It’s a Good Thing Surfers Have only Two Ears by Arnold Feher
I sat on my surfboard in the water slouching my back to the crisp offshore winds, watching Bruce Swanson down the beach duck dive under another closeout and paddle beyond the breakers. He wedged himself onto his board, cocked his head to the side, stuck his arms out, and shook his head. Then he stopped and pressed his hand over his ear. Warm under my hood, I turned back to the horizon, scoping the next set.Great waves were hitting our favorite sandbar, but our buddy Kelsey Hoult was missing out on this session in Estero Bay. He was in the operating room in Orange County. Read More
Take Precautions to Avoid ‘Surfer’s Ear’ By Corky Carroll
“It’s that time of year again when the water and air start getting colder and surfer need to pay special attention to protecting their ears from the elements.Cold wind and water promote the dreaded “surfer’s ear” condition, which is basically an abnormal bone growth known as an exostosis within the ear canal.More times than not it leads to surgery and time out of the water.I have had both my ears operated on and can tell ya that I’s better to take some precautions.One of the leading ear doctors on the planet in this field is right here in Orange County, Dr. Carol Jackson.I recently was having her check ear and asked her if there were any new developments on treatments for surfer’s ear.She said yes, so I asked her to write me up some info to share with you.Here is what is wrote:” Read More
The Ears Have it: Exostoses, Otitis and Stenosis by Corky Carroll
"Some rather annoying health issues arise with constant surfing. For some reason, I am susceptible to all of them. Ear, eye, back, skin and all sorts of other little health complications come with continual exposure to sun, wind, water, and the pounding of day-to-day surfing and paddling. One of the most common problems is "surfer's ear." The correct name is exostoses of the external auditory canal (the bony growths) with external otitis (inflamed or infected skin) and acquired external canal stenosis (narrowing). If this gets bad, it requires surgery. I have had my ears drilled out five times. I get asked about it all the time. So I contacted who I consider the leading expert in this area, Dr. Carol Jackson of Newport Beach. I asked her to write on this and related ear problems for surfers". Read More
You Don't Have To 'Live With It': Microsurgery, new therapy limit dizziness, hearing loss. By Carol Jackson
"Too many patients with treatable dizziness or hearing loss are told that they must "just live with it." That is no longer so, according to Dr. Carol Jackson, a House Ear Fellowship-trained ear specialist who has been voted into "The Best Doctors in America." Too many people suffer in silent despair when there is help now for most people with ear disorders. Dizziness is more prevalent than commonly thought. It is often caused by an inner-ear problem. Known as "the hurt that doesn't show," dizziness can truly turn a patient's world upside down, Dr. Jackson said. Loved ones and co-workers are also impacted". Read More...
Staph Infection Emerging As Serious Surfer Ailment by Corky Carroll
"Last week I presented some information on an ear problem that many surfers have commonly called "surfer's ear" – something that has come into my life many times. It frequently takes surgery to take care of this problem, and I have had it done five times. The doctor who finally got mine under control is Dr. Carol Jackson of Newport Beach. I asked her to write about it for my column, and last week she shared her thoughts on this problem. This week I am continuing with what she wrote for me, this time about staph infections that are turning up more and more among surfers everywhere, but especially those here in the Orange County area". Read More
Don't Want Surfer's Ear? Keep It Dry by Corky Carroll
"One of the occasional health issues that we who surf here in Southern California have to deal with is a little condition commonly referred to as "surfer's ear." I could be the poster boy for this condition. It is something that just keeps coming back over and over. Surfer's ear comes from the wind and the cold water. These little bumps, which are actually bone growths, form inside your ear canal just outside of your ear drum. They are like little speed bumps inside your ear that your body grows to protect itself from the aforementioned wind and cold water. For the most part they don't affect you much until they start getting big and threaten to close off your ear canal totally. You don't want that to happen. The answer to this problem is surgery. They have an operation where they cut the back of your ear itself and peel it forward and stick it on the side of your cheek. Then they go in with something like a dentist's drill and actually drill out the bone growths. Kind of like sanding them off". Read More
