Shoulder pain after the dive

[mislav]

Recently, I've experienced a mild, dull pain in the center of my left shoulder after a dive that went away after half an hour or so. This condition reoccured on few occassions.

At first I've dismissed it believing it came from carrying heavy loads prior to and after the dive (tanks, dive gear and boat equipment). Then I realized it wasn't it since it happened once when I hadn't had to carry any heavy stuff.

Then I thought it might have been caused by having a computer strapped too tight to my left forearm. I've loosened it and still it was there.

I dove by the computer, having done the safety stops and all. I've been over the ascent speed limit a few times but they do not corelate with this. Some dives were shallow, some were deep. Some were deco, but most of them were within NDL.

I had no other symptoms of DCS but this pain. It was surely noticeable and annoying and I've had it about eight times now. I'd really prefer not to see it happening.

Any idea what it might have been?

 

[Dr Deco]

Hello mislav :

Decompression sickness is not that repeatable. Therefore, I would guess that the cause lies in muscle strain or some such entity.

It is difficult to believe that dives within the limits of the computer would give repeat DCS. I would look for something else.

Dr Deco :doctor:

The next class in Decompression Physiology for 2006 is September 16 – 17. :1book: http://wrigley.usc.edu/hyperbaric/advdeco.htm

 

[mislav]

Thanks Dr. Deco, I suspected it weren't DCS which is why I phrased my question the way I did. Still, I have no idea what the cause of the pain was.

It was a rather dull pain. It didn't seem like it had any connection to a muscle tissue. I could probably compare it to a pinched nerve and it seemed like it was concentrated in the center of my left shoulder joint. It was not a very intense one, yet it was quite annoying to go through it on repetitive dives which is why I would like to get to a bottom of this. In short - I want to get rid of it.

I'm no expert on this, but I would like to be able to exclude all possibilities of anything related to nitrogen bubbles.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi mislav,

I concur with Dr Deco.

Complaints of shoulder discomfort are rather common in divers and non-divers alike. The shoulder is a complex joint and subject to pain from a variety muscle, bone, cartilage, connective tissue and nerve abnormalities. Moreover, the discomfort may not even originate in the shoulder itself; it can be referred pain. The regular occurrence of such discomfort as an isolated symptom given unremarkable dive profiles places DCI at the far low end of the index of suspicion.

Nonetheless, the complaint is occurring frequently enough and causing sufficient concern that it would be prudent to have it assessed by an orthopedist.

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[FredT]

I have a weak point in my shoulder that results in recurring severe bursitis. My orthopod is well equipped to evaluate and handle this recurring shoulder pain. When the constant pain gets to the point I'm willing to take the 4" magic needle he can turn it around in about 3 days. Elbow pain falls in the same category if you haven't torn anything, but the needle entry there is even more interesting.

That said I'd examine your doff/don technique first. If the pain is ONLY after a dive look for points in your D/D routine that may be pinching or binding something in the shoulder. Try to carefully evaluate and rework your D/D technique or gear setup so you never even come close to binding the shoulder during the operation. If that is not a culprit examine the entry/exit operation.

Believe me, you really don't want to NEED the magic needle to continue functioning. It's much better to evaluate the situation early and avoid the whole pain thing. Once damage is done that joint heals poorly.

FT