Possible ear drum injury
April 21, 2018 1:50 PM Subscribe
I'm freaking out a bit. I was using a Q-tip and accidentally pushed it too far in. It look a bit of force to pull it out. There was no blood, but it still aches a few hours later. Pain is not severe and hearing is same. Urgent care or wait? Thanks much.
Best answer: I would wait. I can't think what urgent care would do for you other than look in your ear and tell you how bad it is, and I can't think what could happen between now and, say, Monday to turn this into an emergency. Give it a couple days and see how you feel?
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 1:55 PM on April 21, 2018
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 1:55 PM on April 21, 2018
Best answer: I would wait. My sister punctured her eardrum with a Q-tip and it was severely painful. She would also "whistle" from her ear when she would blow her nose. They basically gave her some antibiotic drops for it and told her to keep it dry. I'd give it time if the pain is not severe or, if you have health insurance, call the nurse's line and see if they have professional advice.
posted by jessamyn at 1:58 PM on April 21, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by jessamyn at 1:58 PM on April 21, 2018 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Sleep on it, I bet you'll be fine in the morning.
posted by DarlingBri at 2:12 PM on April 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by DarlingBri at 2:12 PM on April 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I wouldn't worry.
My left eardrum has ruptured three different times over the years, and has healed up without medical attention each time.
posted by jamjam at 2:20 PM on April 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
My left eardrum has ruptured three different times over the years, and has healed up without medical attention each time.
posted by jamjam at 2:20 PM on April 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thank you all! I'll give it a day.
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 3:06 PM on April 21, 2018
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 3:06 PM on April 21, 2018
Best answer: If your hearing is normal, your eardrum is likely not ruptured.
(I’ve just recovered from a ruptured eardrum due to an inner ear infection. There was a loss of high-frequency hearing until the hole was fully healed. Treatment was antibiotics for the infection, and wait-and-see until the hole healed up.)
posted by monotreme at 5:42 PM on April 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
(I’ve just recovered from a ruptured eardrum due to an inner ear infection. There was a loss of high-frequency hearing until the hole was fully healed. Treatment was antibiotics for the infection, and wait-and-see until the hole healed up.)
posted by monotreme at 5:42 PM on April 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: IANYD. My partner is an ENT and has this to share:
If your hearing is unchanged it is very unlikely that you have damaged your ear drum. Also your ear drum is highly innervated so the pain would likely be greater. The skin of the external auditory canal is thin and fragile and blood is not uncommon from qtip trauma. Whatever the injury, without hearing changes or continuous drainage or bleeding it is highly unlikely that any intervention would be indicated. Finally, an urgent care practictioner aka NP or bottom of the barrel MD is unlikely to know what they're looking at or know what to do. I hope by the snark i have just exhibited that my credentials as a surgical subspecialist has been shown. But as always I have not examined you, none of my opinions on probability should be taken as an official stance.
posted by penpenne at 2:25 PM on April 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
If your hearing is unchanged it is very unlikely that you have damaged your ear drum. Also your ear drum is highly innervated so the pain would likely be greater. The skin of the external auditory canal is thin and fragile and blood is not uncommon from qtip trauma. Whatever the injury, without hearing changes or continuous drainage or bleeding it is highly unlikely that any intervention would be indicated. Finally, an urgent care practictioner aka NP or bottom of the barrel MD is unlikely to know what they're looking at or know what to do. I hope by the snark i have just exhibited that my credentials as a surgical subspecialist has been shown. But as always I have not examined you, none of my opinions on probability should be taken as an official stance.
posted by penpenne at 2:25 PM on April 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thank you again. 24 hours later, it is much improved.
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 12:03 PM on April 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 12:03 PM on April 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Alensin at 1:52 PM on April 21, 2018 [1 favorite]