Any disabled on Nitrox?

[YellowF4]

First a little background....

I have been diving for many years and was just getting ready to take a Nitrox class when I was involved in a major head on collision (October of 2002). 27 surgeries later and 4 1/2 years of my life learning to do everything all over, I am really wanting to try to get this class under my belt.

Here is the concern, I had bilateral compartment syndrome (Which for those who have never heard of this, is what happens when your extremities start to swell and the fine trauma surgeons cut the offending appendage to relieve pressure and save the limb) on my legs. I was cut from knee to ankle on both sides of my left leg and the same on the outside of the right leg. This caused horrific tissue, muscle and tendon loss. I am finally able to walk again with the use of orthodic braces and a lot of steel.

Last year whilst in the Bahamas I was finally able to get wet and had great success thanks to Sandals fantastic dive crew really taking care of me. I was/am really worried about the nitrogen build up with all the tissue discombobulation that I have going on. I cannot find any doctor who is knowledgeable enough to give me a definative answer as to whether I should be looking at Nitrox as a safer alternative or if I am safe with regular compressed air.

Thoughts?

 

[do it easy]

I dive with people who are paraplegics and quadriplegics, so they usually have less circulation and less mass in their affected limbs. We've only used air to depths less than 30'. I'm not sure what is the record deep dive.

Have any doctors told you not to breathe pure oxygen at the surface?

I'm not qualified to opine about how the increased partial pressure of oxygen might affect you, but my guess is that standard nitrox mixes at shallow depths with conservative dive times probably won't be much different from air.

However, if you really want to take the class, I say go for it. If there is a contraindication to using nitrox, you could still take the class- several agencies don't require Nitrox dives.

 

[pennypue]

I'd suggest contacting Simon Mitchell on TDS, he's in New Zealand. He could most likely answer your question or point you in the right direction.

 

[Missdirected]

I asked one the mods to move this to the Medical Forum. I think you will get more ideas there. I hope that helps.

I am curious to know the answer to the question you posed. For now, I am going with DIE's thoughts on this. Hey if anything, at least you are back to diving, yes? :yelclap:

 

[Gene_Hobbs]

compartment syndrome (Which for those who have never heard of this, is what happens when your extremities start to swell and the fine trauma surgeons cut the offending appendage to relieve pressure and save the limb) on my legs. I was cut from knee to ankle on both sides of my left leg and the same on the outside of the right leg. This caused horrific tissue, muscle and tendon loss. I am finally able to walk again with the use of orthodic braces and a lot of steel.

NOTE (for those who are not aware): Compartment syndrome is an approved indication for HBO treatment.

I was/am really worried about the nitrogen build up with all the tissue discombobulation that I have going on. I cannot find any doctor who is knowledgeable enough to give me a definative answer as to whether I should be looking at Nitrox as a safer alternative or if I am safe with regular compressed air.

I am not sure you will be able to find anyone that can give you a definitive answer. This is one of the "call DAN" moments. They should be able to provide the name of a diving knowledgeable MD in your area. Whoever you see will be giving you their best guess but that is better than nothing.

Good luck!

 

[do it easy]

NOTE (for those who are not aware): Compartment syndrome is an approved indication for HBO treatment.

You mean they have to watch movies on HBO? :11: or maybe Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

 

[ronbeau]

First a little background....

I have been diving for many years and was just getting ready to take a Nitrox class when I was involved in a major head on collision (October of 2002). 27 surgeries later and 4 1/2 years of my life learning to do everything all over, I am really wanting to try to get this class under my belt.

Here is the concern, I had bilateral compartment syndrome (Which for those who have never heard of this, is what happens when your extremities start to swell and the fine trauma surgeons cut the offending appendage to relieve pressure and save the limb) on my legs. I was cut from knee to ankle on both sides of my left leg and the same on the outside of the right leg. This caused horrific tissue, muscle and tendon loss. I am finally able to walk again with the use of orthodic braces and a lot of steel.

Last year whilst in the Bahamas I was finally able to get wet and had great success thanks to Sandals fantastic dive crew really taking care of me. I was/am really worried about the nitrogen build up with all the tissue discombobulation that I have going on. I cannot find any doctor who is knowledgeable enough to give me a definitive answer as to whether I should be looking at Nitrox as a safer alternative or if I am safe with regular compressed air.

Thoughts?

Have you called DAN at all?

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/

Non-Emergency Medical Questions
1-800-446-2671 or 1-919-684-2948, Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm (ET)

If so what was DAN's advice regarding your questions?

You do not have to be a DAN member (although it would advisable to support DAN) to call them with medical questions.

If they do not know the answer they could refer you to a hyperbaric specialist who could probably give you a more definitive answer.

 

[fisherdvm]

My concern with a history of compartment syndrome would be venous stasis, and not arterial impairment - if it is in the legs. Assuming that non of the arteries were injured during the accident.

If you have excessive swelling of your legs, especially at the end of the day being on your feet, you might benefit from wearing support stocking. I usually recommend a light stocking, below the knee, in the range of 20 to 30 mm of mercury to begin.

I don't think that the compartment syndrome would increase your chance of DCS. But if you suffered close head injury or concussion, it is theoretically possible that an area in your nervous system might be compromised vascular wise, and might set up for a DCS hit later.

You might want to wait for DocVikingo or Dr. Deco to give you feed back on this. But from a standpoint of a dermatologist, my main concern for your injury is venous stasis, venous stasis dermatitis, and a condition callled lipodermatosclerosis. Left untreated, it might set you up for an infection from minor injuries you might suffer while diving.