Injury and diving

[sethdeanne]

Ok. I know this may seem like a silly question... I am aware of the "rules" to not dive if you've had surgery, etc. But I think I either bruised the heck out of my little toe or broke it. I was planning on going diving in a little over a week. Will this cause me any problems? I can still walk and all - the toe just hurts because it is really bruised. Please share your recommendations and/or experiences.

 

[spectrum]

If you're concerned enough to ask for opinions over the internet sight unseen you may want to have it looked at by a doctor. I'm not sure how a broken little toe is treated. Loaded up with gear you don't want your footing to be compromised.

Pete

Ok. I know this may seem like a silly question... I am aware of the "rules" to not dive if you've had surgery, etc. But I think I either bruised the heck out of my little toe or broke it. I was planning on going diving in a little over a week. Will this cause me any problems? I can still walk and all - the toe just hurts because it is really bruised. Please share your recommendations and/or experiences.

 

[markfm]

Excellent advice -- I'm not a doctor in real life, don't even play one in the movies

 

[Spoon]

depends bro if you are not going to do much walking with gear then go for it. i aint a doctor and cant speak for your injury but i had a similar injury and i still dove, i was more than fine but most dives were done from a boat so i did little walking with full gear donned

 

[CD_in_Chitown]

I've broken two toes in recent years (I gotta get a sofa with smoother feet), I would predict that a week after the incident the pain will be worse than it is in the days following. And it is that kind of pain that will sparkle throughout your body and the deepest concious places of your mind for an instant when you bump the toe. Everything kind of goes white and all of your focus will turn to how you managed to bang that toe. Wait and see how you're feeling a day or two before the dives to decide whether or not you give it a try, maybe you just bruised it bad and it will be divable by then. IME it got worse before it got better.

 

[do it easy]

Here's my non-medical O2 cents- When you have damage or scar tissue, it makes it much easier for bubbles to form and give you problems with DCS. Usually this question is asked regarding surgery, but I believe that broken bones also form scar tissue.

This might be a better question to ask in the dive medicine forum.

My advice would be to dry out for a while.

 

[knotical]

If you decide to dive with the injured toe, consider how it will feel in a fin. I continued to dive with a banged up big toe, but was thankful I had open toe fins (Force Fins) available. My other fins triggered too much pain. But if you’re diving dry in Michigan, that might not be a problem.