Potapko
Contributor
Have you ever seen skin bends appear as a dark red hot area that looks like sunburn?
Last week I was on a liveaboard and after our second day of diving I felt a little stiffness in my left arm. I looked in the mirror and noticed a red area surrounding my left shoulder. I attributed it to sunburn as I was also red on the remainder of my upper torso although not as deep a color. After a little while the stiffness disappeared.
Next day we did a deep dive to 53 meters. Deco was on 50% nitrox following my computer profile. (Shearwater predator)
My arm again felt stiff with a slight discomfort in the shoulder joint. I mentioned it to my companions on the boat who asked me to raise my shirt. They immediately noticed the color variation on the left shoulder and made a joke about my having a map of France tattoo as a reminder from the trip.
Then it was suggested that I immediately begin hydrating excessively along with beginning to breathe 100% oxygen. I stayed on the O2 for 2 hours with 5 minute air breaks every 15 minutes.
After about an hour on the O2 the map and hot skin had disappeared. I still felt a point of discomfort in the joint that lasted for about 24 hours.
I returned to the water after this and after four more dives felt no recurring symptoms.
I have done quite a bit of reading since my return but have not found anything that mentions a dark red coloration along with being hot to the touch, associated with skin bends. Everything I read describes a marbling of the skin, of which there was none.
Thanks in advance for any input.
Last week I was on a liveaboard and after our second day of diving I felt a little stiffness in my left arm. I looked in the mirror and noticed a red area surrounding my left shoulder. I attributed it to sunburn as I was also red on the remainder of my upper torso although not as deep a color. After a little while the stiffness disappeared.
Next day we did a deep dive to 53 meters. Deco was on 50% nitrox following my computer profile. (Shearwater predator)
My arm again felt stiff with a slight discomfort in the shoulder joint. I mentioned it to my companions on the boat who asked me to raise my shirt. They immediately noticed the color variation on the left shoulder and made a joke about my having a map of France tattoo as a reminder from the trip.
Then it was suggested that I immediately begin hydrating excessively along with beginning to breathe 100% oxygen. I stayed on the O2 for 2 hours with 5 minute air breaks every 15 minutes.
After about an hour on the O2 the map and hot skin had disappeared. I still felt a point of discomfort in the joint that lasted for about 24 hours.
I returned to the water after this and after four more dives felt no recurring symptoms.
I have done quite a bit of reading since my return but have not found anything that mentions a dark red coloration along with being hot to the touch, associated with skin bends. Everything I read describes a marbling of the skin, of which there was none.
Thanks in advance for any input.
