Ear injury

[migio]

Went scuba diving a little over a week ago and traumatized my ear drum from what ive been told by a company doctor.I have had a ringing tone in my ear for over a week now as a result of trying to equalize my ears underwater via the "Valsava Maneuver".

Just wondering if anyone on here has ever had this happen.Several folks have told me that this problem i have will most likely heal itself over time.The company doc told me that there could be permanent hearing damage,which would suck.Also wondering if anyone knows of any ENT's(Ear,Nose,and Throat specialists)

My eardrum now has some redness to it,from what the company doc saw,but couldnt really speculate any further.

Thanks for any suggestions/advice.

 

[getrad]

I punctured my eardrum last year (diving). All I had to do was stay out of the water for a month and it healed itself with no hearing loss. I almost went crazy while it healed. Low-pitched sounds drove me nuts! Fast Forward to my FAA medical. As the Doc is looking my ear, he says "wow, there is nothing in there". I think I'm in big trouble. Turns out it is just his joke about pilots not having much grey matter. Hope everything turns out alright for you.​

 

[hoop]

Had something similar happen to me several years ago. Trying to equalize, and wasn't patient enough. Still had a little pressure on my right ear, but kept descending while trying to equalize. Big mistake. Don't ever push it. I got what is known as a middle ear barotrauma (sp?). My ear rang for 5 months constantly. Went to an audiologist who diagnosed me. My ear doesn't ring constantly anymore, but will ring on occasion for no reason. Had some hearing loss out of the deal too. Doc said there was nothing he could do for me. The moral of this story is don't be a dumbass and try and force it! I will use a nasal decongestant (sshhhh!) before I dive now, to get the sinuses good and open. good luck!

 

[migio]

Hey guys thanks for the replies.Sounds like ill probably have a ringing in my left ear for several months.Does the ringing just gradually go away?

Thanks

 

[hoop]

Sounds like ill probably have a ringing in my left ear for several months.Does the ringing just gradually go away?

Yeah, it will bug the heck out of you for awhile, then you'll just kind of get use to it, then one day you won't notice it anymore. At least that was the case with mine.

 

[migio]

Yeah, it will bug the heck out of you for awhile, then you'll just kind of get use to it, then one day you won't notice it anymore. At least that was the case with mine.

I really hope its temporary.Gonna try and have an ENT doc check it out monday.Did you get any meds for it initially? I was given some sinus medicine but it didnt do jack.Im grounding myself for a week,hopefully that will help since the doc said that pressure changes aggravates it.

 

[hoop]

No, no meds. Really nothing you can do for it. Yeah, try to avoid the pressure changes for awhile. I would think that pressure on it would just make the healing process that much longer. my 2cents. Good luck.

 

[migio]

From what the doc said,pressure makes the healing process last longer.The ringing is still constant and probably will be for a few months.It hasnt quieted down.Did the ringing in your ear(hoop)gradually quiet down?How long did you stop flying for? I have to fly in 1 more week.

 

[Flying Illini]

Interesting...I have a ringing in my ears that comes and goes under no particular circumstances. I sometimes go weeks without it, other times it happens twice a day, then just as fast, it's gone for a while. It sounds like a high-pitched electronic ringing that lasts for a few seconds, rarely longer, then it's gone. It rarely occurs in both ears at the same time...usually it's one or the other. Many years ago my doctor told me that the cause was most likely the # and/or severity of the blows I have recieved to the head at one time or another (goalkeeper for 12 years).

I've often wondered this, say you experience a rapid/explosive decompression at altitude, what is the most likely outcome for your ears? Permanent damage? Blown ear drums? Could you be bleeding from the ears? Could you be incapacitated by something other than loss of O2? What would be the most likely cause of incapacitation besides lack of O2?

 

[DC8 Flyer]

Interesting...I have a ringing in my ears that comes and goes under no particular circumstances. I sometimes go weeks without it, other times it happens twice a day, then just as fast, it's gone for a while. It sounds like a high-pitched electronic ringing that lasts for a few seconds, rarely longer, then it's gone. It rarely occurs in both ears at the same time...usually it's one or the other. Many years ago my doctor told me that the cause was most likely the # and/or severity of the blows I have recieved to the head at one time or another (goalkeeper for 12 years).

I've often wondered this, say you experience a rapid/explosive decompression at altitude, what is the most likely outcome for your ears? Permanent damage? Blown ear drums? Could you be bleeding from the ears? Could you be incapacitated by something other than loss of O2? What would be the most likely cause of incapacitation besides lack of O2?

I have a constant ringing in my ears, cannot sleep in a completely silent room, tv or fan HAS to be on. Doc told me it is a "disease" call minears (min yers). I also have lost quiet a bit of my very high frequency hearing, no biggie, but that is from spending all of high school with my head in the trunk of my car with 2 15" kickers thumping away to 2LiveCrew.

I went through a high altitude chambers in college. We did a 20 or 25K explosive decompression, I noticed nothing in my ears.