A few years ago I was in Iraq and we had no medical professionals on site. I ended up with an extreme ear infection. My ear hurt and was...?

Question

...throbbing terribly. It hurt to the point I finally started stabbing the inside of my ear with a pen. Eventually, I popped something and fluid began to drain profusely and the pain went away in large part. Took a few days to actually get over it, but the intense pain was gone. I don’t think I’ve had any side effects from this, and my ear hasn’t bothered me in any unusual ways since. So, I’m just curious, what did I pop in my ear, and why didn’t that cause lasting damage (or did it an I just don’t know it yet)?

Thanks!

Chris

Thanks!
Chris

Mamawidsom · Answer

You probably "popped" you eardrum.  The pain was clearly from pressure and an infection.  Eardrums can rupture on their own when there is an infection in the middle ear (behind the eardrum).  You can also rupture it from a change in air pressure if you can't equalize that pressure or from a puncture with a sharp instrument.   Most eardrums will naturally heal over again without any additional treatment.  Sometimes they have to be patched.  If you have no hearing loss, you were lucky and your eardrum healed on its own.

Pearl L · Answer

you mightve had an infection and when you popped it you mightve caused it to drain and get rid of it, not sure why you couldnt get medical attention when youre in the military

Trending News

A few years ago I was in Iraq and we had no medical professionals on site. I ended up with an extreme ear infection. My ear hurt and was...?

2 Answers