Boxing and Rhinoplasty

[joeg]

I'm a boxer and have broken my nose a number of times, I have never really been fussed however lately been struggling to breath through it and waking up with dry mouth due to mourn breathing. Went to ent and saw junior doctor who said can't do anything till after finished boxing. I have private insurance so went to consultant, he advised nose is pretty much totally occluded due to break and as such rhinoplasty and op to sort deviated septum is only option. He said could box proberly after 6 weeks and nose would be as good as new if not stronger. This just seems to be completely opposed to advice given by nhs ent and what I read on Internet. Boxing is a huge part of life and couldn't give it up, but also not being ambo to breath through nose is giving me a fair bit of bother. Any advice? Thanks

[smashy]

Hello Joeg ,probably me but what are you actually asking? I mean once they sort out the deviated septum your breathing should be fine till it breaks again......

[popeyewhite]

Can you breathe through your nose with a mouthguard in? If yes, leave your nose as it is as you run the risk of getting it bashed again. If normal breathing really bothers you then get the nasal passages cleared so you can at least breathe properly. Wouldn't bother yet with a full rhinoplasty unless it was absolutely necessary, as you'll still be fighting.

[joeg]

Yeah really struggling breathing day to day, the specialist thoughts where that the rhinoplasty would proberly been needed to fix the breathing aswell due to the fact it's a pretty break. I really want it done just to be able to breathe normally but just worried that I will permanent weaken my nose.

[Autopilot]

It's not uncommon to get vastly different views from docs. From a common sense point of view, I'd agree with the NHS doc in that what is the point of spending the time, effort, money and recovery time if you're continuing to box and more than likely will need the procedure repeated.

As you have the luxury of having insurance and a willing doc, the question I'd want to ask is that what are the risks of having the procedure repeated a second time? If they have to remove bone during the first op, then could it complicate a repeat operation or potentially make you inoperable a second time.

I guess the issue is that your life is currently so badly affected that doing nothing isn't an option so need to accept that the fighting has to stop or if under the private docs advice, you can accept any risks of getting it broken again and having to undergo the op again.

I was advised by one surgeon that after hip resurfacing (while I was in my twenties) I'd want to consider pain free walking a luxury and not to train anymore let alone compete (Thai Boxing / MMA. Another surgeon told me that i'd just need to listen to my body, if it doesn't hurt, carry on! I took his advice and after a bit of a break, I fought at semi-pro level (MMA) for a further 6 years. I'm getting achey again so listening to my body and have just stopped training. I also do a fairly responsible job and deal with numerous external clients so is much easier turning up to meetings looking a mess.