James Zucherman, MD, Orthopaedic Surgery - Brown & Toland Physicians

James Zucherman, MD, Orthopaedic Surgery - Brown & Toland Physicians - Surgery Residency

Dr. Jim Zucherman specializes in the surgical treatment of degenerative conditions of the spine. He is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dr. Zucherman graduated with honors from the University of Southern California in 1970. He received his Medical degree from the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas in 1974. Following that he completed his internship at Los Angeles County - USC General Hospital in 1975 and a General Surgery residency at Mt. Zion Medical Center in 1977. Subsequently, he completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at the San Francisco Orthopaedic Residency Program in 1981 and a pediatric/ orthopaedic spine surgery fellowship at the Duchess of Kent Children's Orthopaedic Hospital of the University of Hong Kong in 1982.

Ears and Hearing - 7 Myths Debunked!

Surgery Residency:

Myth: To clean my ears, only cotton swabs, keys, or my fingers work

Truth: Do not put whatever in your ear that is smaller than your elbow

Surgery Residency:Ears and Hearing - 7 Myths Debunked!

Many citizen think that ears must be cleaned like our bodies to remain healthy. While ears do need to be kept clean, they beyond doubt clean themselves. How? The skin of the ear canal (cerumen) migrates outward and acts as a protector of the delicate eardrum. Many times, prodding, poking, or picking at this material pushes it back in, causing blockage and possible temporary hearing loss - or even accidental puncture of the eardrum. In that event, a serious injury to the hearing bones can ensue in the need for urgency surgery.

And if itchy ears are often incorrectly relieved using cotton swabs the repeated scratching can cause a thickening of the ear canal, much like a callous. This pushes wax even deeper into the ear canal.

But some ear canals don't remove the wax like they are supposed to - they are too narrow, so the natural cleaning process cannot do its job. In this case, ear wax accumulates. So how do you know if your ears are cleaning themselves properly?

If your ears are not clean, they may feel gummy and you may be tempted to grab that cotton swab or key. And if wax fully obstructs your ear canal, you may caress hearing loss. But don't take matters into your own hands! Visit your Ent (Ear, Nose and Throat) doctor, who can safely remove the wax build-up.

But if you want to try alleviating the wax at home, gently clean the outer quantum of your ear canal with a wet washcloth. If your ear still feels blocked, you should call your physician and have the cerumen removed.

The next best thing is to gently irrigate the ear canal with 3% hydrogen peroxide, using a small rubber ear syringe. Then dry the ear canal with a hair dryer set on a medium temperature; hot temperatures can cause temporary dizziness due stimulation of the equilibrium canals.

Myth: If my ear hurts, I must have an infection

Truth: Pain is regularly caused by something less severe

One major cause of ear pain is inflammation of the temporomandibular joint (Tmj). The Tmj joint lies adjacent to the ear canal. Because of this close proximity, many of the same pain nerves are shared.

Swimmer's ear (External Otitis) is another tasteless cause of ear pain. It's the ensue of the ear canal becoming and staying wet. This warm, wet, and dark environment is the exquisite place for bacteria and fungus to live and multiply, causing an infection.

Another cause of ear pain is otitis media, an infection in the middle ear. This infection occurs after an upper respiratory infection reaches the middle ear, via the Eustachian tube.

Neuralgia, an inflammation of the nerves colse to the ear, can cause excruciating pain that feels like jabbing or stabbing inside the ear.

So how do you know what's causing your ear pain?

Tmj is indicated if you press on the jaw joint while opportunity and windup the mouth and its hurts or is tender. A swimmer's ear infection may be your question if gently pulling on your outer ear hurts.

Otitis media and neuralgia are ordinarily accompanied by sharper pain originating deeper in your ear. Otitis media is regularly accompanied by pus draining into your ear canal through a perforation in the ear drum.

By now you're wondering, Can I treat any of these problems myself?

Although Tmj inflammation should be managed by a dentist, you can temporarily relax the discomfort by eating a soft diet; placing a warm heating pad on the affected jaw joint twice daily; or by taking anti-inflammatory medications. But if the pain still persists after a few days of home treatment, you must consult a dentist that specializes in Tmj pain.

