Surfing Waves

I think I may have picked up an ear infection from being in the water recently. I think this because my ear has since been ringing with tinnitus. Is this a usual symptom of ear infections and can it be easily treated. Thanks for any advice.

I think a doctor would be a better person to ask.

definately go to the doc/nurse practitioner, I get lots of ear infections and no ear ringning for me just deafness pain and some nasty gooey stuff.

May not be an ear infection, try turning your stereo down and see if it clears up

could be sufers ear

you should pray thats it not

make sure you clean your ears properly and dry them thoroughly, this may help, but i would see a doctor first

I have been getting ear infections for as long as I've been surfing. Always the right ear though.

Never had ringing noises though, but I am deaf in that ear. Just pain. And slime. Then a bit more pain and quite a lot more slime.

Go see a doctor. No, really.

Yup, see the doc and get a script for some "suspended" antibiotics. They'll set you right and get you feeling better pronto.


Stone Fox,
Yeah? Me too, except in the left ear... Not so much gunk coming out though, but painful on occasion.

I got a terrible ear infection in nicaragua the whole right side of my face hurt and some of my neck. We went to a pharmacy and got ciproflaxcino pills and some ear drops, but you probably need a prescription.

make sure to wear ear plugs when surfing in cold water otherwise you could pick up a bad ear infection which could lead to an operation. I saw this girl in a surf mag who said she regrets not wearing ear plugs as she had to have 2 ear operations to get heal he surfers ear infection. She had huge stiches and scarring around the ear.

Tinnitus can be from many causes including excessive exposure to loud sound, hearing loss of any cause, allergies, caffeine, stress or ear tumor. While it can go along with an infection, it's not the main symptom.
If tinnitus is present consistently in just one ear for more than 3 months, get checked by an ENT doctor or ear doctor, called an otologist.

Surfers' ear infections are usually painful, associated with plugging or hearing loss and may have drainage ranging from clear to white, yellow, green or brown. There is often an unpleasant odor.

Bone growths in the outer ear canal called exostoses have become known as "surfers ears." It's mother nature's attempt to protect the ear drum from repeated rush of cold water against it. It takes years, even decades of regular surfing for them to reach the level of creating repeated infections by trapping unclear water, sand and shed skin cells from the ear itself. Usually it's much worse on the ear that receives more wind and
flushes of cold water. That's usually the ear on the side a surfer most
often turns into a wave or falls on, depending on technique and which foot is forward.

In experienced hands, the surgical removal is now an outpatient procedure through the ear canal only. A permanent removal is done
with quiet diamond burs and lasers. Done properly they don't grow back
to a symptomatic level, at least in 25 years.

Surfers, please no Q tips in the ears!

I know some people who have ear problems from surfing. they wear blutack in their ears . if that helps

what's a q tip?

Stone Fox wrote:what's a q tip?

http://www.acclaimimages.com/_gallery/_pages/0017-0408-1919-0115.html

Stone Fox and Otter - I get the same problem in just one ear - worked out it's because I faced the same way when taking a wave head on - ie exposing the same ear to the force of the wave.

Not such a big problem since I changed winter suits to one with a hood.....and I also now take any waves straight into my face rather than turning my head to one side........

Yeah, I don't usually have a problem except in summer when the water temp gets above 65 f or so. Cooler water doesn't seem to breed the germs as badly around here I guess. Sure as shootin', every summer I get at least one ear infection.

P.S. If you're allergic to Neosporin, tell the Doc. The drops I got were Neosporin based and being allergic (only allergy I know of that I have) the skin inside my ears started peeling off... Itched like hell, but is better now, I think.

I've got an ear infection now

I think I need to get some ear plugs for next time I'm surfing. Any recommendations?

Chris369 wrote:I've got an ear infection now

I think I need to get some ear plugs for next time I'm surfing. Any recommendations?

sorry to hear that

How bad is the infection? if it hasnt really gotten hold put some lemon juice in your ear - the acid will kill the bacteria.....a nurse who I saw about my ear infection last time told me this. It's not just some "hippie alternative remedy" You can also buy 'ear calm' from the pharmacist. If its bad, make sure you stick to the antibiotic drops or the infection wil keep 'reapearing' time and time again!
I use 'Ear Putty' which I bought from ebay. It hasnt failed so far. I hear that blu tack works pretty well too and is much cheaper.

Sar wrote:

Chris369 wrote:I've got an ear infection now

I think I need to get some ear plugs for next time I'm surfing. Any recommendations?

sorry to hear that

How bad is the infection? if it hasnt really gotten hold put some lemon juice in your ear - the acid will kill the bacteria.....a nurse who I saw about my ear infection last time told me this. It's not just some "hippie alternative remedy" You can also buy 'ear calm' from the pharmacist. If its bad, make sure you stick to the antibiotic drops or the infection wil keep 'reapearing' time and time again!
I use 'Ear Putty' which I bought from ebay. It hasnt failed so far. I hear that blu tack works pretty well too and is much cheaper.

Not sure how bad it is really because I've never had one before so can't compare. I've had the pain for a while though at least since the start of the week and had the feeling of water in my ear before that. Only hurts when I touch my ear though really. I think I'll try and pop into an NHS walk in centre thing today or tomorrow.

Is this the stuff you have? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ear-Plugs-Putty-S ... dZViewItem

Looks alright anyway, the USA swimming team use it so it must be pretty good

there the ones!

I find that when an ear infection first starts your ears just itch a bit and feel uncomfortable. Pain, swelling and/or gooey stuff and you need anti-biotics.

Wicked, ordered some of them this morning.

I've definitely got pain. Also got some anti-biotics now as well. I think I better give surfing this weekend a miss though!