diving with scars

[BabyDuck]

i have a friend (no, really!) who was doing aow with naui and was in a bad car wreck, broke his neck in 2 places and had lots of surgery. no loss of function, thank goodness, but he was told by his instructor at the time (10 years ago) that scar tissue makes dcs more likely. he stopped diving. anybody have any comment on this, or places to go/people to see for him to be evaluated?

thanks

 

[goodknight411]

I've heard this before but they were talking about internal scar tissue, not scars on the skin. I'd suggest you or he call DAN. they know everything.

 

[Dive-aholic]

It depends on what kind of surgery he had. It appears that he had some kind of surgery to his c-spine which could leave internal scarring. But if the surgery was just on the bones, I don't think DCS is much of a concern. It becomes more of a concern with vascular/neuro surgeries. He needs to talk to his surgeon, not his instructor. Think of all the diving he's missed out on in 10 years! :frown:

 

[bottomrunner]

Hi
Good question!
I myself had to go through the same process.
I had major spinal surgery when I was 12.
They had to remove a turmor the size of a fist, that was wraped around the base of my spinal cord.
At that time they gave me a year and a half before I would be in a wheel chair for the rest of my life, without the operation.
Also they left 2 metal clips there, to check for further growth, down the road.
14 years ago I was involved in a motorcycle accident that shortened my right foot by a inch and a half.
The toes are still there but I only have 50% usage of the foot left.
Ah the risks of driving a motorcycle, lol
Also countless surface scars and broken bones.
So at the time I had some major concerns.
I was lucky to find a family doctor that also has diving medical background, and was cleared to dive.
I have logged more than 2000 dives, since 93 when I started
I use to run scuba diving charters and was underwater guide.
Some days I did 7 dives a day.
In the winter months I use to go to nova scotia, to harvest sea urchens for 9 hours a day.
My deepest dive has been 235 feet.
Most of my dives are working dives.
My air consumption rate can get as high as 2.4, yes call me AIR-PIG!
I carry 240 cu.ft. of air, that can last as long as 4 hours
and have never had a dcs problem.

----------------"JUST DO NOT BREAK THE RULES!"------------------
If you run into deco., do the time.
Do not dive the tables to the limits.
If you have air left in tank at end of dive. why not spend a few more minutes at your safty stop.


Hopes this helps

 

[Mako Mark]

check out this thread