It started a day ago, at first I didn't know it was swimmer's ears so I started popping my ear drums (just holding my nose and exhaling making my ears pop) and I was wondering if that was going to harm my ear drums severly.
Also, I'm not sure if I should go to the doctors or just wait it out until the pain goes away. I've had near deafness in the ear and severe pain. I've had swimming for a whole week but I also have a cold, but I have all the symptoms of swimmers ear just not the drainage.
2006-12-03 10:28:51 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Injuries
But I need to know when I popped my ears, if it harmed my eardrums.
2006-12-03 10:36:52 · update #1
If you think you have swimmers ear, you need to get to a doctor ASAP. You need to be started on antibiotics as there is a bacteria in your ear. If left untreated, swimmers ear is not a pretty thing and can lead to very serious medical issues. Please go see your doctor.
2006-12-03 10:31:54 · answer #1 · answered by KJ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No you did not harm your eardrums by popping your ears. They are made to function that way. The procedure is called a valsalva maneuver, and is commonly done by flying personnel to equalize pressure between the inner ear and the outside air. The inner ear is connected to the back of the throat via the eustachian tube, which is how it normally drains. If you get an infection of the inner ear which blocks the tube, the fluid will build up and can cause the eardrum to bulge outwards. Since the inner ear is where the actual physical business of hearing is done, you would have some loss of hearing with an inner ear infection. You would also experience pain in the ear, and likely in the jaw just below the infected ear.
A case of swimmer's ear is caused by bacteria growing in the external ear canal, and can be very painful. The pain feels different from the pain of an inner ear infection, and you would still be able to pop the eardrum. You might be able to pop the drum with an inner ear infection, but it would be uncomfortable to downright painful to do. Either way, you need to visit the doctor for the proper diagnosis and medicine to take care of the problem. Since you have a cold, you could well have an infection in either or both places. In the meantime, you can put a warm heating pad on the bad ear to help make it hurt less, take Tylenol, and you can even continue popping your ears to encourage drainage through the eustachian tube so long as it is not really painful to do so. You won't blow out the eardrum and you won't harm anything at all. Go see the doctor as soon as possible, and while you are there mention that you swim regularly. There are drops for the ear that will discourage swimmer's ear from developing in the first place, or you might like to invest in some silicone ear plugs designed for swimmers.
2006-12-03 18:51:52 · answer #2 · answered by The mom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Swimmer's ear sucks, doesn't it? I had it as a kid and it's awful.
I'm a doctor now, though, and I can give you some advice on this. If you're certain it is swimmer's ear (also known as otitis externa) it is typically caused by a particular bacteria known as pseudomonas aeruginosa. This bug has developed all sorts of resistance to antibiotics but the one thing that it has not developed resistance to is acetic acid commonly known as vinegar.
If you don't have the means to afford a doctor's visit, here is what I recommend: give a tug on your ear...if it is exquisitely painful then it is otitis externa. If that's the case, your eardrum is not at risk. What you need to do is dilute some vinegar with some water, either a quarter or half part vinegar and put it in your ear with an ear dropper. Jam a cotton ball in there to keep it in. Do it for a week. The pain should resolve. If it doesn't, suck up the cost and go see a doctor. Hope this helps.
2006-12-06 18:03:20 · answer #3 · answered by tiredsurgeon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i had swimmer ear this summer and i was like you. you should get to the doctor right away it cost bout $20 and is painless the doc looks in u ear and walla! and it is from dirty water or bacteria in the water. also if you cant get to the doctor right away you should go to walmart and get an over the counter pain relever (it helps)
2006-12-03 18:36:09 · answer #4 · answered by phoenix_1151 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used to surf alot and I know what you are talking about. I use a drop or two of rubbing alcohol, works everytime.
2006-12-03 23:51:37 · answer #5 · answered by sunburned 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should wait a day or more before con sulting a doctor. if the pains still stays. you should con sult your doc.
2006-12-03 18:35:26 · answer #6 · answered by Arnold 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
see a dr asap
you need anti-biotics if you have swimmer's ear
i know it is painful
it won't get better if you don't
2006-12-03 18:31:30 · answer #7 · answered by Bren 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