the cartilage on the inside of my nose has eroded and it bleeds every day

[kev97]

for about a year i took cocaine every few weeks then for about 3-4 four months i went heavy on it and then stopped for about three months then done a line in a party and the next morning found a small indent inside my nose that had not been there before and it bleeds most days when i sneeze or blow my nose. sometimes what looks to be a scab  has came out. its been like this for a month now. the eroded part has not gotten bigger but it continues to bleed,since i found it i have stayed away from everything.it feels about 1-2mm deep what. should i do im really freaked out?

[weaver71]

Cocaine snorting is known in medical terms as cocaine insufflation. This practice damages nasal health in several different ways. First, when cocaine enters the body, it triggers an overactivation of a part of the nervous system called the sympathetic nervous system. Among this system’s many duties is regulation of the interior diameter of the body’s blood vessels. Under the influence of cocaine, the sympathetic nervous system significantly narrows blood vessels throughout the body, including the vessels that send blood to the tissues in the nasal cavity. Consequences of this narrowing include an increase in blood pressure and a drop in the amount of blood that can easily flow through the vessels at any given time. Without their required blood supply, the tissues in the nasal cavity start to undergo destructive changes in their normal level of function and overall health.

Apart from its effects on the sympathetic nervous system, cocaine inhaled through the nose directly irritates the nasal mucous membranes. Over time, repeated irritation of these membranes can lead to destructive changes in membrane health. In addition, cocaine typically contains considerable amounts of other substances, such as talc and borax, that drug manufacturers purposefully add in order to reduce their costs and artificially increase the size of any given cocaine batch. These substances have their own irritating qualities and add significantly to the level of nasal irritation produced by cocaine inhalation.  

There is no cure for cocaine induced cartilage damage, accept plastic surgery. The best way to stop the degradation is to no longer use drugs, eat healthy, circulatory support with exercise, and avoid any processed and artificial foods and chemicals that weaken the sympathetic nervous system. The reduced mucous membrane in the nose exposes the area to many kinds of infections, so antibiotic ointment MAY help the open wound of the tissues heal, though cartilage doesn't grow back. Support your health, avoid toxins, and go to a doctor, if the symptoms persist.

[Cricketk92]

Good Morning!  I too was a heavy cocaine user for about 2 years daily!  AT the time I didnt care about the consequences and just kept on using.  Like IBKleen I also have a nice hole in my nose!  I think if you let it alone and stay off cocaine that you might get lucky and it will be fine!  If it keeps bleeding and scabbing you should probably get it checked out!  Just stay away from the cocaine!!!  It does nasty things to our bodies!!!!  Let us know how you are doing!!!

[IBKleen]

I had that happen as well. Finally it bore a hole straight through so I have only 1 nostril. Yours will most likely scab over and heal if you don't use. If it continues and does not heal see your doctor and get honest. They may want to cauterize it. I hope you learned from this.