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So as I was mentioning in another thread I've been having a problem with my cauliflower ear as of late. I've had cauliflower on some of the inside of my ears for a while but, it's never really been a problem I can still wear in the ear head phones and my ears for the most part are rather normal looking. I know that one can avoid cauliflower all together by wearing head gear all the time, this is not the point of this thread so no need to bring it up, and I do sometimes wear head gear.
Well recently the I've gotten some cauliflower on the outside of my left ear and it has been progressively getting worse. Growing in size redness and soreness. The other day not during rolling but about an hour or two later my ear was killing me and then I felt it(**warning graphic stuff coming up here, turn away if you have a weak stomach**) and noticed a little bit of blood, I pulled over to check it out in the rear view since I'm human and worry when I bleed. My ear was really big and bright red so of course I started poking at it and then pop! I mean pretty big too the entire side of my face was covered in well you know. I figured well that sucked but, at least it's done then, two days later bam the same thing.
So my question to fellow grapplers and anybody with any medical knowledge is; what do you have to do to treat your cauliflower ear? Do I have to drain it regularly? Ice? I heard something about steroids and antibiotics as well? If you do have to drain do doctors prescribe needles for that?
So as I was mentioning in another thread I've been having a problem with my cauliflower ear as of late. I've had cauliflower on some of the inside of my ears for a while but, it's never really been a problem I can still wear in the ear head phones and my ears for the most part are rather normal looking. I know that one can avoid cauliflower all together by wearing head gear all the time, this is not the point of this thread so no need to bring it up, and I do sometimes wear head gear.
Well recently the I've gotten some cauliflower on the outside of my left ear and it has been progressively getting worse. Growing in size redness and soreness. The other day not during rolling but about an hour or two later my ear was killing me and then I felt it(**warning graphic stuff coming up here, turn away if you have a weak stomach**) and noticed a little bit of blood, I pulled over to check it out in the rear view since I'm human and worry when I bleed. My ear was really big and bright red so of course I started poking at it and then pop! I mean pretty big too the entire side of my face was covered in well you know. I figured well that sucked but, at least it's done then, two days later bam the same thing.
So my question to fellow grapplers and anybody with any medical knowledge is; what do you have to do to treat your cauliflower ear? Do I have to drain it regularly? Ice? I heard something about steroids and antibiotics as well? If you do have to drain do doctors prescribe needles for that?
Ok hope you weren't eating lunch
Sorry to hear you're going through this bro!
Where I was living before two of my roommates were training partners, one a brown belt one a purple belt. At one point we all 3 were dealing with some bad cauliflower ear and we were stabbing each other in the ears and draining the fluid every night for like 3 nights! It was hysterical to the one roommate who didn't train!
But to answer some of the questions from my experience:
Sterile needles will work best, and you will just poke and drain. What we usually do for this is get a few from a diabetic friend or a doctor in the class. If this fails, you can TRY poking it with a pin and pushing to drain but this hurts A LOT.
You will need to do this regularly until the swelling goes away. In the meantime, take ibuprofen and ice to keep the swelling to a minimum. Do this as much as you can to keep the cauliflower from setting in (this occurs when the cartilidge hardens back into place with all that blood still there) and you should be relatively good.
If it hardens completely, it takes surgery to fix. I have never heard of cauliflower ear being helped by antibiotics, steroids make some sense because it would help the swelling but really just drain it. That should do you good.
__________________ And who knows, he might could tap me. BUT I have enough confidence in my game to say he can't.
- Jade Dragon
I'd recommend checking out the Fightworks Podcast interview with a doctor who also has experience in BJJ. On that same site, there was also a post put up about the same topic. See also the article on Grapplearts.
Cauliflower ear, to quote from Caleb's post, is caused "when the ear receives a blow that shears away the ear’s cartilage from its overlying perichondrium. Liquid fills the new space between the two layers, and will harden into a hard fibrous lump if not drained."
So in other words, any kind of heavy trauma to the ear can result in a cauliflower ear: that could be a small number of solid blows (again in that post, Robson Moura mentions that he got cauli after just one incident, so you could be unlucky), or it could be extended damage (such as driving the side of your head into someone else, as might occur when working for position in wrestling).
To prevent cauliflower ear, invest in protective equipment, like a headguard or earguards (since September 2008, I've used a Brute Shockwave), commonly worn in wrestling. However, some people find them uncomfortable to wear, and in certain BJJ competitions (for example) you can't wear them.
