Bubbles forming in or near joints are the presumed cause of joint pain (the bends). With high levels of bubbles, complex reactions can take place in the body. The spinal cord and brain are usually affected, causing numbness, paralysis, impaired coordination and disorders of higher cerebral function.
Is the bends painful?
Symptoms of the bends include: Joint pain: Gas bubbles can get stuck in joints and stretch ligaments and tendons in ways they shouldn’t. The result is a deep and throbbing pain that you feel inside your joint.
How do you avoid the bends when scuba diving?
When possible, keep exertion to a minimum during the deepest part of a dive. After diving, avoid exercise as long as possible. If exertion is unavoidable, dive conservatively to minimize risk.
Do people survive the bends?
Prognosis or outlook of people who develop the bends varies with the following factors: Prognosis is good with hyperbaric oxygen treatment. Delay to hyperbaric oxygen treatment: Although reports show that divers can do well after days of symptoms, delay in definitive treatment may cause damage that is irreversible.
What happens if you get the bends? – Related Questions
How long does it take for the bends to kick in?
Symptoms of DCS can occur immediately after surfacing or up to 24 hours later. On average a diver with DCS will experience symptoms between 15 minutes and 12 hours following a dive.
Why can’t you dive again after getting the bends?
The disruption of blood supply to the area where the fractures occurred or surgery was performed–the formation of scar tissue and altered blood flow may not allow for the most effective off-gassing of nitrogen from surrounding tissue once it is absorbed during the dive.
Can the bends be cured?
1) Professional treatment for the Bends
Hyperbaric treatment can take as long as 12 hours or more depending on the severity of symptoms. The chamber is a pressurized environment which reduces the size of the bubbles and helps them to be reabsorbed. It also provides large amounts of oxygen to the damaged tissues.
What percentage of divers get the bends?
Skin manifestations are present in about 10% to 15% of cases. Pulmonary DCS (“the chokes”) is very rare in divers and has been observed much less frequently in aviators since the introduction of oxygen pre-breathing protocols.
Onset.
| Time to onset |
Percentage of cases |
| within 24 hours |
98% |
| within 48 hours |
100% |
Will the bends go away on its own?
In some cases, symptoms may remain mild or even go away by themselves. Often, however, they strengthen in severity until you must seek medical attention, and they may have longer-term repercussions.
Can the bends be cured?
1) Professional treatment for the Bends
Hyperbaric treatment can take as long as 12 hours or more depending on the severity of symptoms. The chamber is a pressurized environment which reduces the size of the bubbles and helps them to be reabsorbed. It also provides large amounts of oxygen to the damaged tissues.
Will the bends go away on its own?
In some cases, symptoms may remain mild or even go away by themselves. Often, however, they strengthen in severity until you must seek medical attention, and they may have longer-term repercussions.
Can the bends be permanent?
Bubbles form within other tissues as well as the blood vessels. Inert gas can diffuse into bubble nuclei between tissues. In this case, the bubbles can distort and permanently damage the tissue.
Why is the bends fatal?
In the most serious cases paralysis, brain damage, heart attacks and breathing difficulties can result. It’s possible for the bubbles to enter the brain and spinal cord. In these cases, the damage can cause tingling, numbness and unconsciousness.
Why do freedivers not get the bends?
Decompression sickness (DCS) after freediving is very rare. Freedivers simply do not on-gas enough nitrogen to provoke DCS. Thus, very few cases of DCS in freedivers have ever been reported, and these have involved repeated deep dives in a short time frame.
How deep can a human dive before getting the bends?
The Bends/DCS in very simple terms
Anyone who dives deeper than 10 metres (30ft.) while breathing air from a scuba tank is affecting the balance of gases inside the tissues of their body. The deeper you dive, the greater the effect. And the longer you stay at depth adds even more to this effect.
Do pilots get the bends?
The longer the duration of the exposure to altitudes of 18,000 ft. and above, the greater the risk of altitude DCS. There are some reports indicating a higher risk of altitude DCS with increasing age. There is some indication that recent joint or limb injuries may predispose individuals to developing “the bends.”
Do fighter pilots breathe pure oxygen?
Today’s fighter pilots therefore operate in cabins pressurized according to a pressurization schedule,15 they breathe up to 100% oxygen,15 and they wear and use pressure breathing equipment.
How common is decompression sickness?
The incidence of decompression sickness, fortunately, is rare. Estimates for sports diving are three cases per 10,000 dives. The incidence among commercial divers can be higher ranging from 1.5-10 per 10,000 dives. As expected, the incidence depends on the length and depth of the dive.
Who should not do scuba diving?
If you have any of these or other illnesses, which might cause similar problems, consult a doctor before diving.It is not recommended for people with the following conditions to scuba dive: People with breathing problems. People with ear problems or people who have had ear surgery in the last 12 months.
Can you avoid decompression sickness?
To prevent decompression sickness, most divers make a safety stop for a few minutes before ascending to the surface. This is usually done around 15 feet (4.5 meters) below the surface. If you’re diving very deep, you may want to ascend and stop a few times to ensure your body has time to adjust gradually.