Diving with a broken nose

[ktarlecky]

I am going diving in the BVI in 4 weeks. My nose was broken by my 4 year old nephew a few days ago. If I go get it set I have to wear some sort of tape and stuff for 4 weeks and may miss some/all of the diving. If I don't will the pressure hurt the break or anything?

 

[DandyDon]

:xeye: Oooh.That'd be a paiful place for pressure pains and nitrogen bubbles.!

But you have 4 weeks to heal. Good luck!

 

[ZenDiver]

I am not a doctor but one of my students broke her nose surfing. Other than not being able to pinch her nose to clear her ears her doctor didnt say anything. She waited about 4 weeks before diving again. Just in time for your trip to BVI. I would of course talk to the Doc to make sure but I think you will be fine in my non medical opinion. Hope you have fun.

Brian

 

[zboss]

Have you gotten any news on this? What has the doctor said? Are you seeing a diving doctor?

 

[ktarlecky]

the specialist said it seems like it will be okay. I guess we will find out in a couple of weeks anyway. I was joking around with ben and I told him if I have to I would wear a pair of goggles. I think I could do it... anyway...we'll see. See you in a couple weeks on JVD! YEAH!

 

[zboss]

the specialist said it seems like it will be okay. I guess we will find out in a couple of weeks anyway. I was joking around with ben and I told him if I have to I would wear a pair of goggles. I think I could do it... anyway...we'll see. See you in a couple weeks on JVD! YEAH!

if you spurt hot coca-cola out your nose... yea that would hurt.

(maybe your too young for that skit...)

 

[rab]

Last year I took a soccer ball right in my nose (playing goalie, kicked from about 3ft away, BY MY TEAMMATE, but I digress). It wasn't broken, but hurt like crazy and was swollen. I went diving 8 days later if I recall, and I was concerned about equalizing. There wasn't any pressure from the mask, but if you can equalize by VTO ("voluntary tubal opening" -- like when your ears pop when you yawn) and avoid Val Salva (nose pinch and blow) it's much more confortable. It's not the pinch, but the blow that was worse.

With 4 weeks (three more) before your next diving, I'd suspect you'd be OK. Good Luck!

-Rob

Here are some other threads/posts about Voluntary Tubal Opening:
Marine Science and Physiology > Diving Medicine > Voluntary tubal opening
The Art of Scuba diving > Basic Scuba Discussions > Anyone Equalize without Valsalva?

 

[starrtent]

I have broken my nose so many times, no one is counting. I played football before helmets fit right and the bobble head was me every practice. Nose on one side one day the other side the next. Coach kept me around because he enjoyed the blood streaked face.
Then I fall off a ladder and break my occiptal lobe and mess up my sinuses even more. Needless to say my face is not what it used to be. Forget the tape and bandage, it does not stay on anyway and everyone just looks at you funny. The nose cartillage never gets back to normal anyway.
I have had sinus barotrama (good thread to look at) on several dives. I clear my nose upon surfacing and get all sorts of junk coming out. So I have learned to carry lots of paper towels in my dive bag. Most of this is from not decending slowly and relieving the pressure too forcefully. Rob made a very good point...VTO
Just wait for the next time your nephew head butts you. The schnoze will never be the same.