To treat cauliflower ear, you need to get the fluid drained and then compress the area. It is important to go to a doctor as soon as possible if you can see your ear is flaring up, as without rapid treatment it can become permanent. It may help if you describe it in medically correct terms as an 'aural hematoma' in order to facilitate quicker treatment.
I've been training BJJ since November 2006 and haven't had any problems with cauliflower ear so far, but as the example of Robson Moura shows, it can happen quickly, so its worth being careful.
Is it expensive to get it drained by a doctor over there in the US? Interestingly I just read an article where BJ Penn's brother (I don't know if has more than one) was advising on how to drain fluid. Pretty much what has already been said. Just make sure that you don't let the fluid from the needle get sucked back in if you're doing it yourself. Then again, you have more experience with that sort of thing than pretty much anyone else on this forum.
If it's not infected, antibiotics aren't gonna do anything. But if it is, you'll understand from the look and the color of the fluid coming out. And antiobiotics should help reducing the amount of the fluid and the soreness in your ear. But you should see a doctor. My father's one, but I'm not.
Ahh, that sucks. You have to keep draining it. Before draining, get a shower, or clean the area with soap and water. Once its drained, clean with iodine or alcohol and put antibacterial cream, such as neosporin on it. Then bandage. The ear is prone to infection and you dont want an infection in the head, which is why people usually get it drained at the docs. several people at my gym have gotten staph from cauli ear because they drained it themselves but didnt clean it or bandage it up. The one guy was out of the gym for like 2 months because of the infection.
__________________
Gracie Challenge: "If you want to get your face beaten and well smashed, your a$$ kicked, and your arms broken, Contact Carlos Gracie at this address..."
Yikes!! Like everyone else has said, keep it clean is #1.
Otherwise all I got is this from wikipedia:
Treatment:
Fluid collection in the outer ear can be treated by draining the fluid and applying a compressing tie to the outer ear to reconnect the perichondrium and the cartilage. The compressing tie will be left in place for around 10 days to prevent the fluid from building up again.
The outer ear is prone to infections, so antibiotics are usually prescribed. If the pressure is left alone without medical intervention, the ear can suffer serious damage. Pressure can build up and eventually rupture the ear drum. When this occurs, the ear may further wrinkle, and can become slightly pale; hence the common term "cauliflower ear". Should the ear drum rupture, the only treatment option is to heal the existing wound with stitches. Even with treatment, significant hearing loss may occur. Cosmetic procedures are available which can greatly improve the appearance of the ear, even though internal damage may persist.
__________________
“The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.”
Cool thanks for the info everyone! Joe I'm totally going to get needles because I did try sticking it with a pin and pushing the fluid out and that SUCKED!!!!!
I saw in one of the Inside MMA episode on this very topic. Bas actually has "normal" ears and the way he explained was he drained the blood out every night to avoid having this cauliflower ear.
Don't grapplers wear this as some kind of badge of honor?
I saw in one of the Inside MMA episode on this very topic. Bas actually has "normal" ears and the way he explained was he drained the blood out every night to avoid having this cauliflower ear.
Don't grapplers wear this as some kind of badge of honor?
LOL! Yeah, a lot of guys do, the meathead types. It's not worth it, it hurts a lot, it affects your hearing, it makes it that you can't use earbud headphones (I have to use big headphones, I hate it!) but most important:
girls don't like it.
__________________ And who knows, he might could tap me. BUT I have enough confidence in my game to say he can't.
- Jade Dragon
I saw in one of the Inside MMA episode on this very topic. Bas actually has "normal" ears and the way he explained was he drained the blood out every night to avoid having this cauliflower ear.
Don't grapplers wear this as some kind of badge of honor?
Some do, I work in a professional environment so I like to look normal.
Don't grapplers wear this as some kind of badge of honor?
yea. I would say in my classes only about 10% of the people, including myself, wear ear guards. Even when like 20-30 people show up to class, there will be 2 of us with ear guards. they are uncomfortable at first but you get used to them. And its much better than dealing with cauli ear. if i forget my ear guards for one class, i wont be able to sleep on my ears for like a week. my ears are sensitive i guess.
Girls do not like it at all. They have no idea what it is and think its a deformity.
__________________
Gracie Challenge: "If you want to get your face beaten and well smashed, your a$$ kicked, and your arms broken, Contact Carlos Gracie at this address..."
Cauliflower Ear
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