Anyone Had Perforated Eardrum?

[WestCountryLass]

Hi there

Anyone had a burst eardrum? How long did it take to heal?

Two weeks ago last Wednesday had swollen glands. On the Sunday took myself off to A & E as ear pain VERY bad and could not take any more pain killers, was given IV antibiotics/painkillers and prescription.

Ear drum perforated on the Monday,a week ago. Have had 7 days of antibiotics. Cannot hear, balance still off, got numbness down side of neck and ear.

How long before this gets better?????

TIA

Yes unfortunately I have had this twice in my left ear. Both times after flying when I picked up ear/nose/throat type bugs during the flight or shortly before.

First time I didn't know what was going on and had no paid releif, next morning doc said it had perforated (the blood and puss running out was the clue!), that time it took a few months to heal fully and was only a perforation. Hearing was off for weeks. For the eardrum to perforate the infection inside the ear canal has to build up to quite high pressure so the numbness is probably where the ear canal got strained and made tender before the perforation happened.

2nd time I knew what was happening when it started at about 2am, I got an emergency appt for painkillers and antibiotics but was a bit late, perforated again same ear about 11am. That time there must have been so much crap in the ear canal that I was completely deaf on that side for a week or so and because I now have two bits of scar tissue on the left ear drum my hearing that side is impaired.

The ear drum is very tightly stretched so its hard for it to heal across thats why it takes a long time.

I was told I was lucky (!!) that the eardrum did not TEAR as then you have no option but for it to be fixed under surgery with a skin graft from somewhere else.

i had a hearing test 10 days after mine perforated and it healed fine. i'd go & see your GP.

Cheers, thanks for that info. My GP ringing me back later so will ask him about hearing test. Have continuous high pitched ring and am not hearing very well where there is back ground noise, it is very annoying!

btw, i don't think it had "healed" after 10 days, just was well on its way and hearing was what you'd expect