avascular necrosis due to heavy drinking before diving?

[dsteding]

So, I'm sitting with a buddy of mine tonight at the poker table, I asked him if he wanted to dive together soon, and he said that he can no longer dive.

Turns out he was recently diagnosed with avascular necrosis in his right shoulder. The doctor asked him his dive history, and he mentioned that he had a total of 7 dives on one vacation in which he also drank heavily the nights before-we are talking stumble to the boat the next morning drunk, the crew he was with parties pretty damn hard.

Dives were 2 per day for 2 days and 3 for one day, standard recreational depths, on air. I know alcohol use can be a cause of avascular necrosis, my question is can this happen over such a short period of time, and as a result of the diving/drinking combo?

 

[aic007]

A couple of good reads, doesn't really put together the two (drinking and diving) in the sense that doing one will speed up the process but some causes of avascular necrosis list excessive alcohol intake, diving, Steriod use among others, interesting reading.

http://www.divermag.com/archives/sep98/divedoctor_sep98.html

http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec05/ch064/ch064a.html

http://www.celebrationjointreplacement.com/osteonecrosis.htm

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi dsteding,

It is extremely unlikely that your friend's bone necrosis is in any way related to the single episode which you describe.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[freediver]

So, I'm sitting with a buddy of mine tonight at the poker table, I asked him if he wanted to dive together soon, and he said that he can no longer dive.

Turns out he was recently diagnosed with avascular necrosis in his right shoulder. The doctor asked him his dive history, and he mentioned that he had a total of 7 dives on one vacation in which he also drank heavily the nights before-we are talking stumble to the boat the next morning drunk, the crew he was with parties pretty damn hard.

Dives were 2 per day for 2 days and 3 for one day, standard recreational depths, on air. I know alcohol use can be a cause of avascular necrosis, my question is can this happen over such a short period of time, and as a result of the diving/drinking combo?

I too have been recently diagnosed with avascular necrosis in my right shoulder. Strangely, I do not drink, never any steroid use or any other risk factors. I do. however, have Acromegaly and am curious to see if it relates. I would be interested in getting updates on your buddy when you learn more.

 

[cudachaser]

I'll have to chime also...only my bone deterioration is in my neck...cervical deterioration. The Dr's haven't attributed to diving...just commented that it is unusual at my "young" age.

I do drink and guess that I have made around 5000 dives in my 42 years of diving

 

[Saturation]

Acromegaly is associated with various joint diseases and at times, with avascular necrosis of various joints.

Cervical osteonecrosis is very unusual for diving related issues, and it would be prudent to find out other causes before considering diving as its primary cause. Osteonecrosis not the same as bone deterioration or degeneration, the later is due to age, excessive wear [ say as wearing Mark V] etc.,