silent bends?

[olmic]

heya

I came back from Mexico circa one month ago, and have since then had irregular aches various places, fx fingers, toes, heels, knees etc. Not all the time, and it doesn't hurt a lot, just mildly irritating. One minute it's the left knee, 15 minutes later it's the right hand. I don't notice constantly - like if I'm busy occupied with other things I don't notice. After I came back I also had a rash on the fingers, and actually did call (twice! Right after, and also two days after) the navy medical authorities (that's how it's handled here) - they listened to me accounting the diving, and concluded there was nothing to worry about, that the rash was too little to be caused by DCS, and probably because of poison ivy or something like that, and the muscle ache was because of the long flight, heavy luggage etc. The rash disappeared after a week or so - but the ache is still there.

My diving profile was rather aggressive - 4 dives a day for 5 days, but really careful with safety stops, surface intervals etc, and normally depths between 10-20 meters, max 30 meters. Last of the 5 days was all nitrox (2 x 36 and 2 x 32), I had one complete dive-free day in the end, then a day with only 2 morning dives (shallow, on air), and then almost 48 hours from last dive till flying. I was well hydrated, peed 2-5 times during each dive (max dive time 1 hour), slept 10 hours every night, didn't get drunk in the evenings. I am healthy, in good physical shape, and exercise regularly.

I haven't talked to a doctor since - but plan to make an appointment right after the holidays.

Do you think the symptoms indicate DCS? Are they treatable - even after one month? I wouldn't like to have chronic pains for the rest of my life :-(

 

[DandyDon]

You might do a Search on DrDeco fourm for "subclinical" while you're waiting on other posts.

If there were any DCI involved -which is unlikely based on your descriptions, what you'd be dealing with now would be healing of injuries substained while bent, inflamations, etc.

You're a young man. I'd be more suspicous of "running, weight lifting" listed on your profile. If you weren't bent then, and didn't suffer on the long plane ride home, I don't see a diving connction.

BTW, I am just barely a diver, yet opinionated - not a medical professional.

 

[fisherdvm]

Sounds like a question for Dr. Deco. I'm sure for every 1 person treated for the bends, 50 are subclinical or undiagnosed.

 

[TSandM]

If I've absorbed what Dr. Deco has written over the last year properly, I think it's fairly unlikely your symptoms are DCS. The variability and transient nature of them argued against it. If you are significantly bent, your symptoms are not likely to be evanescent and variable. They may be persistent, but they will be persistently the SAME.

At your age, variable aches and pains are probably not wear and tear. If the pains are persistent and annoying, I'd see a physician for a workup for autoimmune problems. I think that's more likely than DCS.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi olmic,

There is very little chance that your various compliants are due to DCI.

DCI-related joint pains do not jump about (e.g., from a knee to a hand), and toes, heels and fingers are not common locations for them to manifest. DCI-related rash (i.e., cutis marmorata) also does not come and go and the fingers are a very unusual place for it to develop. And, over the course of a month subtle DCI-related joint pain would be expected to gradualy diminish.

At this point, recompression therapy would not be expected to be of any benefit and it's very unlikely that any diving medicine physician would prescribe it or that your medical plan would pay for it.

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

 

[fisherdvm]

If it is true that you don't have the bends, I am curious to know if you have sometype of collagen vascular disease (lupus, rheum arthritis, etc.) I would recommend the navy docs to order a rheumatological work up, and testing for cryoglobulin/fibrinogen.

Wink, wink, it probably is a virus, ha,ha,ha....

 

[olmic]

Thanks for the replies and advice. The reason that I worry is it all started right after diving. Since the symptoms were jumping around, I thought maybe it could be neurological - you know, small bubbles in the head putting pressure the wrong places... (don't we just love paranoia)

At least I think I will dive a bit less aggressive on the next diving vacation. I have been worried quite a bit.

I will pass on the suggestions on what to look for to the GP.

Cheers,

Ole

 

[DandyDon]

Olmic, if i got those responses to this problem from these physicians, I think I'd get in to the see that doc this week. Good luck.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi olmic,

DCS-related symptoms of pain in the toes, fingers, knees and other joints would not be the result of gas bubbles in the central nervous system (e.g., brain, spinal cord). These discomforts essentially are the result of bubbles causing reduced blood flow to and inflammation of the joints.

When bubbles enter and obstruct blood vessels in the brain it is called AGE (arterial gas embolism). The signs and symptoms of this condition typically have a very rapid onset and can include loss of consciousness; weakness, paralysis or loss of sensation involving one side of the body; visual disturbances; headache; confusion; seizures; and, extreme dizziness. The offending bubbles became lodged in small vessels and once there do not "jump around" or otherwise circulate further.

Helpful?

Happy New Year.

DocVikingo

 

[raviepoo]

I don't mean to scare you but....

These symptoms could indicate an autoimmune or neurological disorder (among other things). If you aren't really suffering I suggest you purchase a disability insurance policy and live with the symptoms until you are past the previous conditions exclusion period. If you end up having an autoimmune or neurological disorder you will wish you had disability insurance. By that time you might not be able to buy any.