bluebanded goby
Contributor
A few months ago, a dive doctor gave me a neurological examination during a routine checkover. He said that I had a slight insensitivity to vibration in my left foot, and suggested that just to be safe I have an exam by a neurologist at my regular HMO.
It took a while to book this visit, but I had this exam last month. The neurologist confirmed that I had slight insensitivity to vibration in my left foot, but said I didn't have any conditions to warrant any concern (predisposition toward diabetes, etc), so since it wasn't bothering me he suggested just "keeping an eye on it."
Last night I was reading the firsthand account of a diver treated for DCS. He mentioned that the main neurological test used at the hospital where he was treated in Australia was this: the subject stands with one foot directly in front of the other as if walking a tightrope, then places the hands on opposite shoulders, and closes his/her eyes. Supposedly an average subject can hold this pose for 60 seconds before losing balance. When admitted for chamber treatment, the writer could only hold this pose for about 10 seconds.
After reading this, I stood up and tried this test myself. It took quite a bit of effort to remain standing for 10 seconds! I tried it again the following day, with the same results.
I was never given this particular test by either the dive doctor who saw me a few months ago or the neurologist who saw me more recently. Is it indeed a standard test of neurological function? Would my relatively poor performance suggest that maybe I should be checked out further? I've found that the doctors at my HMO tend to wait until people are pretty far out of normal ranges before they treat various conditions. Thanks for any comment on this.
It took a while to book this visit, but I had this exam last month. The neurologist confirmed that I had slight insensitivity to vibration in my left foot, but said I didn't have any conditions to warrant any concern (predisposition toward diabetes, etc), so since it wasn't bothering me he suggested just "keeping an eye on it."
Last night I was reading the firsthand account of a diver treated for DCS. He mentioned that the main neurological test used at the hospital where he was treated in Australia was this: the subject stands with one foot directly in front of the other as if walking a tightrope, then places the hands on opposite shoulders, and closes his/her eyes. Supposedly an average subject can hold this pose for 60 seconds before losing balance. When admitted for chamber treatment, the writer could only hold this pose for about 10 seconds.
After reading this, I stood up and tried this test myself. It took quite a bit of effort to remain standing for 10 seconds! I tried it again the following day, with the same results.
I was never given this particular test by either the dive doctor who saw me a few months ago or the neurologist who saw me more recently. Is it indeed a standard test of neurological function? Would my relatively poor performance suggest that maybe I should be checked out further? I've found that the doctors at my HMO tend to wait until people are pretty far out of normal ranges before they treat various conditions. Thanks for any comment on this.