The Definitive Cauliflower Ear Thread (please sticky)

[letsgotribe9]

My left ear I've had the suture method.. terribly painful, with a compression stitched into my ear for a week. The entire week I felt like my ear was going to explode from the heavy sensation of blood trying to get into my ear but the compression not allowing it... but thankfully, after all is said and done, it looks like a fine ear. Luckily, I've never had problems with that ear again.

My right ear I drain myself every now and then. I didn't want to go through that suture method pain. Although when I drain the ear myself it'll fill up in a few days, I'll just drain it again. Less and less blood, but it still has (when taking close notice) the look of cauli. By the way, it is crucially important to get it clean when draining as previously and obviously stated, but after care is equally important. Cleaning again and compression is very important. I go crazy in with gauze and wrap an ace bandage around my head making sure the ear doesn't have a chance of filling up. I leave it on for a full day while icing it consistently. Maybe taking ibuprofen to prevent swelling too. Eventually though, like water, blood will work its way through anything.

Keep up the thread. I'd like to hear other experiences and stories.

[BCarr]

Seriously....it pays to have good medical insurance. My ears are still pretty at age 33.

[JerseyTrash]

So...what needles would you use?

[Frodo]

Originally Posted by letsgotribe9

My left ear I've had the suture method.. terribly painful, with a compression stitched into my ear for a week. The entire week I felt like my ear was going to explode from the heavy sensation of blood trying to get into my ear but the compression not allowing it... but thankfully, after all is said and done, it looks like a fine ear. Luckily, I've never had problems with that ear again.

My right ear I drain myself every now and then. I didn't want to go through that suture method pain. Although when I drain the ear myself it'll fill up in a few days, I'll just drain it again. Less and less blood, but it still has (when taking close notice) the look of cauli. By the way, it is crucially important to get it clean when draining as previously and obviously stated, but after care is equally important. Cleaning again and compression is very important. I go crazy in with gauze and wrap an ace bandage around my head making sure the ear doesn't have a chance of filling up. I leave it on for a full day while icing it consistently. Maybe taking ibuprofen to prevent swelling too. Eventually though, like water, blood will work its way through anything.

Keep up the thread. I'd like to hear other experiences and stories.

The suture and compression stitch method isn't that bad. I didn't even take any painkillers, and I had it really bad. The only annoying thing was keeping it dry and medicated.

[Frodo]

delete

[Quest4Glory]

Nice

[Zankou]

My number one tip, which has saved me enormous amounts of trouble with cauli:

Don't grind your ears.

It's just that simple. Do not grind your ears. Don't rip your head out of chokes, don't let your opponent crush your ears. Insist on using technique, not force, to escape chokes. If you feel your ears being crushed, then unless you're about to win the gold medal, just tap. Zero ego, and you are back on the mat, rolling right away. Instead of sitting in the &*#@)(& ER, being lanced and stitched, then wearing headgear for two months.

Accidents still happen, but most cauli comes from people senselessly grinding their ears, so determined to fight through things.

[FuriousFist]

I'm starting to develop a little cauli and I'm wondering if there are any consequences to leaving it alone other than disfigurement.

[yovan]

Originally Posted by Zankou

My number one tip, which has saved me enormous amounts of trouble with cauli:

Don't grind your ears.

It's just that simple. Do not grind your ears. Don't rip your head out of chokes, don't let your opponent crush your ears. Insist on using technique, not force, to escape chokes. If you feel your ears being crushed, then unless you're about to win the gold medal, just tap. Zero ego, and you are back on the mat, rolling right away. Instead of sitting in the &*#@)(& ER, being lanced and stitched, then wearing headgear for two months.

Accidents still happen, but most cauli comes from people senselessly grinding their ears, so determined to fight through things.

I'm with ya' here. I see no need to try and rip my head out of a choke and damage my ears in the process.

I'll tap to save the ears and keep rolling.

[Big Eck]

Originally Posted by Zankou

My number one tip, which has saved me enormous amounts of trouble with cauli:

Don't grind your ears.

It's just that simple. Do not grind your ears. Don't rip your head out of chokes, don't let your opponent crush your ears. Insist on using technique, not force, to escape chokes. If you feel your ears being crushed, then unless you're about to win the gold medal, just tap. Zero ego, and you are back on the mat, rolling right away. Instead of sitting in the &*#@)(& ER, being lanced and stitched, then wearing headgear for two months.

Accidents still happen, but most cauli comes from people senselessly grinding their ears, so determined to fight through things.

Can't argue with that.