Newby question about Decompression Illness

[EFX]

I am over 60, I have a neurological condition that makes my legs and feet numb and tingly (and I don't walk so well either). I also have a pinched nerve in my neck that causes joint pain in my back, shoulders, elbows and hands, along with some tingling. From what I have read, all of these conditions mimic symptoms of decompression illness. How would I know, or is there any way that I can know, if I am suffering from DCI and not just my normal pains and tingling?

There are a lot of us with baseline aches and pains, and I'd guess a fair few with neuropathy, as well. It can be very confusing to sort out what is new, especially if any of the activities of diving aggravate what's already there. I just do the best pre-dive assessment I can, and hope that anything that changes will change sufficiently for me to be sure of what it is, at least eventually.

Most of us who dive regularly associate a pain (or increase in pain) as a change that may be caused by DCS. However, in your case Painter, if you have constant pain/tingling a sudden absence of your symptoms may indicate a DCS hit. Bubbles impinging on nerves that cause pain in most of us may be directed in such a way as to relieve pressure on the nerve causing a loss of pain and/or tingling. A possible sign for DCS could be a change in feeling in either direction especially if sudden.

 

[victorzamora]

....like a "reverse" hit? Man, sign me up for one of those!!

Jokes aside, that's actually a really interesting point.