Trapped Sciatic Nerve

[Little Naughty]

Hi All

I've had a trapped sciatic nerve for a few weeks that has followed on from a disc bulge earlier in the year (I'm just falling to bits!). Anyway the trapped nerve means that the outside of my left leg is numb with pins and needles in my foot but the inside of the leg feels like it is on fire. The doctor has prescibed co-codamal for days and amitriptyline for night.

Should I dive while on these or not? Forgot to ask when I was at the doctors thsi morning!

[Kirstie]

Originally Posted by Little Naughty

Hi All

I've had a trapped sciatic nerve for a few weeks that has followed on from a disc bulge earlier in the year (I'm just falling to bits!). Anyway the trapped nerve means that the outside of my left leg is numb with pins and needles in my foot but the inside of the leg feels like it is on fire. The doctor has prescibed co-codamal for days and amitriptyline for night.

Should I dive while on these or not? Forgot to ask when I was at the doctors thsi morning!

Don't you go cancelling our laydee dive just 'cos you're on drugs, young lady!

[Martin Owen]

I have recently had a tumor removed from a nerve that was giving me major leg pains, I never had the pins and needles or numbness though.
I was prescribed Co-Codomol, Dihydrocodeine, Diclofenac (plus others i tried with little effect).
I explained to all the Dr's and consultants that i dived and none of them had a problem with me diving, providing i had not just taken the medication (a couple of hours before was fine). as some of the medication can make some people drowsy, however i had no such side affects, otherwise i wouldn't of dreamed of diving.
For me, diving even helped relieve my pain for a short time, as you are gently exercising the muscles whilst you are finning.

My main concern would be the pins and needles/numbness you have, so talk to your Dr again, if he thinks it may help then try and get yourself into a pool first to see how you go on.

[John63]

Originally Posted by Little Naughty

Hi All

I've had a trapped sciatic nerve for a few weeks that has followed on from a disc bulge earlier in the year (I'm just falling to bits!). Anyway the trapped nerve means that the outside of my left leg is numb with pins and needles in my foot but the inside of the leg feels like it is on fire. The doctor has prescibed co-codamal for days and amitriptyline for night.

Should I dive while on these or not? Forgot to ask when I was at the doctors thsi morning!

Can't comment on the drugs but can sympathise with the pain / feeling as I had similar several years ago. Hope the drugs / physio (having any?) help.


Cheers,

[John63]

Originally Posted by Little Naughty

Hi All

I've had a trapped sciatic nerve for a few weeks that has followed on from a disc bulge earlier in the year (I'm just falling to bits!). Anyway the trapped nerve means that the outside of my left leg is numb with pins and needles in my foot but the inside of the leg feels like it is on fire. The doctor has prescibed co-codamal for days and amitriptyline for night.

Should I dive while on these or not? Forgot to ask when I was at the doctors thsi morning!

Sorry, forgot to add that if you do dive, be sure let your buddy / DM /instructor know about the numbness before the dive. Otherwise you can just imagine the scene post die "so how do you feel?" "OK, but legs numb and foot hurts like hell". Recipe for O2 and call to the coastguard

Cheers

[Scubee]

I would be concerned about the pins & needles, masking any DCI symptoms post dive.

I doubt your GP has much in the way of hyperbaric knowledge, but you could ask a diving doc, or email e-med, who are always happy to answer medical/diving questions.

[andrallan]

There are three issus here. Firstly the "trapped" nerve is already functioning abnormally (hence the pain and numbness) this raises the possibility both of masking DCI and also as being perhaps predisposed to injury.
Secondly although you will probably be fine in the water the weight of your gear on Land/ Boat may give your lower back more strain and further damage the disc.
Thirdly the medications themselves. Co-codamol contains a codiene derivative and as such may be mildly sedative and amitryptaline is a psycotropic drug which is thought to increase the likelyhood of convulsions both are generally thought to be inadvisable when diving.
Every case is different and depending on your individual circumstances it might be OK to dive. Best to discuss it with a Medical Referee or a Hyperbaric Physician.
Personally I would not dive until the nerve had recovered. (Sorry that is probably noy what you want to hear)

[purple vonny]

Co codamol contains Codeine, which is an opiate and Amitriptyline is an older type anti-depressant often used for those with nerve pain used to reduce pain and enhance sleep. It has a sedative effect (hence it is prescribed at night). The sedative effect is enhanced by codeine to make you more sedated.

Amitriptyline stays in your bloodstream for a long time. One of the common side effects is a dry mouth which will make breathing comressed gas unpleasant.

Disclaimer: I am not a diving medical expert but if a patient asked me was it safe to dive on this drug I would advise against it for the above reasons.

If you are on it for a long time and you are tolerating the side effects well and your mobility and pain improve, it would be worth paying for a diving medical to give you clearance to dive again.

[Silent Diver]

Originally Posted by purple vonny

Amitriptyline stays in your bloodstream for a long time. One of the common side effects is a dry mouth which will make breathing comressed gas unpleasant.

I suffered a lower spinal injury, (L4/L5/S1 area) while serving in the RAF which resulted in surgery and a permanent limp.

The RAF prescribed all sorts of opiates and painkillers but also Amitriptyline which I didn't like so stopped taking them and all the other painkillers as I felt better off without them.

I had a medical with DDRC before commencing initial diver training and was told that if I had still been taking the Amitriptyline then there is no way they would pass me as fit to dive as it is also a anti-depressant and can pre dispose the taker to DCI.

TBH my advice would be to talk to DDRC or a more local diving doc and maybe book yourself in for a proper diving medical.

[Sparky750]

Get your self to a decent chiropractor and a good acupuncturist (apologies for the spelling ) cured my sciatica in 3 visits to each best 100 and odd quid i ever spent and no drugs (i hate anything that numbs pain)