Weird ear problem.

[soy]

Hey I was diving yesterday, got down to about 90ft with my instructor before I started to feel anxious and decided to abort. On my way up I noticed that when I pinched my nose and blew my right ear just kept letting air out.. When I got back on the boat there was some pain and water kept dripping out long after I was dry..

It sounds like things are slightly muffled, and the inside of my ear feels a bit numb. I'm wondering what I should do about this?

 

[jiveturkey]

You equalize and the air just shoots through your ear? You should go to a doctor asap. It's possible that you may have punctured your ear drum. It's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[ZenDiver]

Hey I was diving yesterday, got down to about 90ft with my instructor before I started to feel anxious and decided to abort. On my way up I noticed that when I pinched my nose and blew my right ear just kept letting air out.. When I got back on the boat there was some pain and water kept dripping out long after I was dry..

It sounds like things are slightly muffled, and the inside of my ear feels a bit numb. I'm wondering what I should do about this?

When you ascend, you do not have to pinch your nose and blow, you do this only on descent. You are actually giving yourself a reverse block by doing that. On your next dive do not pinch your nose and blow at all while coming up. The escaping pressure will release on its own. If the pain or swelling continues then I recommend you see your doctor. IMO you suffered a pretty painful reverse block caused by your Valsalva attempts on your ascent and possibly ruptured an ear drum. Sometimes Instructors do not make that clarification to their students but Im sure if you talk to him or her about it they will give you the same advise. Good luck in the future with your diving.

 

[soy]

yeah my instructor said the same pretty much, but he said that if I actually had a reverse block I would've known and it would've hurt.. It didnt hurt at all underwater.. when I told him about the water coming out he said something about pouring alchohol in the ear to help the water come out..

I guess I should see a doctor..

 

[sprange]

I'll leave it up to others to discuss the merits of 'blowing' to equalize on the way UP, but I can comment on your observed ear drainage. I've had the same phenomenon after rupturing my right eardrum (in addition to muffled hearing). I foresee a trip to your family physician/ENT specialist in your future! Do a search and you'll see that it's usually not all that bad, but plan on staying out of the water for a while.

Sean