I’m now officially deaf on one side 🙁 I need to commute (as I’ll go bonkers if I drive). Has anyone else had this and is riding OK or did it get painful? Did you cover your ear? Did it take long to heal?

Grr, am really annoyed about this!

One of mine is perforated and has been for years, you’ll be fine.

No rapid decents or ascents (less likely).

Get an earplug so you don’t get water down your ear (don’t mean when cycling generally speaking)Go to http://www.arnoldhearing.co.uk and get some custom ones made.

Ta for the replies. The doc says it should be healed within 4-6 weeks but it’s currently driving me bananas due to the ringing sound (tinnitus) together with the deafness. If not fixed then microsurgery to graft a new one. If it goes on for too long I’ll get custom earplugs.

I’ll keep out of planes for a while too (yay! no having to go to work in Germany for a while!).

I’ll try it on Monday to see how it goes but if it is cold I may use cotton wool to prevent cold wind getting in there.

Tinnitus will disappear without you noticing but be careful exposing your ear to the wind so use the same ear plug you would use on the shower or cotton wool. I was fine on the bike but felt a little unbalanced.

Bruneep – it’s still perforated?! Why have you not had an operation, if its perforated you’re open to inner ear infections

Bruneep – it’s still perforated?! Why have you not had an operation, if its perforated you’re open to inner ear infections

I don’t have enough time on this planet to go into the ins and outs of my lug problems. I have many many ops on them. The ENT surgeon and I have agreed that the right one will stay with hole in it meantime.

Fair enough then and fair play with putting up with it. Mine has taken ages to heal and have really regretted re-enacting Kaddish behaviour from uni

Fair enough then and fair play with putting up with it. Mine has taken ages to heal and have really regretted re-enacting laddish behaviour from uni. Wouldn’t wish a perforated ear drum on anybody

I have ears problems myself and whilst my balance isnt quite perfect i manage fine. only issue is wind/cold. Its not so much an issue in summer but come this time of year it starts playing up. I got a skull cap that covers the ears and its fine.

I had one of mine blown through by being struck plumb on the side of the head with a 16oz glove in my fighting days.

Despite it being described as ‘totally destroyed’ by the quack I was basically told not to get water in it until the appointment came through for a surgical repair.

I just used a plug in the shower and that was it.