Earaches... do these clear up without medicine?

[JahJahwarrior]

Never had any problems with my ears after 2 years of diving...this last week, I was in the water for 6 days in a row, and now my ears hurt.

Fresh water in the Florida Springs all 6 days. I do somewhat recall the ears bothering me a bit after about three days but I dismissed it as being because I was diving so much. Never used any "ear beer" at all, until the last day of dives. I do also recall the ears feeling like they were hurting that last day, but it was mild.

They really started to bug me that last night. And now today, a day after I've been in the water, they hurt. Both of them. My left jaw muscle area up near the ear also hurts. When I push on the skin just in front of what I believe is the "tragus," that hurts. Ocassionally, the ears feel itchy inside, and I have stuck a pinky inside a few times, though I have read that is pretty stupid (20/20 hindsight, right?)

The ears feel a bit stuffy like I can't hear everything right. I have used swimmer's ear stuff as of last night after the dives, but that hasn't helped. I only used it once or twice last night and not since then.

Will this clear up on it's own, possibly, or do I need to see a doctor to get some antibiotics?

I am out of town until Sunday, but will only be home Sunday for a few hours in the morning and most doctors aren't open on Sundays, right? Other than that, I won't be home until Tuesday. Do I need to call upt he parents and try to make an appointment somewhere for Sunday morning? Or can I just keep abusing the tylenol for a few more days?

I know that it's best to get a doctors advice but I'm pretty certain that this is the start of an ear infection and I don't want to be stupid with my ears.

And in the future, i will be using ear beer after every day of diving.

 

[nancyscuba]

The "stuffiness" you feel is quite possibly a middle ear infection. Pain is often a sign of inner ear infection. Itchiness is outer ear infection. You should definately see an ENT.

Good luck.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi JahJahwarrior,

Sensations of intense itching within the external auditory canal and pain upon pulling on the ear lobe or pushing on the tragus, and the involvement of both ears, is very suggestive of infection of the external ear canal (otitis externa).

If this is the case, using drops designed to prevent swimmer's ear would not be expected to be of help and may cause additional discomfort.

Once well-established, such infections are not likely to heal spontaneously and usually require the attention of a physician, preferably an ENT. And, the sooner the better.

Helpful?

Regards,

DocVikingo

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice.

 

[DandyDon]

Following DocV's professional advice with this from a layman who's been there, done that both ways: " Earache...do these clear up without medicine?" Maybe, if you live long enough. No I don't guess they're deadly, but you may wish you were with the pain if you go that route. I tried it once and ended up in the office of the only MD of any kind I could find open on a Saturday morning. A combination of oral antibiotics and ear drops containing steroid pain reliever and more antibiotics saved me.

I'd stop in at the next minor emergency clinic I could find with something to read until I got examined and helped. On my last one of these, I was disabled so much I missed two days of work, one day of which I was in too much fear to go to the restroom without the drops. Pain: hate it!

 

[JahJahwarrior]

See, I'm not much of a doctor I know lots of inflamed cuts and stuff heal just fine on their own, so I thought maybe the ears would too. But now that I know that ear infections usually don't, I am getting looked at by a doctor tomorrow morning Thanks for letting me know that ear infections do typically require medicine to heal! Much appreciated!

 

[DandyDon]

I don't like to go to doctors either, but go for it.

 

[stairman]

You should use the ear beer after each dive.Waiting 6 days wouldnt help I woudnt think.

 

[rdharbis1]

See, I'm not much of a doctor I know lots of inflamed cuts and stuff heal just fine on their own, so I thought maybe the ears would too. But now that I know that ear infections usually don't, I am getting looked at by a doctor tomorrow morning Thanks for letting me know that ear infections do typically require medicine to heal! Much appreciated!

I have the same symptoms and the same frame of mind (If I ignore it long enough it will go away, been three days now).
Sooo, how did the doctor visit turn out.

Randy

 

[DandyDon]

I have the same symptoms and the same frame of mind (If I ignore it long enough it will go away, been three days now).
Sooo, how did the doctor visit turn out.

Randy

From my own personal experiences only: The sooner you go, the sooner you obtain healing; the later you go, the more likely you'll be on the verge of tears from the pain by the time you're waiting your turn in the office holding area.

This is a list of threads that mention "swimmers ear" which might be your problem. See link below for 45 min video on equalizing and in the future - use a recently mixed solution of 1/3 alcohol, 1/3 vinegar, 1/3 sterile water in your ears to prevent infection.

 

[TSandM]

In general, I'd be willing to say that once infection has gotten a hold on you ANYWHERE, it is highly advisable to treat it. (There are a few exceptions, especially in the case of things like middle ear infections in children, where many are viral and will resolve spontaneously.) Although the immune system may triumph in the end, the course will be longer and the tissue damage done greater; in addition, any nidus of infection can seed other body sites, or break through into the blood and cause serious systemic illness (although ear infections don't commonly do this -- But in the days before antibiotics, meningitis and mastoiditis were not rare complications of otitis).

If one is fairly certain that a bacterial infection exists, seeing a physician promptly is indicated. This is one of the things I NEVER get irritated about seeing in the ER. Early antibiotic therapy, where it is indicated, minimizes the duration of illness and avoids complications.