“Ear injury that won't heal?”
I've got a close friend, a 62 year old man, that had his right ear torn on a job site about 3 years ago. The tear is on the outer cartilage about halfway up the side of the ear. It's created a flap about 1/2 to maybe 3/4 of an inch, pretty good size. It's never healed and it's obviously infected. It flares up regularly with drainage, sometimes the back of his ear will turn super red and fill with fluid that leaks out and looks bloody. And it always smells really foul. He's not insured and feels he was dismissed by a few doctors early on and never got any treatment. At this point, what would a remedy even look like? Can he get the infection under control without a doctor's help? I tried to get him to burn it but neither of us really had the heart to do that. The ear is already deformed from the injury. How can a guy like him get help without any way to pay for the treatment? We're both guessing it would take months of antibiotics.
Male | 62 years old
Medications: None
Conditions: None
3 Answers
My answer involves some speculation since I have not examined his ear. It's not clear to me whether he received any treatment at the time of the injury. It sounds as if he has chronic perichondritis, an infection of the cartilage of the ear. That usually responds to a 7-10 day course of antibiotics. I prescribe Cipro 500 mg to be taken twice a day. Health care has value, and it is worth paying for, just as any other service. I'm sure he pays for plumbing repairs, electrical repairs, etc., because they are worth what they cost. Health care is no different. It does not fall from the sky. It costs a physician to open and maintain an office, and it is logical that the people who benefit from it pay toward the expenses. If you pay a doctor $100, about $20 winds up in the doctor's pocket after expenses and taxes are deducted. The liberals may tell you
healthcare is a right, but the Constitution makes absolutely NO mention of that. If you hold out for free healthcare, you're probably going to suffer. Tell your friend to grow up. Good luck.
healthcare is a right, but the Constitution makes absolutely NO mention of that. If you hold out for free healthcare, you're probably going to suffer. Tell your friend to grow up. Good luck.
I would strongly discourage burning the ear. This infection needs to be seen by a physician. Treatment may not last as long as you fear and the physician can help your friend prevent future infections in the area, without necessarily going to the expense of cosmetic repair. Many providers will work with a patient to set up a payment plan.
Also if this is a work injury, it will covered under Workers' Compensation
