Eardrums broken

[KolibrieLinda 0]

I've got a question which my own docter couldn't answer for me.

Last monday somebody smahsed my head during the muay-thai training and as a result I had a broken ear-drum. (That is not normal procedure)

Now I was planning on jumping this weekend.
I don't really wonna take the risk of damaging it more.
Did anyone ever jump with a broken ear-drum??

[I don't have one I wonna make my own words]

[CrazyIvan 0]

"Broken" and "Skydiving" don't go together....my opinion.

__________________________________________
Blue Skies and May the Force be with you.

[KolibrieLinda 0]

["Broken" and "Skydiving" don't go together....my opinion.]

Yeah that's what I thouhgt too, but than my docter said. Well I don't know for sure because the pressure will be the same on both sides of your ear-drum so if you shield it from the cold I don't know if it'll do damage.

[aero04 0]

I agree. Just sounds like a bad idea.

[Fast 0]

Sounds to me like one of them times where you might end up, 'up there, wishing you were down here' to me. I don't know if I would want to take chances jumping with a broken ear drum. Aside from the preasure stuff, a ride to altitude and then freefall back down is pretty loud and might not be that comfortable from that perspective.

~D
Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me.
Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka

[billvon 2,991]

>Well I don't know for sure because the pressure will be the same on both sides of your ear-drum . . .

Unfortunately, the pressure changes quickly, and unless you can equalize your ears quickly there _will_ be a pressure difference. If your eardrum is in the process of healing that could re-injure it.

[dragon2 2]

I've ruptured my eardrum, once. Made a couple jumps like that, too See http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=267147#267147.

What amazed me, was that it healed so quickly. Maybe you could visit your doctor tomorrow? See if it's closed already... You are keeping it dry, right?

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[KolibrieLinda 0]

Quote

I've ruptured my eardrum, once. Made a couple jumps like that, too See http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=267147#267147.

I am keeping it very dry and well this only makes my own suspicions true. No jumping for at least two weeks, because than I'm having a appointment again. Hope hope hope that everything will be all right than.

• Quote

[michaelflying 0]

Balance might be screwwed so be carefull balance is important.

www.skydivekzn.co.za

[jaaska 0]

I had a similar problem... It all depends how bad the rupture is. If it's a big one, it takes more time to heal (of course), but because of that, one may jump with a ruptured, before it really starts to heal.

My doctor told me that if I wanted, I could try to skydive. If it didn't hurt, I could continue. She actually told me that since there is a constant pressure change, the ear is better "aired" and may actually help the healing (especially if the rupture was caused by the inflammation of the ear).

Of course one should not jump if the pressure change makes you see stars or even feel a lesser pain. You should try the pressure balancing (close your moth and your nose and breath out) and see how that feels. Basically the air comes now out of your ear (since there is actually a hole there). If there is no pain there, it should not be a problem to jump. Keep it dry, keep if out of drag and cold!

[KolibrieLinda 0]

You should try the pressure balancing (close your moth and your nose and breath out) and see how that feels. Basically the air comes now out of your ear (since there is actually a hole there). If there is no pain there, it should not be a problem to jump. Keep it dry, keep if out of drag and cold!

[dragon2 2]

Well, ya can always pack

I'm usually in need of a packer, being too lazy myself, hint hint heh heh

Myself, if I'm at the DZ and can't jump, I grab a camera and start shooting! Or drive the van (a whole day earns you a jump)... Or just generally bug other jumpers

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[trumpetfish 0]

Quote

Now I was planning on jumping this weekend.

Did anyone ever jump with a broken ear-drum??

DONT DO IT!. in my limited experience, unless you feel 100 don't bother. I tried and was very lucky not to have broken myself a couple weeks ago.

[chuteless 1]

I wouldnt advise anyone to jump with a ruptured ear drum....but if you feel you have to, make it a hop and pop at 3000 ft


.

[RIMangum 0]

I use to teach SCUBA diving and from that experience have a couple of points.

As you go both to altitude and back to earth the pressure is going to force air through the rupture if it is not closed. If it is not fully healed the pressure might reopen the rupture. Thus increasing your time to heal. Plus it will probably hurt, more on the decent as the pressure changes quickly.

My second and greater concern is this. Sudden changes in temp in your ear will affect your balance. A good example of this is when diving with a wet suit hood on in cold water. If you pull on side back and expose a single ear to the cold water you tend to become disorientated until your body warms the water in the ear.

If you want to test this theory out get a friend who’s ears are ok, not ruptured. Sit them on a bed or something else soft and where they won’t hurt themselves if they fall. Take 2 turkey basters (SP), the tube with a bulb on the end for marinating turkeys. Fill one from a bowl with ice water in it and fill the other with warm water. Squirt one into each of there ears at the same time and watch. Some people just fill a little dizzy, but some just fall down. But it does prove the point that I would not want that to happen in free fall where the air in your good ear is warmed by your body and enters the eardrum from your eusatachain tube and the other is the cold air at altitude entering through the rupture.

Will this happen on your jump, I don’t know. But these are my thoughts on the subject. Check with your doctor and good luck.

Bobby