Tingling in fingers MULTIPLE times after diving in very different conditions. Thoughts?

[inquis]

Last night I did an ocean dive in NYC. I used a 5mm wetsuit and the water was 76 degrees. I spent 69 minutes at an average depth of 11 feet, max of 17.

On this occasion and depth, it's HIGHLY doubtful that it was DCS. The fact things go away in a few minutes also points to some other cause.

 

[tridacna]

Where did you do an ocean dive in NYC?

 

[FishWatcher747]

The true cause may have nothing to do with diving.

During most of the year, I travel about 400 miles about once a month and do a 2 or 3 day weekend of heavy duty diving. On many occasions my fingers would tingle by the last day and for the first few days after. It got bad enough that it would involve the entire arm and make sleeping difficult. It sounded a lot like DCS, but I was sure it was not because I could it relieve it temporarily by something as simple as letting my arm hang limp. That would not relieve DCS. Additionally, I would sometimes have the problem when I had not been diving at all.

To cut to the end of the story, it turned out to be carpal tunnel syndrome. When I had carpal tunnel surgery, the symptoms went away for good. The problem was not caused by my diving--it was caused by all the tank hauling I was doing those weekends.

A couple years ago, I mentioned this in another thread, and renowned diving medicine expert Dr. Simon Mitchell said that many a case of carpal tunnel syndrome has been mistaken for DCS and treated in a chamber. In another thread, someone posted something from DAN about people being mistakenly treated for DCS when in fact that have nerve problems related to spinal stenosis.

Just yesterday I was talking about symptoms very much like yours with a friend who, like you, is struggling to find a diagnosis. This person has never been diving.

I of course am not a doctor and could not diagnose your situation over the internet if I were, but you might want to investigate other causes for the trouble.

For BoulderJohn the OP and any lurkers carpal tunnel syndrome compression of the median nerve at the wrist does not involve the pinkie finger. So pay attention to which fingers are numb as a clue to what the origin of your symptoms is.

 

[boulderjohn]

Later I found out that I didn't have carpal tunnel at all. I had a smashed and nearly severed spinal cord because of a genetic defect causing my spinal canal to be smaller than normal combined with a herniated disc.

That's funny--it is more the opposite of me than you think. A spine specialist originally told me my problem was due to spinal stenosis--essentially your final diagnosis. A hand specialist told me, no, it was carpal tunnel, and that turned out to be right.

 

[boulderjohn]

For BoulderJohn the OP and any lurkers carpal tunnel syndrome compression of the median nerve at the wrist does not involve the pinkie finger. So pay attention to which fingers are numb as a clue to what the origin of your symptoms is.

Carpal tunnel involves the thumb, first finger, middle finger and part of the ring finger, because they are served by the median nerve, which goes through the carpal tunnel. The pinkie finger is served by the ulnar nerve, which goes up the arm and gives us the "funny bone" effect near the elbow. If you have numbness in that finger, it is possibly caused by bending the elbow for prolonged periods, often while sleeping. (And yes, I am dealing with that now.)

 

[pasley]

For medical advice consult your Dive Medicine Physician. See DAN for referral if needed. Disclaimer - I AM NOT A DOCTOR, or Sane.

I have extracted what I consider the key points of your question below
PeskeyMokey said
1. "I'm a pretty new diver. I'm AOW and own my own gear."
2. "I recently completed my PADI drysuit class."
3. "Water temp was around 58 degrees under the thermocline, and I was definitely underdressed and cold"
4. "5mm wetsuit and the water was 76 degrees."

This could be many things. Below are my ramblings that should not be considered as advice or sound.
1. Wrist seal too tight on a drysuit
2. Medical condition that needs to be diagnosed by your doctor. Particularly true if your hand and or feet are cold but the rest is not.
3. Inadequate Thermo protection for the water temperature and duration of exposure.

Storytime:
My experience when I started diving my physician put me on Sudafed due to my allergies. Wrong move as it is a vassal constrictor. If the air temperature (remember water extracts heat must quicker than air) got below 73 F or so I started having these horrible attacks of my hands and feet turning blue and ice cold. I could measure a 10-degree F difference in temperature in just a 1-inch span above and below the line of my wrist. Got hold of the doctor who said "Emergency room now." I said "Really? For cold hands and feet?. His reply, Raynaud's can cut off the flow of blood so completely amputation may be necessary. So yes, get there now.". Not saying you have this condition, just that I do and hand to take appropriate action.

I recommend Drygloves for diving in the warm waters of NY.

 

[Doctorfish]

You can add hyperventillation to your list as well. If anxious and hyperventillating, You blow off CO2, The blood pH increases and the amount of calcium bound to your plasma increases, producing distal extremity tingling that will last until pH returns to normal. The condition is called respiratory alkalosis.

 

[PeskyMonkey]

Where did you do an ocean dive in NYC?

Beach 8th street in Far Rockaway.

 

[tridacna]

Beach 8th street in Far Rockaway.

Figured. Couldn’t think of anywhere else in the city. I got tired of diving “JFK” a few years ago…

 

[rhwestfall]

Raynaud's

hyperventillation

My daughter has to top one...

My wife occasionally experiences the ill effects of the second one...

The pinkie finger is served by the ulnar nerve, which goes up the arm and gives us the "funny bone" effect near the elbow. If you have numbness in that finger, it is possibly caused by bending the elbow for prolonged periods

Yep, I get that one (pinky) with reading in bed....

Yeah, along with the many possibilities listed upthread, it is quite the mystery as to what is really the cause, and it probably has nothing to do specifically with diving.