Swimmer's ear can be prevented by filling the ear canals with rubbing alcohol after every swim. Let it site for a combine of minutes, then draining the alcohol and dry your ears with a hair dryer set on medium temperature. Once swimmer's ear infection occurs there can be a tendency for recurrence when the ear gets wet. Then it is even more foremost to treat your ears with alcohol after each and every swim.

If your pain is primary and comes from deep in your ear, you should seek medicine by an Ent physician right away. Using special instruments, your physician will clean the ear canal and prescription antibiotics (either drops or oral medication) to eliminate any infection.

Myth: Popping my ears is dangerous

Truth: Popping your ears is rarely dangerous

While you can have problems with your Eustachian tubes - the part of your ear that "pops" - rarely is the act of popping them the problem.

So what are some of the problems you might encounter with your Eustachian tubes?

One is blocked Eustachian tubes. The Eustachian tubes associate the middle ear cavity with the throat, aerating the middle ear when you swallow and draining mucous and secretions from the middle ear into the throat. Often a cold or sinus infection will cause the Eustachian tube membranes to swell. When this happens the Eustachian tube is not able to function, causing pressure and stuffiness in your head. Your
hearing may feel diminished, and fluid may fetch in the middle ear.

Another possible question is abnormally open (patulous) Eustachian tubes. This is an uncommon cause of ear stuffiness and regularly occurs when man loses weight. When your Eustachian tube is open it can cause the sensation that your voice is loud or has an echo (autophony), like you are inside a drum. It may also cause a sensation of hearing air "whoosh" when you breathe through your nose.

So how can you tell if you have blocked or open Eustachian tubes?

Pinch your nostrils finished and blow hard against them. If you cannot "pop" your ears, your Eustachian tubes are likely blocked by swelling of the mucus membranes. However, if you suddenly feel pressure relief you've probably just opened your Eustachian tubes and equalized the middle ear pressure with ambient air pressure.

This maneuver can be performed many times throughout the day to relax blocked Eustachian tubes. There is no danger of harming your ears with this technique, but if you get dizzy you should see your Ent (Ear, Nose and Throat) doctor.

To diagnose open Eustachian tubes, sit down and bend forward fully at the waist, putting
your head between your legs. If the pressure and stuffiness in your ear disappears you have open Eustachian tubes. Lying flat in bed will relax the symptoms of open Eustachian tubes.

If popping your ears, bending forward from a seated position, or lying down do not relax your ear pressure, your question may be due to increased inner ear pressure and should be evaluated by an ear specialist.

If you have blocked Eustachian tubes over-the-counter medications such as decongestant nasal sprays can help shrink the membranes, relieving pressure in the ears. Flying in an airplane, skin diving, or
scuba diving should be avoided if there is blockage of the Eustachian tube, as landing or descending in the water will ensue in severe pain in the ears. If you must fly, taking Afrin® nasal spray (two sprays to each nostril) and a 30mg Sudafed® tablet one hour before descending. This will help open your Eustachian tubes, helping forestall ear pain. If symptoms persist, you should caress your Ent doctor.

Depending on the cause of your open Eustachian tube, your Ent physician may recommend some different treatments. Treatments for increased inner ear pressure include prescribing diuretics or office surgery to deliver steroids to the inner ear.

Myth: Loud noises won't hurt me because I'm young

Truth: Loud noises can damage anyone's hearing, no matter their age

Damage to the ear can occur from exposure to loud noises like guns fire near the ear, market sounds, lawn and building equipment, and music played too loud - especially via headphones.

But how do you know if you have hearing damage? If you caress ringing, stuffiness, or hearing loss after noise exposure, damage to the delicate cells of the cochlea has probably occurred.

Unfortunately, most hearing damage is permanent, so the best medicine is prevention. Ear safety should be worn in any noisy situation:

o loud work environments

o when using power tools and noisy yard equipment

o during firearm use

o when riding a motorcycle

o when exposed to loud music at concerts

But hearing safety doesn't have to be bulky or ugly. Today's ear plugs are roughly invisible, and ear muffs can blend in if worn in the winter. institution molded ear plugs are also available to ensure
an optimal fit in the ear canal. Additionally, some personal listening devices have volume limits, preventing excess noise exposure.

