Eardrum

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Eardrum

by Kevin Harris
(East London South Africa )

A rather lame wipeout down a wave face onto my left ear , at my local break Nahoon Reef South Africa left me reeling with vertigo after a suspected rupture of my eardrum. Is it possible to continue surfing with a set of Docs Earplugs and a hoodie ? It seems if there is no infection the injury generally heals within a few weeks , but I am not keen to stay out the water too long , as I am returning to Surfing after a really long lay off of sheer insane lack of direction and for some reason losing my surfing habit , any help from members who have similar stories?

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Eardrum

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Jan 17, 2011
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Perforated eardrum
by: Mark Bates

Having blown out both, I am, unfortunately, an expert on this subject.

First and foremost, as much as it hurts, STAY OUT OF THE WATER. It only takes two or three weeks to heal, in most cases. You will get an ear infection that will hurt like hell AND keep you out longer.

I blew my left one out three weeks ago and I'm back in the water today. I saw my ENT doc today and he said that Doc's plugs are OK, but the best thing is a hood,as it will minimize any impact on the ear. He also said that it takes a couple of years to really get strong again.

Apr 19, 2010
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At your own risk
by: Banyardi

The thing about Doc's Pro Plugs (DPPs) is that they are vented by design. That's so the pressure differential doesn't get so bad while you are duck-diving or wiping out underwater that you rupture your ear drum from the pressure differential. That being said... yes you could wear DPPs with a hoodie and continue surfing.

I see two possible consequences. You may still feel vertigo, and you will expose your inner ear to sea water which has bacteria that can go septic on you. If you can deal with those two issues, then go ahead and get back in the water. I had to deal with this exact situation 3 years ago, and my advice would be give it a break for a month.

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