Stiff hands and feet after dive?

[kchap]

I'm a dm in Punta Cana DR
-we were out today and there were heavy waves on the surface but the current was fine at depth. Our max depth was 40 feet and our dive was for 35 mins, We were on a search and rescue dive for a students advanced course, the dive went fine we found the lost "dive belt" and we filled our emerg bag with air but a little to much so we let it go about half way up to the surface and then ascended at a normal speed. We made no safety stop.
-When we got back in the boat the waves were making the student quite nauseous, i gave him some water and we waited for the other divers to surface, He told me that he wasnt feeling good... so i tryed to relax him... then the other divers boarded. By this time the student was saying that his hands were tensing up. but after about 5 mins he could not move his hands anymore they wer so stiff he was stuck in a praying mantis pose totally stiff. his feet aswell totally stiff. so we layed him down and instructed his breathing. while high tailing it back to shore took about 5 - 10 mins the site was close.
We hit shore and carried him by emerg flat board to some shade and waited while feeding him some sprite for sugar. His feeling eventually came back and we sent him back to his resort he said he felt fine and he looked much better... we advised him to seek information from a doc... and i'll hear back from him on friday.

Has anyone else experianced this sort of stiff hands and feet after diving?
He is also only about 19 years old... with no pre-existing problems...
I dont really understand why this happened so any help would be great.
Mostly for personal Knowledge.
Thanks

 

[300bar]

---

---

A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

Moved to Diving-medicine.
The place where the medics hang out.

---

 

[TSandM]

Was he frightened and hyperventilating? Hyperventilation can cause severe cramps in the hands and feet. Another thing that can do it (although the cramping is usually more generalized) is sweating heavily and drinking a lot of water without any salt intake.

 

[PineNut]

My first impression is syncope. But one should lose muscle tone, and not have rigidity. I have encountered one patient who had a syncope spell, but became rigid with eyes rolled back. She was sent for a neurology evaluation to rule out seizure disorder. I guess a petit mal or absence seizure might is a concern. People can actually continue to walk while having such a seizure. Of course, cramping like TSM suggested is more likely. I can see how one struggling on the surface with flailing arms and legs can get a cramp, especially in cold water.

 

[fishgirl21]

Was he complaining of numbness/tingling around lips/hands/feet as well? Did this resolve without treatment? This sounds like hyperventilation is very likely. It could cause these symptoms called carpal-pedal spasms.


Just a guess, Stay safe.

 

[PineNut]

Was he complaining of numbness/tingling around lips/hands/feet as well? Did this resolve without treatment? This sounds like hyperventilation is very likely. It could cause these symptoms called carpal-pedal spasms.


Just a guess, Stay safe.

Hmmm, learn something new everyday! Thanks.

Carpopedal spasms Carpopedal spasm

 

[DocVikingo]

My first impression is syncope. But one should lose muscle tone, and not have rigidity.

Indeed, loss or diminishment of postural tone is typical of syncope (NOS), while to the best of my knowledge marked rigidity of the hands and feet most decidedly is not.

More importantly, the OP makes no mention of the cardinal feature of syncope, loss of consciousness. In fact, I don't even see an alteration of consciousness described.

As such, a dx of syncope would appear to be quite a reach.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[PineNut]

Indeed, loss or diminishment of postural tone is typical of syncope (NOS), while to the best of my knowledge marked rigidity of the hands and feet most decidedly is not.

More importantly, the OP makes no mention of the cardinal feature of syncope, loss of consciousness. In fact, I don't even see an alteration of consciousness described.

As such, a dx of syncope would appear to be quite a reach.

Regards,

DocVikingo

Thanks for the clarification. What I meant was pre-syncope, or vasovagal response. If recognized early, and quickly placed in a recumbent position, this will prevent true syncope from happening - where lost of consciousness occurs.