what would u do??

[Twinset & Wing]

In a situation whaere YOU surfaced with joint pain after a dive what would you do??

DD

[Adrian Kelland]

I would have made the call. I have done so before, perhaps for less obvious symptoms, but I did not have them before the dive.

Perhaps 'joint pain' is a little easy to decide on, taking into account 'did the pain exist before the dive'.

There are people on this site who have had bends. I have been involved in the treatment of one. I suspect some of those who have suffered thought it was something else at first. In the incident I was part of, I/we were going through the 'strained something/denial' phase when the pain became loss of limb use along with pins and needles. No messing about then I can assure you.

There are many reports of bends around now. The most common apsect IMO is the denial bit. It is put up as a symptom in the courses, but you WILL go through it when you are involved in an incident. You won't want to believe the worst. If we can accept we will go through denial, perhaps we can work on methods to reduce the 'Time to belief' and thus start the First Aid this is required. It's all very well saying denial is a symptom, but in reality you will deny that the denial even exists - certainly for a time.

Cor I appear to have gone on a bit.

Adrian

[Mark Chase]

Take an Aspirin and a Neurofen tablet.

Aspirin thins the blood (good for off gassing and the Neurofen is an anti inflammatory so will reduce normal joint pains.

Seriously I am 40 I surface with aches and pains all over the sodding place. I usually get bruises too. I have to make a mental list of which bits hurt before I jump in just so I can tell if there are any new ones when I get out.

What would I do if I felt in any way concerned?

Get on the 02 and see if it clears up. If it does fine. All the divers I have met who were bent knew it straight away with joint pains.

Neuro hits are a bit more subtle and those are the ones that scare me. If I got a funny head after a dive I would hit the 02 and get my buddy to do the neuro test procedure on me. If I still felt a bit weird I would head straight for Whips cross. I have actually done this twice since I started diving. Once I was sent home and the second time I went in the pot but it turned out to be a carbon monoxide hit.

ATB

Mark Chase

[Dr Stevil]

I usually carry my 7L filled with 100% O2 so I'd suck on that for twenty minutes and see if the pain goes away, if it does see if it comes back with normal air, if it does get straight onto the dog 'n' bone

Earlier this year i woke up with a tingling in my arm and did just this, the tingling was still there so I went ahead with diving, I'd been sleeping in a sleeping bag and must have been lying on my arm

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Mark Chase @ Oct. 29 2003,18:43)]Neuro hits are a bit more subtle and those are the ones that scare me.

Mark

The one I was involved with was a neuro/spinal bend. The first symptom I would describe as a 'stitch' like you might get after running. Thats the best I can translate it as it was not me suffering and I don't know the level of pain. Then his leg went numb and he could not push back. 3 days in and out of the pot. He has found he has a PFO which, as there did not seem to be any other cause, may be the culprit. I had a good bunch to work with on the rib. All the training we had just clicked into place. Just one error on our part, forgetting to administer a little water.

And the standard D size o2 cylinders from BOC are just too damn small.

Adrian

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Steve W @ Oct. 29 2003,18:46)]I usually carry my 7L filled with 100% O2 so I'd suck on that for twenty minutes and see if the pain goes away, if it does see if it comes back with normal air, if it does get straight onto the dog 'n' bone

Earlier this year i woke up with a tingling in my arm and did just this, the tingling was still there so I went ahead with diving, I'd been sleeping in a sleeping bag and must have been lying on my arm

Steve

I recall that our BSAC O2 training says that if we administer O2 then we make that phone call. We have already decided something is amis. Pain goes away / comes back - you have delayed treatment.

BSAC / 100% O2 ?

Adrian

[Doug Parker]

All i got was a slight niggle in my left shoulder, as if my t-shirt was bunched up around my arm.  I knew it was a bend and got straight on O2 but i still went rapidly down hill.   An hour isn't enough once it starts messing with your brain.  My wife knew what the routine was and went straight into nurse mode.  Their was no way i would've made it to the pot if i'd got all macho and decided i'd do it on my own.  Get on the phone as soon as you think there is a problem, they can't shoot you for a false alarm.

[Paul Oliver]

Hi all,

I ticked the RN Doc, but i would have administered O2 and called the BSAC DCI Hotline or the Coastguard subject to a bit more on the symptoms. I would also have laid flat and avoided any moving around.

Like Mark i am in my 40's and aches and pains are a way of life with me, same as sweat rashes from the Neoprene in the Summer. I am very aware of denial, but if i called the Coastguard everytime i had a symptom i would fly back from nearly every dive.

Dive Safe

Paul

[Andy the Coastie]

<font color='#0000FF'>Thought you did Paul,,,,,,,,, oh no, you told me you dive out the other RIB , sorry.

I'm also in the same boat ( No pun intended ) as Paul and Mark.

Outside work, i would make the call to the RN, Haslar myself .

at work

Let my dive supervisor use his mobile phone for once, just to prove to him that credit doesn't wear down monthly if not used

[Jules]

I would call the coastguard but i have never experienced a bend or been with someone who has...
jules