The good news is that for some cases a short policy of steroids may reverse acute hearing damage.

Myth: There is no medicine for tinnitus; I just have to live with it

Truth: Many treatments can help tinnitus sufferers

Tinnitus is a very tasteless hearing-related complaint - upwards of 50 million American adults have some degree of the hearing disorder. Tinnitus occurs as the itsybitsy hair cells in the cochlea die, causing noise or ringing in the ear.

Although this ringing is not a serious problem, citizen experiencing it should be evaluated by an Ent physician because it can indicate a more serious healing problem. When you are evaluated for tinnitus, your physician will achieve special tests to settle the cause and recommend medicine if necessary.

So, what kinds of treatments are available for those with tinnitus? Currently some medicine options exist, including

o Masking tinnitus with surface noise such as music or Tv. If the tinnitus is accompanied by hearing loss, a hearing aid can growth surface noise, reducing the intensity of tinnitus.

o Low-salt diet.

o Electrical stimulation.

o Stress reduction.

o Bio feedback.

o Zinc, Ginkgo, garlic pills, and supplements together with high level antioxidants.

o Brain retraining, in which a therapist works with you to train your brain not to hear the tinnitus.

Also, knowing that tinnitus is not a life-threatening question may help you cope.

Myth: My parents went deaf, so I am bound to go deaf, too

Truth: Heredity is a factor in hearing loss, but not a certainty

Hearing loss is a aggregate of many factors: exposure to loud sounds, normal health, heredity, and age. We are genetic products of our family, and hearing loss is no exception. And as we age, the tiny hair cells in the cochlea that lie closest to the middle ear begin to die, resulting in a high-tone hearing loss. But no one factor plays a more influential role than the others, so no one is "doomed to deafness."

Normally a gradual process, hearing loss can occur quite suddenly - even overnight. If you suddenly consideration that you can't hear out of one ear, it is a healing emergency. Put the phone up to your ear; if you can't hear the dial tone, see an Ent scholar as soon as possible. Hopefully it is just ear wax blocking the ear canal, but you need to visit an Ent to find out for sure.

Signs of more gradual hearing loss include

o Needing to turn the Tv or radio turned up louder than other house members

o Asking citizen to repeat themselves all the time

o Your spouse says you don't listen to him or her

o Sounds muffled, or distant

o You have problem hearing from a cellular telephone

While hearing loss is beyond doubt disappointing and inconvenient, it can be treated. examination by an Ent physician is primary to make the correct diagnosis. This regularly includes a hearing test and other special ear tests.

Once a analysis is made, medicine can begin. medicine for sudden deafness is done with steroids whether taken orally or located directly into the ear. Additionally, a hearing expedient may be needed.

Treatment for the more common, progressive hearing loss that can sacrifice symptoms and effects includes a four-part schedule of salutary life style changes, including

o At least 30 minutes of daily exercise,

o Vitamin and mineral supplements,

o A salutary diet of veggies, fruits, whole grains, fish and lean meat, and

o safety from excessive noise exposure.

Myth: There is no medicine for deafness in one ear

Truth: Two thriving treatments exist for hearing loss in just one ear

There are two hearing devices that allow a man to hear from a deaf earCros and Baha.

Cros (Contra Lateral Routing of Signals) or Bi-Cros is a hearing aid that uses microphones to pick up sound from the deaf ear and forward it to the hearing ear. As a result, the Cros aid allows sound to be heard from all directions, and even allows a telephone to be used in the deaf ear.

Baha (Bone Anchored Hearing Aid), or bone stimulator, picks up sound from the deaf ear and transmits it through the skull to the hearing ear. Minor surgery is required to implant a titanium screw behind the ear, serving as an anchor for the external processor, which holds the device. The results are excellent.

Surgery Residency:Ears and Hearing - 7 Myths Debunked!