Surfers Ear/Exostosis

Dman4403 · Since 02 Aug 2012 62 Posts Hood River

Add me to the list of guys that needs to have the procedure to remove the bony growth in my ear canals. Too much unprotected kayaking, surfing and kiting. Does anyone have recent experience with this procedure that can recommend a good doc in the Portland area. I've been in touch with Dr. Hetzler in Santa Cruz, but he's out of network with my upgraded post Obamacare insurance that's more expensive and provides less coverage.

Nak · Tue Jan 05, 16 9:06 am

Can't help with the Doc, but I can add sympathy for the ObamaRape--oops, I mean ObamaCare. Our annual health care costs have doubled and benefits have declined as well.

foghater · Since 31 Aug 2008 135 Posts Stoked

The go to guy is Dr. Wesley Lewis. He uses a file technique thats way less invasive than the alternative and gets you active again within a few weeks.

The problem is that he's retiring soon if not already.

Good Luck

chrissmack · Since 08 Jun 2005 526 Posts portland Addicted

Dman4403 · Since 02 Aug 2012 62 Posts Hood River

Thanks for Dr. Wesley Lewis recommendation, however, turns out he did retire last month. Still interested in finding someone in the area to fix me up...

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1692 Posts XTreme Poster

Back in summer of 2009 I had my left ear root-rootered. Wilson Ear Clinic is experienced and had me fixed up in no time.
The recovery time is 3 months of no water exposure so you better get it done soon.

I've had my left ear done twice and my right ear done once.

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2625 Posts The 503 METAL

Jahmbi had a Troll skeleton pulled out of his ears.

Shocked

Windian · Since 28 Apr 2008 901 Posts Newport, OR NEWPORT OG

Too bad that Dr. Lewis has retired as he was awesome. Did an incredible job with both my ears last year and now I am 80% open in both canals and was 100% closed in the right ear and 95% closed in the left. Two weeks after surgery Dr. Lewis gave me the green light to go back in the surf and have had no problems since that time and I racked up 106 days of kiting in 2015 along with another 40 plus sessions of surfing.

Don't let any surgeons do any other method on your ears other than the method developed by Dr. Hertler from Santa Cruz which is what Dr. Lewis used with me. It is the least invasive and fastest recovery time. I have heard horror stories of some surgeons cutting off ears to access the canal which is totally unnecessary. Hertler's method is to make a circumference incision inside the canal, then peel away the skin to access the bony growth. Micro chisels can then be used to chip away the bone growth to open the canal. Special sponges are then inserted to push the skin back against the canal wall to facilitate quick healing. It is by far and away the easiest and quickest method. Check out the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPW4V2WGAYU

bwd · Since 04 Aug 2007 385 Posts Obsessed

Concrete Surf · Since 07 Jan 2016 1 Posts New Member

Hi All .... Do not let just any ENT Doc. cut and peel back , and put a drill in your ear .I have friends that regret that method , because of scar tissue , nerve damage , and ongoing ringing in the ear . I had Dr. Lewis do one of my ears with the micro chisel method 10 years ago .. I was back in water in 9 days ( No Problems ) . Dr. Wallace Webster has been trained in this procedure . He has done this procedure on my other ear , day surgery procedure . ( No problems). Dare I say he might be better ? . I believe he did train from the Santa Cruz ..Doc... He just did "Troll's" ear . I would give his office a call . He is located on the South Coast ..North Bend Medical Center 541-267-5151 He is a great guy and cares about your ear health !.... Keep Surfin Cold waves .....GB Very Happy

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1692 Posts XTreme Poster

I guess it's not interesting but if you surf a lot you will have s some health related issues to KiteboardingInfo I think this forum is a good place to talk about Kiteboarding Info info. As a previous patient of Dr. Wilson I can tell you that he has done this successfully for many patients in the Portland Oregon area.

I realize that two folks who were younger it doesn't seem the hippest of topics however it is real.
I've spent most of my life swimming in Coldwater and I do it again.
Wilson's your clinic is been there for a long time. Before they do surgery they do a full background of your health and a complete hearing test if you're lucky you might get hearing aids too.

I'm thankful for the advice on this forum.

Happy new year nwkite!

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1692 Posts XTreme Poster

http://www.surfinghandbook.com/2010/06/surfer%E2%80%99s-ear-it%E2%80%99s-a-bummer/

chrissmack · Since 08 Jun 2005 526 Posts portland Addicted

MikeZ · Fri Jan 08, 16 12:22 pm

chrissmack · Since 08 Jun 2005 526 Posts portland Addicted

he'll get the tough-on-crime vote....

"Certain criminals, instead of being put in jail, they should be brutally tortured and impaled.... Upon them being found guilty of their crimes I'll beat them, torture them, dismember them and decapitate them."

but alas, he's going to sit this one out....

On August 24, 2011, he formally ended his presidential campaign, but said he intends to run again in 2020

what is Sarah Palin up to? Trump / Palin 2016

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2625 Posts The 503 METAL

MikeZ · Sat Jan 09, 16 10:20 am