Alcohol Rehab Yorkshire
Alcohol Rehab Yorkshire
You might call Surfer’s Ear the epidemic of cold water surfers. Like a strange twist of payola for cold water stoke, Surfer’s Ear or “exostosis” occurs in those of us who surf consistently in water with temperatures below 60 degrees.
Studies from around the world have confirmed that after ten years of cold water surfing more than 80% of surfers will have exostosis while over 90% will have it after 20 years of cold water surfing. Large population ear exams have revealed that even a fair amount of warm water surfers have moderate cases.
Not to be confused with Swimmer’s Ear-an infection caused by trapped water and bacteria or fungus-Surfer’s Ear is a painless, creeping bone growth that can eventually close down the ear canal. The bombardment of cold water and wind chill causes the bones just under the thin skin of the canal to enlarge. Knobs begin to form halfway into the canal to the eardrum in what seems an effort to protect the eardrum. Over time the knobs can grow together, choking off the canal. This may leave a space between the knobs and the eardrum where wax and water can get trapped, leading to infection and pain.
If you surf cold water and notice increasing earwax or water blockages, your knobs are probably getting bigger. If you wear a hood your knobs may grow a bit slower because your ears are warmer. However this won’t prevent the growth. The evidence points to both water and wind chill as combined culprits.
Ear plugs are a good call as plugs block the cold water. Drugstores carry various foam, plastic and silicone plugs. Foam and plastic disc plugs can irritate the canal lining and shove wax in. Putty plugs can slide around, separate and get stuck-especially if rolled into cylinders. Swim plugs work, but don’t count on hearing someone else on your wave.
Vented plugs like’s Doc’s Proplugs will let sound in while keeping water out. Robert Scott, MD invented and patented these vented plugs in the 1970s. Get your local surf shop to size your ear and if you can hear yourself hum on the side with one plug in you’ve got a water seal.
Best bet is a hood and plug combo, keeping the head warmer while holding your plugs in.
Other preventive measures occur between sessions. Drying ears out is critical. A few drops of rubbing alcohol, a sun dry or even low-heat blow dry can work. Ear docs suggest a 50/50 white vinegar/alcohol solution to dry and help prevent infection. Add a few drops of garlic oil as a natural antibiotic. Dr. Scott suggests keeping the ears as warm as possible when out of the water. Wear your Surfer® beanie when you check the surf.
If you have an earwax jam, try 3-4 drops of palm-warmed mineral oil or glycerin earwax solution for a few days to soften up the wax. Follow with gentle flushing of warm water and/or hydrogen peroxide over a basin to run the wax out. No Q-tips or pointed objects: You’ll push the wax back or even puncture your eardrum.
If the clog persists, see a surfer’s ear specialist. An ENT will be equipped with a tiny suction device with a Rosen tip. This beats the slower irrigation method discussed above that most ERs use for earwax removal.
If your knobs close up your canal you may require surgery. This will be obvious if you have repeated clogging and infection. The two surgical techniques used are drilling and chiseling. In drilling, the back of the ear may be cut and folded forward while the bone is ground down. The drill can damage hearing and scar the skin pretty badly.
Opt for the chisel technique. This technique was developed in the 1990s and since perfected by Doug Hetzler, MD of Santa Cruz, CA. The technique utilizes tiny 1mm chisels to split and chip the bone off with delicate precision. The chiseling technique only takes a few hours and causes less skin damage, leading to faster recovery times and a return to the water within weeks. The cost is no laughing matter but insurance will usually cover it. At the moment there are only a handful of docs doing this surgery.
Regrowth can occur after surgery. The jury is still out, but chiseling may cause less grow-back than drilling. Best to prevent it before it gets this far anyway. Keep ‘em warmer and drier and you’ll be cold water surf-stoked for many years.
