Draining Cauliflower Ear

[Harry Evans]

So, I asked in my gym and heard 2 interesting responses. I want to hear what you guys think about them. The first person told me something similar to some of those above, basically saying that: a) can't go to the doc over and over b) keep it sterile and c) get a needle at walgreens, drain it, and move on. He said that a teammate went to the doc the first time he got it, and the doc lanced it wide open, filled it with gauze, and stitched it shut. He was out like 3 weeks.

The second guy said this, which is weirder. His acupuncturist once pushed really hard and massaged it through the ear. He said he could feel the liquids drain and disperse internally, to no ill effect. Since then, he just pushes it down really hard until it goes away. I tried, but I am scared to push that hard. It seems like this would be bad for you. Yet he has trained for years, never gotten infected, and has zero cauliflower ear.

I am first aid certified, and was basically EMT certified a while back, so I can keep it sterile. Think I am going to drain it today and see what happens...

Thanks to everyone for the great advise. I'll let you know how it turns out.

[bobby rivers]

Do not do the second technique. Enter from the bottom of the pocket and squeeze it, while drawing on the syringe and guiding the needle around the pocket. Use alcohol and a new syringe every time and you'll be fine. Its actually kinda fun.

[Matthew Edlund]

After you drain it remember to keep pressure on it. I used a clothes pin to clamp it shut. If you don't keep pressure on it for a long ass time then it just blows right back up.

[Scott Yockel]

So, I asked in my gym and heard 2 interesting responses. I want to hear what you guys think about them. The first person told me something similar to some of those above, basically saying that: a) can't go to the doc over and over b) keep it sterile and c) get a needle at walgreens, drain it, and move on. He said that a teammate went to the doc the first time he got it, and the doc lanced it wide open, filled it with gauze, and stitched it shut. He was out like 3 weeks.

The second guy said this, which is weirder. His acupuncturist once pushed really hard and massaged it through the ear. He said he could feel the liquids drain and disperse internally, to no ill effect. Since then, he just pushes it down really hard until it goes away. I tried, but I am scared to push that hard. It seems like this would be bad for you. Yet he has trained for years, never gotten infected, and has zero cauliflower ear.

I am first aid certified, and was basically EMT certified a while back, so I can keep it sterile. Think I am going to drain it today and see what happens...

Thanks to everyone for the great advise. I'll let you know how it turns out.

I have had cauilflower ear since I was 15. I have had it drained a bunch of times over the years. The doc that cut open your buddies ear jumped the gun alittle. Sucking out the fluid with a needle is the first step, keep draining it for a couple weeks. If it keeps up then have it lanced. I wouldn't drain it myself, if you do it wrong, you can inject an air pocket into your blood stream. Which is really bad. I have always had either my Coach or my cousin (she is a nurse) drain it for me.

As far as the girl thing goes, it wont matter to much. My soon to be wife didnt care when we first started dating. Even when I was single it didnt matter. Think of it like a tat, just with a better story.

[bobby rivers]

The pocket is separate from the circulatory system so the whole air pocket thing is a non issue.

[Daniel Patrick]

The pocket is separate from the circulatory system so the whole air pocket thing is a non issue.

Correct. And injecting air is only adverse if its intraarterial, not intravenous.

[Enrique "Kiko"]

I had to lance my own cauli a couple times. Not fun, unless you're into needles in yourself. My Brute Quad III ear-guards are my ace in the hole against future cauli, unless someone feels like ripping my headgear off my head one day.