thread.

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

when i broke my eardrum last year, i just got silicon earplugs at rite-aid, cheap, re-usable (until you get a bunch of sand in them), disposable, and did the trick quite well. since i have some leftover i figure i will probably where them until the water temp is above 55 in the columbia. the silicon is kinda sticky and you can mold it into your ear, works really well.

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

jim, here's the link to what he was referring to.
http://www.proplugs.com/

you can also go to your ear doctor and get custom fit with some nice silicone plugs that fit perfectly... they are very comfy and float... ~$30 if I remember right.

pjc · Since 06 Mar 2005 649 Posts Addicted

These are the plugs. http://www.proplugs.com/ They don't cost much, last forever, and do a stellar job of staying in place, especially when combined with a hood. They allow a decent amount of sound to go through, I would think much more than silicone plugs.

It's nice to buy them from an actual store, as you can try on different sizes to get the right fit. Anyplace that sells whitewater kayak or surf stuff should carry them.

My understanding is they make a huge difference in preventing "surfers ear". I have not heard of anyone using this plugs developing a problem.

I would wonder if coast kiters really need them. You're not getting dunked that often, and a hood should give decent protection against the wind. I don't get ice-cream headaches kiting, even when the hood is pulled back.

Scott, I'll bet it was the surfing more than the kiting that did you in.

People have windsurfed the coast for decades, do they get this?

NateDogg · Wed Mar 12, 08 3:30 pm

Good post Scott...sorry to hear about the condition but stoked to know you're getting it taken care of bro. That whole being-able-to-hear-shit thing is kind of important.

For everyone else, if you just can't stand the possibility of putty or disposable plugs getting jammed in your ear from a hard fall, you can get specialty ear plugs from your audiologist.

The doc takes a mold of your ear, makes a cast and a few weeks later you get hooked up with a custom set of permanently shaped plugs...same process as when they shape molds for hearing aids. They're pretty expensive, but you'll never spend a dime on another set and they come with this clear plastic lanyard that keeps them with you if they come out for some reason. They're super low key...they can be made so other people can barely see them.

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1738 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

man sorry to hear about this situation.
I am wondering exactly how this comes about. I assume a ruptured eardrum is more likely caused by a water impact.
From what i understand, what you have is merely from long term exposure to cold water and cold wind. I do a fair share of cold water kiting and usually wear a helmet in additional to a neoprene headband that fully covers my ear.
I have friends in Holland that have experienced this problem.

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

My pal Norm had his ears drilled for "surfers ear" a few years back ,
A forty year surfer and twenty year windsurfer and a 10 yr. Kiter
He says it comes from your body trying to protect you from the wind and cold
Another good reason for LONG HAIR
and some earplugs and a hood
get well soon

Mocean · Since 21 Sep 2005 343 Posts Newport Obsessed

I found out I had 90% closure about 20 years ago. I've been using custom silicon plugs since that time and have not had any further growth (at least I haven't reached the point where I need surgery or where my hearing's been affected.)

One tip: If you have molds made for silicon plugs, have them order the plugs from Hocks Labs in Portland. Any audiology shop can make the molds, but the material for the actual plugs is critical. The Hocks labs plugs I've been using for years are the only ones I've found that use medical grade silicon. They're so comfortable, keep your ears warm, and also serve as good hearing protection at concerts or using loud machinery. They run about $120 for a pair. A good investment!!

Rollo Tomasi · Since 17 Mar 2005 983 Posts Attractive

scottnorby · Wed Mar 12, 08 8:00 pm

Thanks for the good wishes.
I'll be fine. Been through worse. And I am looking forward to a summer without ear infections.

The symptoms were definitely constant plugging of my ears while I was surfing.....a couple of duck dives and I had to use a finger to jiggle the water out of my ear.
When I lived in San Diego the polluted water really did a number on me. I had ear infections every other month.

Then on a trip to Ventana I got a bad infection that lasted two weeks.
I flew home with the infection and it felt like someone was sticking a knife in my ear....so painful through the pressure changes in the flight.

I continued to have ear clogging through the summer and I would lay in bed at night while water popped in my ear.

Docs told me years ago it was developing. I just put it off.
Just go to Rite Aid and get an ear scope and have someone take a look in your ear.
If there is bone growth it's really obvious.

I am sitting here with cotton in my ear and a scar from the ear lobe to the top of my ear where they cut my ear to get to the canal.
The doctor I chose came highly recommended but I am hoping I am not out of the water for two years like JSJ??
That is horrible man.

Definitely wear some plugs and spare yourselves the trouble.
Worth every penny from my perspective now.

Coastal spring winds are coming!