dmcutter
Contributor
Four weeks ago yesterday, I did a night dive at the quarry. We stayed shallow, above 30 ft, for the entire 51 minute dive, with the obligatory safety stop. Probably the last 20 minutes was only at 20 ft anyway. Shortly thereafter I began having numbness and tingling in the pinky and ring fingers of my right hand. I can't specifically recall when I started feeling it, though. I has not gotten appreciably better or worse since. I dove yesterday, most of the dive between 60 and 80 ft, and did not feel any improvement to the hand at depth. After the dive my hand was very weak and I even had trouble tying my shoes. Part of that may be associated with a lot of time in 48 degree water, as my hands did get cold even in 5 mm gloves.
I am 52, but very fit. I have had issues with cervical vertebrae 10 or 11 years ago, involving nerve damage beteween C5/C6 and a year later C4/C5. Both of these resulted in sudden significant strength loss to very specific muscles, most of which has been recovered by daily weight training. I saw a neurosurgeon about it back then and he said there wasn't anything he could do surgically, but it was a one time type deal, not an ongoing deterioration. I did not have numbness or tingling of extremities prior to those episodes.
My sister in law is a former neuro OR nurse and she says what I am experiencing is symptomatic of cervical vertebrae issues, although I have not experienced a loss in grip strength. Having a history of deteriorated vertebrae this makes plenty of sense to me, and I'm in the process of getting an appointment to see my neuro guy. I figured that if it was the result of barotrauma I would have noted improvement at depth, although it might have been pretty hard to tell a subtle change with my hands as cold as they were. I was just curious, though, as to whether anyone had experienced similar symptoms which were eventually diagnosed as DCS. I only live an hour from Durham NC so going to see someone at DAN is certainly viable. My wife pooh poohs the idea of DCS and says I'm just looking for a more interesting excuse than getting old, but if it's something that could be treated without slicing open my neck and fusing vertebrae, that would be a big plus.
Thanks
I am 52, but very fit. I have had issues with cervical vertebrae 10 or 11 years ago, involving nerve damage beteween C5/C6 and a year later C4/C5. Both of these resulted in sudden significant strength loss to very specific muscles, most of which has been recovered by daily weight training. I saw a neurosurgeon about it back then and he said there wasn't anything he could do surgically, but it was a one time type deal, not an ongoing deterioration. I did not have numbness or tingling of extremities prior to those episodes.
My sister in law is a former neuro OR nurse and she says what I am experiencing is symptomatic of cervical vertebrae issues, although I have not experienced a loss in grip strength. Having a history of deteriorated vertebrae this makes plenty of sense to me, and I'm in the process of getting an appointment to see my neuro guy. I figured that if it was the result of barotrauma I would have noted improvement at depth, although it might have been pretty hard to tell a subtle change with my hands as cold as they were. I was just curious, though, as to whether anyone had experienced similar symptoms which were eventually diagnosed as DCS. I only live an hour from Durham NC so going to see someone at DAN is certainly viable. My wife pooh poohs the idea of DCS and says I'm just looking for a more interesting excuse than getting old, but if it's something that could be treated without slicing open my neck and fusing vertebrae, that would be a big plus.
Thanks
Stuff happens all the time. I spent a few nights sleeping funny on a bed and it has affected a whole bunch of things - including my neck, hands etc. I figure I will get over it once I use a better pillow. Keep us apprised on the neuro. appt. and I hope the prescription is nothing more than just a aspirin once a day. Best. 