About the Author: A long-time cold-water surfer, Dr. Casey Adams holds a Ph.D. in Natural Health Sciences, a Doctor of Sciences in Integrative Health, a degree in Naturopathy, and is board certified as an Alternative Medical Practitioner and practices at the Wellness and Rehabilitation Center in Watsonville, CA. He can be reached at cadams@realnaturalhealth.com, and http://www.realnaturalhealth.com
Globetrotter by the Tornados
|
|
Sugar Town $1.98 Unimpassioned look at the lives of struggling L.A. scene rock stars follows main character, Gwen (Jade Gordon), on her quest for the top. Working as an assistant to a film production designer (Ally Sheedy), she tries to steal her boy friend (Larry Klein) who is a music producer by offering sexual favors. The producer meanwhile is trying to orchestrate a comeback for a former glam band played by Mi… |
|
|
When a Man Loves a Woman $3.28 Powerful drama starring Meg Ryan as a high school guidance counselor whose painstaking struggle against alcoholism threatens her seemingly happy marriage to airline pilot Andy Garcia. While attempting to solve Ryan’s drinking addiction, they discover that their marriage wasn’t as perfect as they once believed. With Lauren Tom, Ellen Burstyn. 126 min. Widescreen; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital … |
|
|
28 Days (Special Edition) $2.99 Sandra Bullock is a newspaper reporter who, while intoxicated, crashes a limousine on the day of sister Elizabeth Perkins’ wedding. Bullock enters a rehab center where she attempts to fit in with the diverse group of patients–which is difficult when her boyfriend brings her booze and drugs during visits. With Diane Ladd, Viggo Mortensen and Steve Buscemi. 104 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrac… |
|
|
Rebound: The Legend of Earl The Goat Manigault $3.32 He was one of the greatest basketball talents to ever come from the sidewalk courts of Harlem, but Earl “The Goat” Manigault’s abilities couldn’t save him from the brutal realities of life on the streets that kept him reaching the pros. Gritty sports drama, based on a true story, stars Don Cheadle, James Earl Jones, Loretta Devine, Forest Whitaker, and Eriq La Salle, who also directed. 111 min. St… |
|
|
Network Therapy for Alcohol and Drug Abuse: Effective Office-Based Treatment [VHS] $39.97 Treatment of substance abuse is challenging for all involvedAfor addicted patients, those close to them, and the treating therapists. This informative video shows how a therapist complements individual sessions with supportive meetings with the patient, family, and friends to surmount major obstacles to recovery. The video portrays reenacted therapy sessions using transcripts from actual sessions … |
|
|
Tough Love: Being Tough on Your Kid May Be the Most Loving Thing You Can Do $55.00 In this story, assistant high school principal Rob Charters (Bruce Dern) and his wife Jan (Lee Remick) are good suburban parents with one model child Scott (Eric Schiff) and a 17 year old son Gary (Jason Patric) who has been using drugs. Gary’s violent behavior convinces Rob and Jan that to save Gary they must lock him out, refuse to help him when he is jailed and let him live in poverty. For the … |
|
|
Therabath Professional Paraffin Bath, Scentfree, Maximum Capacity, 9-Pound $148.97 For Hands, Feet, Face and Body since 1962 For over 90 years paraffin moist heat therapy has been used to relieve pain, inflammation and stiffness caused by arthritis. A form of thermotherapy, paraffin treatments effectively increase blood flow to aid in rehabilitation, or to warm an area of the body prior to other therapies or exercise. Warm paraffin is also used extensively to soften dry, crack… |
|
|
Glymed Plus Vital A About The Age Management Skin Care System: The Age Management Skin Care System addresses the individual challenges of chronologically injured, photo-aged and environmentally damaged skin. This System is a complete line of products that gently cleanse, actively treat, restore balance, and protect even the most sensitive skin for all skin types and all skin colors for cellular rehabilitation. Vital… |
|
|
Rehab Suggestion Humor Card 5 x 7 inch premium quality folded paper greeting card. 12 Step Addiction Recovery cards & photo 12 Step Addiction Recovery cards from Greeting Card Universe will bring a smile to your loved ones’ face. Make your loved ones feel special with a custom paper card. Look no further than Greeting Card Universe for your 12 Step Addiction Recovery card needs. This paper card includes the following themes:… |
|
|
Alcoholics Anonymous: The Big Book, 4th Edition $9.37 It’s more than a book. It’s a way of life. Alcoholics Anonymous-The Big Book-has served as a lifeline to millions worldwide. First published in 1939, Alcoholics Anonymous sets forth cornerstone concepts of recovery from alcoholism and tells the stories of men and women who have overcome the disease. With publication of the second edition in 1955, the third edition in 1976, and now the fourth edit… |
