Cauliflower ear

[Jarlo Ilano]

I've had some swelling in the ears previously that had gone down by themselves without being too bad.

But the other night it swelled much more.

Do you folks go right to a doctor, or is there anything I can do myself.

Thanks.

[Dan Chomycia]

Usually they use a syringe to drain the fluid out because if it hardens(Heals) it might stay that way, so it might be time specific and you probably want to get it done fairly soon. I'm not sure on the time thing and I don't know if their is a better procedure to reduce the size other than that which may suck.

It has never happened to me but I have seen it happen when I trained at AMC.

I used to think it only happened over time but I have been told that in can actually happen in an instant.

How did it happen to you bro?

[Coach Mohrdieck]

Hi Jarlo,

you should go to the ear specialist doctor asap. I have a nice looking ear cause I went to the wrong doc and he treated me 'wrong'.
And you should not wait until the liquid starts to become hard (after three to six weeks).

Otherwise: ears are looking funny anyway.

Warm regards,
Raimar

[Randell Waddell]

Perhaps those of you that already have a cauliflower ear, or train with someone who has one, would highlight how easily thereafter, it is to unhinge / tear the ear away from the side of the head. :shock: :shock: :shock:

Please allow me to encourage you get yourself to the appropriate Doc and get it sorted asap.

R.

[AnthonyThompson]

I had troble with an my ear strating to califlower about a year back my uncel whos a doctor drained for my in like to minutes .
simaler to u I had a slight sweling the was getting dieing down and flaring up and becoming quite painful .
So get to a doctor asap better safe that sorry

Anthony

[Jarlo Ilano]

Yeah, I hear you all. I hate going to the doctor. Its a consequence of having a nurse for a mom and a pharmacy tech for a dad, we never had to go to the doc!

But my wife scheduled me to see someone on Monday a.m. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm sure it will be interesting.

Coach Dan,

Previous swellings were from hits to the head, a knee to the ear when I was grappling, that wasn't an instant swelling but grew over time, then subsided. Last tuesday night, I got hit and it was pretty instant, I noticed after I took a shower, and then last night got hit again and it worsened! I was helping my friend train for her fight so she was wearing the MMA gloves. I slowed my pace down to help her train. I don't mind the hits but the one to ear was killer!

Thanks all for the comments. Too often I think I can do everything myself...

[Chuck Kechter]

Best of luck Jarlo!

[Jarlo Ilano]

Thanks Chuck!

If anyone is interested... This is what my ear looks like now

http://jarlo.straightfrush.com/DSC01260.JPG

I took that yesterday, and it actually is a little more swollen now. I'll let you know how it went after I see the doctor tomorrow a.m.

[JasonE]

Jarlo -

Nice ear! You get prettier every day! :P

I've had one just like that. Kinda sucks, but not a real big deal. The doc I saw worked on lots of wrestlers, and she simply drained it and stitched right through the ear as close to the swelling as she could. Worked great!

Bromelain will help moderate the swelling somewhat.

After this one is treated, wait a few weeks before letting someone knock you in the ear again.

[kcsportsdoc]

"I heard about the ear." (Ok, give me the movie and the actor and then consider yourself a god of movie trivia.)

Jarlo,

Quit hitting people with your ear, dude. I mean that is seriously hardcore, but there are limits to "Weaponizing Your Architecture".

[Jarlo Ilano]

Jason,

Thanks dude. I have been taking bromelain, a tablet a couple times a day with food, do you recommend more?

Kevin,

I don't know about the quote. Is it from Reservoir Dogs? I remember the ear deal in that movie. My sick sense of humor, I laughed out loud during that scene.

Watch out now, or I'll hit your foot with my ear!! :lol:


I went to the ENT doctor this a.m. He busted out his needle and syringe and pulled out a mess of blood. He didn't need to stitch it up or anything. He noted that he didn't think I'd need to come back, but to see if it swells up again.

Here's an after pic. http://jarlo.straightfrush.com/DSC01266.JPG

It feels alot better, but still feel some residual swelling and ache. I'm gonna have to keep my right hand up higher! And cruise a little bit on the grappling.

[doubleouch]

get yourself some wrestling earguards. You will probably need it for awhile.

[Scott Sonnon]

Cane,

You still have not posted to the Welcome Mat an introduction to your background and interests here at RMAX, including your full, real name in the signature. Please do so, as per our forum courtesy policy; especially before making product suggestions on our forum.

[Coach Hurst]

Yer lookin' purtty there Jarlo!

Funny how over the years of doing judo and what not I have never had any problems with my ears.

