cauliflower ear

Is there anything that can be put into the ear to help from the ear from filling up in 2 days? I have had my ear drained 5 times in the last 2 weeks.

How do you mean filling up? From drainage around the outer ear going into the inner ear or meaning the swelling of the outer ear itself.

I am assuming you are referring to draining the outer ear. When Justin got his cauliflower ear, we had it drained several times and then our regular docs recommended that we go to an ear specialist to "fix". The Ear Doc sewed 2 cotton rolls to each side of his ear to apply pressure both ways. The pressure would not allow more fluid to enter the outer ear and so no more drainage, swelling, etc.

If you can get enough pressure on both sides of outer ear after draining, my understanding is that will stop the fluid. Getting that type of pressure is what we found to be difficult. Before he went to the specialist, I sent him to school one day with his ear bandaged up and his wrestling headgear holding it all on tight. It didn't work, but the nurses were impressed with how I did it as they had no real solution. The dr's trip before they had wrapped his whole head up.

Through all of the above, the only medicine that was offered was pain med for when they sewed the cotton on. The Dr's didn't have anything to stop the fluid other than applying pressure. Probably not the answer you wanted. Maybe there are veteran guys out there that may have more secrets as to how to deal with cauliflower ear.

When I was the athletic trainer for the wrestling team at the university of wisconsin-Madison, we made a little cast for the ear. We would use a special guaze cut in strips and soak it in collodian. We would then put in on the ear and form it around. It would then harden and form a cast around the ear applying gentle pressure. But if you have been around college wrestlers, they mostly don't care about cauliflower ear. Somewhat like a badge of honor for them.

... and on that point I will say, boy I wish I had cauliflower ear, of course without going through the pain!!

Squeeze it and pop it like a zit…then apply 3 or 4 solid raps with a rubber mallet…

MAN ... I said without the pain!!

On second thought...maybe that will just make you tough.

I have always seen people try to drain (and drain, and drain)the ear and then apply a cast of some sort (hard bubble gum consistency)...but I haven't ever seen that yield good results. It seems like all of that shrink swell creates a wrinkle effect...not the coolest looking cauliflower ear...that's another topic, "What is the coolest looking cauliflower ear?" I have always been an advocate of leaving it alone and wearing headgear but that might be bad advice. It seems to go down (at least to some extent) and not get the wrinkle effect...which is a bonus in my book. The wrinkle effect may be due to draining more than once before putting the cast on. Either way your ear now identifies you as a wrestler...which is a bigger bonus! Wear it proud.

Just keep draining it and wear it proud. It has worked for me for several years. And it always gets you attention around non-wrestlers.

I used to tell my wrestlers, you can tell a good wrestler by the size of his ears. Now I don't know if it is true but generally if you have torn up ears you are pretty tough. Just be proud to have it. Let it be a trophy.

Or wear a headgear and have a chance to look normal!!! Regardless that we wrestlers think it looks cool or tough. Girls hate it!!!!

You can be a stud and not have cauliflower ears. Ever seen Jeff Jordan?

24/7

I tell my kid that he can wrestle without headgear as soon as he starts paying his own health care deductible, and that if he still wants cauliflower ears when he turns 25, I'll see that he gets them.

I got this two different seasons and unless I point it out people don't notice. I got mine drained,it was towards outer top of my ear, with a syringe. After that they put a piece of cylinder type cotton like at the dentist on each side of the ear and put a stitch through it. It helps the ear drain the fluid and heals together. It's almost like when you clamp two pieces of wood together till you know the glue is dry.

A swollen ear is just like any other body part- Ice it and it will reduce the swelling. I use a styrofoam cup and put water in it, freeze and massage on the ear. Ive never drained my ears and they are not as fat as many others

-just my two cents

I agree with 24/7. Wear headgear every day at practice. As we all identify cauliflower ear as a badge of honor, it doesn't fit in very well with people that aren't familiar with wrestling -- professionals, etc. It's kind of funny, but my wife was unfamiliar with wrestling, and she tells me that she thought I had some sort of mental impairment when she first met me b/c of cauliflower ear and a nose that isn't perfect. She didn't know. Anyway, mine didn't get fixed by the draining and wrapping.

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"Yeah. That sounds like a really good deal. But I got a better one. How about... I give you (some headgear)... and you give me my phone call?" - The Matrix

I just got cauliflour this year along with a broken nose, a lump on my eye (that went away) and a nice lookin scar on my chin. This was the first year I got any noticeable injuries but I see my ear and pride myself. I drained it but 3 times but it just swelled back. I do know when someone messed with my ear when it was more sensative it sure as hell set me off even if it was my teammates. I enjoy telling people of my ear as most are awed by it and someday it will be a good story to look back on when telling my future children and grandchildren.

It will all remind me of the great and memorable times I had wrestling... the GREATEST SPORT EVER. Dedicated for life.

I'll add this -- I did get my nose fixed. I got the surgery to fix the deviated septum (septoplasty), and it worked. That is another thing I would say a lot of wrestlers have and may not know it, but this one isn't a badge of honor. It wasn't fun going through the recovery part and particularly getting the stints removed, but it was worth it. I had no idea that my nose had been broken several times. Must have been the pile drivers.

For people that may be wondering if wrestling is dangerous, I believe it is safer than basketball, football, or summer-league softball.

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"What is it, Doctor? What's going on?"
"I'm not sure. I haven't seen anything like this since the Anita Bryant concert." - Airplane

My husband and my son's coaches proudly boast about my 8 year-old's beginning of cauliflower ear. Mom's not so sure... He wears his headgear, but it is actually painful and tender. He had it once earlier this year but it went away with a little TLC. I don't want to start draining it so early because I know that it would continue to require such. Some anti-inflammatories and some ice should do the trick for now...