Cutaneous DCS

[Barracuda2]

1. If a diver had symptoms like tissue swelling in the stomach area accompanied by some soreness, and tissue swelling in the deltoid and upper shoulder area accompanied by some mottled discoloration of the skin after some deep diving profiles, (deco dives) could this be cutaneous DCS?

2. Assuming this is cutaneous DCS, If nothing is done about these symptoms and they disappear and do not return, and a year has passed, could problems develop in the future?

 

[Spoon]

cant answer your question but i have developed skin bends as well on my stomach after some deep diving profiles, they were mainly concentrated on the stomach. red weltish skin with pain in my lower abdomen. symptoms dissapeared the next day and dint need any medical attention as advised by the local dan rep. its been two months and im fine. guess the problem may re-arise if you did the same profiles.

just be careful next time and dont push it.

 

[MonkSeal]

If I remember correctly, sometimes this type of DCS can be caused with PFO which can lead to neurological type of DCS. Do you know the profile causing this case? It would be wise to investigate why this happened.

 

[Dive-aholic]

1. If a diver had symptoms like tissue swelling in the stomach area accompanied by some soreness, and tissue swelling in the deltoid and upper shoulder area accompanied by some mottled discoloration of the skin after some deep diving profiles, (deco dives) could this be cutaneous DCS?

2. Assuming this is cutaneous DCS, If nothing is done about these symptoms and they disappear and do not return, and a year has passed, could problems develop in the future?

1. Probably. The areas seem right.

2. Not necessarily. It all depends on the profile. The diver could be more prone to cut. DCS even with profiles within the limits. I don't know if the diver is now more prone or not. There are a lot of unknowns. Just have O2 nearby.

 

[Barracuda2]

My main concern about "the problems in the future" is bone necrosis; tiny bubbles lodging in the shoulder or knee joints, and over a period of time, causing the bone to deteriorate at that joint. I develped some pain and weakness in my knees over the last four months, but it has really improved over the last month; it's almost back to normal. That is what prompted my thread questions. I suppose I could have it checked out via x rays. Maybe it's just my age.

 

[Dive-aholic]

Eventually those tiny bubbles should be absorbed into your system. There shouldn't be "problems in the future". Note the word shouldn't, not won't. Who knows? Concerning the pain and weakness in your knees - you should probably see a doctor. X-rays might not show anything (they usually don't show much unless you have severe deterioration, which it doesn't sound like it). It probably is just age (sorry).

It's kind of funny actually. I've got joint problems - osteoarthritis - and on a recent trip I did several days of deep dives. By the end of the trip, I was thoroughly familiar with every ache in my joints - only because I felt a few aches I hadn't felt before, probably from hauling the gear around, and starting thinking DCS. I recognize those aches now, but it was a little unnerving for a few days.

Just dive safe. And see a doctor if you have any doubts.

 

[Dr Deco]

Hello barracuda:

1. “… tissue swelling in the stomach area accompanied by some soreness, and … mottled discoloration of the skin … could this be cutaneous DCS?”


Yes, this could be cutaneous DCS.

2. “Assuming this is cutaneous DCS, … nothing is done about these symptoms and they disappear …, could problems develop in the future ? “

They could but this is not really a “repeatable” problem. It has been suggested that a PFO is involved in some cases of skin bends.

The bubbles, if that is what causes the problem, will dissolve and nothing else will happen. You need not worry. They do not migrate around the body and lodge in some tissue, such as joints.

Dr Deco :doctor:

 

[Barracuda2]

Hello barracuda:

The bubbles, if that is what causes the problem, will dissolve and nothing else will happen. You need not worry. They do not migrate around the body and lodge in some tissue, such as joints.

Dr Deco :doctor:

Thanks Dr. Deco; I feel better already. :boings: I've been so active all my life in many respects that I just know that I will not age gracefully. It just bugs me to no end that many of my aches and pains are probably due to just getting older. I don't want to get older; I want to get better. but alas, it is inevitable. ity_part

 

[Heg]

Hi Dr Deco
Just posted this on another thread, but would love your opinion

Hi
I'm off to see a dive specialist on Friday re Skin bends. Has happened to me for the last 3 dive trips but I was blaming my weight belt for the bruising and itching around my midriff and my BC for soreness and itching around my shoulders.
It was only after a particularly scary 'attack' on my upper thighs that I looked up my symptoms on the www.
Will wait to see what the specialist says, but i'm really scared that I won't be allowed to dive again.
I also want to add that none of the dives were
1- deep
2- deco dives
I also did a saftey stop for 3 mins at 5m on every dive.
The symptoms appear about 2-3 hours after the second dive and are usually gone after around 6- 8 hours although the area still feels bruised. I do not get the symptoms after every dive, nut there is not pattern to it.
I'll post back here when I get the results.

 

[Dr Deco]

Hi Heg:

Repitition of "DCS" events following many dive is not a manefestation of decompression sickness in recreational diving. In a laboratory setting, it is possible to replicate symptoms with a high probability, but the gas loads are much greater than encountered by recreational divers (and more dangerous).

Repeated external itching and brusing would indicate some other cause, e.g., a suit or weight belt problem.