Carpal Tunnel after diving?

[scubasaurus94]

I have had problems with carpal tunnel syndrome in the past, and I was wondering if the symptoms can be exacerbated by diving. It mostly affects my left pinky finger and the left side of my hand, and wearing a brace usually helps with the tingling sensation. I know that lugging gear and the physical toll of diving can give you pain you may not expect, but is there a specific link to carpal tunnel?

 

[bleeb]

I've heard of some people having problems (or making existing ones worse) because of overly tight suit sleeves or glove wrists. Drysuit wrist seals seem to be a particular issue. Does any of this apply to you?

 

[FishDiver]

I have had problems with carpal tunnel syndrome in the past, and I was wondering if the symptoms can be exacerbated by diving. It mostly affects my left pinky finger and the left side of my hand, and wearing a brace usually helps with the tingling sensation. I know that lugging gear and the physical toll of diving can give you pain you may not expect, but is there a specific link to carpal tunnel?

This may help: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/diving-medicine/334671-lingering-peripheral-neuropathy.html

 

[inventor]

I am a maintenance man/carpenter by trade, and had my carpal tunnel fixed by the Brown Hand Institute. I recommend them, if you get surgery. It was like magic. After my second dive, someone would have to take my regs off my tank for me. Now I'm back to normal.

 

[scubasaurus94]

I've heard of some people having problems (or making existing ones worse) because of overly tight suit sleeves or glove wrists. Drysuit wrist seals seem to be a particular issue. Does any of this apply to you?

It has happened to me after dives wearing 7mm wetsuits, but it happens after other dives with much thinner exposure suits that probably wouldn't pose this problem.

 

[DevonDiver]

I think that any post-diving neurological issue, especially one that involves numbness or tingling in the limbs should also be checked out as a potential DCS issue.

Lots of divers get 'minor bends', but they go undiagnosed due to denial and a refusal to accept that DCS could have occured.

It's worth a free call to DAN, just to be sure.

 

[scubamarketing]

I had a similar problem in my 7mm wet suit and in a neoprene drysuit, but when I switched to latex seals, the problems went away. I started getting carpal from being on the computer so much and it was fixed by a great massage therapist, no surgery necessary.

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

I think that any post-diving neurological issue, especially one that involves numbness or tingling in the limbs should also be checked out as a potential DCS issue.

Lots of divers get 'minor bends', but they go undiagnosed due to denial and a refusal to accept that DCS could have occured.

It's worth a free call to DAN, just to be sure.

Agree.
Rubicon Research Repository: Item 123456789/6528


For Scubasaurus: The study linked above looks retrospectively at DCS cases in patients who may have had underlying peripheral neuropathy. Another paper in PubMed, which I couldn't get to link here, is a case report from Annals of Emergency Medicine 1996 Jul;28(1):90-3 of DCS mimicking peripheral neuropathy.
Carrying and manipulating heavy equipment could very well aggravate your symptoms. It's also worthwhile to take stock of how you feel before your dive, and note any changes after. Carpal tunnel involves compression of a peripheral nerve, which could in theory alter the nerve's blood supply and make that area more vulnerable to DCS. Also, as noted in the first study, your symptoms could mimic DCS and earn you an unneeded ride in the round room. I'd suggest being as gentle with the affected limb as possible, using your brace, and also that you consider not diving if you are having a flareup of your symptoms. Most importantly, follow the instructions of any practitioner you're seeing related to the carpal tunnel. Sometimes the diving itch needs to get scratched and it's tempting to ignore physician instructions "just this once". If your primary care practitioner has any questions, he or she can feel free to contact us directly.
Kindest regards,
DDM

 

[CaveMD]

I have had problems with carpal tunnel syndrome in the past, and I was wondering if the symptoms can be exacerbated by diving. It mostly affects my left pinky finger and the left side of my hand, and wearing a brace usually helps with the tingling sensation. I know that lugging gear and the physical toll of diving can give you pain you may not expect, but is there a specific link to carpal tunnel?

From the description you have given it's not carpal tunnel.

carpal tunnel is a compression of the median nerve under the carpal retinaculum as it passes through the wrist superficial to the wrist flexor tendons

your pinky finger is innervated by the ulnar nerve which passes in the cubital tunnel of the posterior elbow and travels along the medial side of the ulna down the medial side of the hand. It provides cutaneous sensation to the volar aspect of the small and ring finger.