I recently heard that pain in the left side of shoulder, specifically the deltoid area is "a classic bends" symptom. Why is the left side more prone to pain, if this is true?
Bends, Why the left side?
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To the best of my knowledge, there is no empirical or even theoretical reason that this would be the case in recreational divers. Type I DCS can affect joints on either side of the body without significant preference.
I'm also going to call this inquiry to DrDeco's attention.
Best regards.
DocVikingo
I'm also going to call this inquiry to DrDeco's attention.
Best regards.
DocVikingo
Dr Deco
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Hi WVMike:
Distribution of Joint Pain
The distribution is about equal with respect to right and left. An original hypothesis was that bubbles formed in the bodys tissues, entered the circulatory system and then embolized some joint where the bubbles were fed by dissolved gas and grew. This explained the right/left distribution because the circulatory system is equal with respect to right and left arms, etc.
With the advent of Doppler bubble detectors, it became clear that numerous gas bubble could exist in the venous circulation and that these bubbles did not appear in the arterial circulation when only joint pain was present. The circulation hypothesis was dropped.
Saturation Decompression and Preference
The distribution of DCS is easiest to study in saturation decompression because all tissues are loaded equally. In this case, the legs predominate and there is a slight preference to the right side.
My interpretation of this, based on stress-assisted nucleation (nuclei formation), is that physical loads are greatest on the legs (most nuclei) and somewhat greater on the right side (because most people have a dominant right hand).
Dr Deco :doctor:
Please note the next class in Decompression Physiology :grad:
http://wrigley.usc.edu/hyperbaric/advdeco.htm
Distribution of Joint Pain
The distribution is about equal with respect to right and left. An original hypothesis was that bubbles formed in the bodys tissues, entered the circulatory system and then embolized some joint where the bubbles were fed by dissolved gas and grew. This explained the right/left distribution because the circulatory system is equal with respect to right and left arms, etc.
With the advent of Doppler bubble detectors, it became clear that numerous gas bubble could exist in the venous circulation and that these bubbles did not appear in the arterial circulation when only joint pain was present. The circulation hypothesis was dropped.
Saturation Decompression and Preference
The distribution of DCS is easiest to study in saturation decompression because all tissues are loaded equally. In this case, the legs predominate and there is a slight preference to the right side.
My interpretation of this, based on stress-assisted nucleation (nuclei formation), is that physical loads are greatest on the legs (most nuclei) and somewhat greater on the right side (because most people have a dominant right hand).
Dr Deco :doctor:
Please note the next class in Decompression Physiology :grad:
http://wrigley.usc.edu/hyperbaric/advdeco.htm
OP
DocVikingo and DR Deco, thanks for your time and responses. This clears up the questions in my mind. I was wondering if it was a circulation thing and if one side had better circulation than the other, now I know that is not the case.
mike
mike
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