Dear Kimmie:
To be quite honest, it is difficult to differentiate joint pain DCS from a previous joint injury that comes and goes at random. In a research situation, this is sometimes encountered and the test subjects are simple given a
test of pressure. In the case of altitude DCS (such as at NASA), we simply ask the subjects to note if the pain remits upon repressurization to sea level.
In the case of recreational divers, a chamber repressurization is not an easy option. One is thus reduced to noting if the pains are any different than at other times, or did one do something that could provoke DCS (e.g., lift scuba tanks shortly after a dive), or perform many dives that could favor large tissue gas loads. If these are possible, then DCS is possible, and one needs to see if anything else develops. Naturally, if one were to have pains in the shoulders and then, e.g., problems with urination, this would be an indication that something is really amiss. (This did happen to one individual many years ago. He attributed his inability to urinate to an
aerobics class - - and called 18 hours later.
He was treated and, fortunately he was fine in a couple of weeks.) Never neglect neurological problems (numbness, weakness, etc). :nono:
I wish that there was some other way to tell but such has not yet been found. Scientists have looked for biochemical markers (e.g., a blood test) that could easily tell the degreee of DCS, but to no avail. But, we keep looking
..
Dr Deco