I remember when I used to WANT my ears to look like that. Thought it would make me look tougher! Or at least like all the other judo guys...

[Jarlo Ilano]

Cane,

Yeah I was thinking about getting some ear thingys, I've been resisting it, but it beats going to the doctor! I just worry about it hindering my grappling... I get beat up enough as it is!


Ry,

I actually don't mind too much about the looks, except that because of my work, I don't want to look like a crazy guy, my shaved head is enough as it is! Plus my wife said go to the doctor NOW! :lol:

The swelling has increased since yesterday, so I made an appointment to see the doctor again. He mentioned maybe putting a tube to let it drain during the day. Talk about purty! :lol:

[Coach Hurst]

Sweeeeet! A tube, messed up ears and a shaved head!!! I love it!

I can just see the look on your wife's face telling you to go to the doctor! :D

[JasonE]

Thanks dude. I have been taking bromelain, a tablet a couple times a day with food, do you recommend more?

Whatever the bottle says to take for "daily use", I got the best results from Bromelain by tripling it and taking it before each meal. As soon as the swelling was ameliorated, I stopped taking it. For me, it's only for episodic use.

As someone that's dealt with that kind of thing in both ears several times, I can tell you that a stitch or a drain tube is the only way to keep that sucker down long enough to heal. Because of where it is located, the thickening that will come shouldn't be too noticeable, so you'll still look mostly normal when it's finished healing. :P

Good luck! Remember to sleep on the other side of your head!

[Jarlo Ilano]

so you'll still look mostly normal when it's finished healing. :P


You are assuming that I looked mostly normal before! :lol:

About the bromelain, thanks. I actually doubled the dose, I'll triple it up for a few days.

Here's how the ear looks now.

http://jarlo.straightfrush.com/DSC01271.JPG

You can see it is actually much bigger now. But it is softer than before...

I was supposed to see the doctor Tuesday, but I called today to see if they could get me in earlier, and I lucked out and will see him tomorrow. I'm very glad about that. Otherwise I might be tempted to grab one of my knives and take it to the ear! :twisted:

I also grabbed me some earguards, and have used it the past couple training sessions. It takes getting used to, but it protected the ear awesomely. I'll be wearing them religiously for some weeks after this is taken care of.

Thanks for all the advice Jason. And thank you to all who have responded in this thread. Hopefully it helps somebody else too.

[JasonE]

The basic anatomy of cauliflower ear is that your ear cartilage is like a wafer of multiple layers. When you bruise it, the blood starts collecting between those layers to puff it up like a balloon. If it sits enlarged too long, the cartilage reforms to the new shape. That's why you need to keep it drained and compressed.

I've used compression bandages, but like gauze and a swimmer's noseplug better for minimizing the dressing while maintaining compression. Being in Hawaii, I'm sure you can find a cheap noseplug to squeeze the dressing. A little athletic tape will keep the plug from slipping. If you don't go overboard, it will fit into a wrestler's ear protection so you can get back to practicing safely.

My best results to date came from my doc throwing a stitch through the ear to keep the layers of cartilage snug together. A little discomfort at first, but no big deal.

The ear guards are excellent when grappling or striking hard in practice. Definitely wear them for about 6 weeks or more after this, as your ear will be pretty susceptible for a re-bruising until the healing is completed.

When the tenderness goes down, massage and wriggle your ear gently with your hands to keep the cartilage from getting hard. Hard cartilage is more susceptible to injury than soft pliable cartilage. Do this also with your uninjured ear as a preventive measure.


You are assuming that I looked mostly normal before!

That *is* the MOST I would have assumed. :twisted: :P

[Jarlo Ilano]

Jason,

Great advice brother! I'm glad to benefit from you being even more disruptive of your body than myself. :P

Here is what my ear looks like after I saw the doctor again and he put a little drain tube in there.

http://jarlo.straightfrush.com/DSC01276.JPG

It drained out alot that first day and also leaks out when I squeeze it a bit. (This is as my friend said "nasty"). Its quite fun. :lol:

The doctor wasn't much on aftercare advice, except to put a bit of neosporin around it a couple times a day. He didn't mention anything about dressing or compression, when I asked him if there is anything I should do.... Wonder if its because its not that bad, or else he doesn't really worry about the appearance of it... I will go back in two weeks for him to take it out.

I can feel the tissue is a bit harder above the area. I will massage and work it out. But the ear is a little more damaged than the other because of the smaller injuries I have had.

Thanks again to all in letting me post this auricular saga. :lol: