Dramatic weight loss, coincidental back pain. Concerned for diving??

[ericg753]

Hi everyone,

Still fairly new to the boards, so please be patient with me. I couldn't find a "Health" related sub-forum so decided to place my post here.

I started a diet program Jan 4th of this year, so far I've been extremely successful and have lost 35 lbs as of Feb 1st. If all goes as planned in the next few weeks, I will have lost another 18-21 lbs by Feb 22nd. Feb 23 to Feb 27 I am going diving in Key Largo. Because I have not yet completed my last dive for my advanced, Rainbow Reef is allowing me to go a max of 60ft depth. Not a big deal to me, my last dives were in April 2014 and did several dives in Grand Cayman (including 2 deep dives (108 and 97ft), 2 wreck dives, 2 shore dives and a night dive). Yes I will take a refresher course a week before I go.

Here is my concern: I know what everyone is thinking, all that weight lost in a very short amount of time is unhealthy. Without getting into too much details, let's just say I'm on a 9 week very low calorie diet, having a weight loss company's shakes and bars (all are proportioned with the same amount of nutrients, calories, fat, protein and carbs) every 2 hours. I am not weak or hungry, if anything I am much more energetic, feel fantastic and my clothes is falling off of me.

The problem is my back: if I exert myself a little (I work at a hospital as an IT manager), the middle of my back starts to hurt pretty bad, with the sensation the "pain is right down to the bone". Exerting means walking approx 3-4 miles around the hospital (measured using iphone Health app). Sometimes (like right now) the pain radiates to the back of my neck (feels like fisted knuckle driven into it). I have an appointment to visit my chiropractor tomorrow after work and plan to get adjusted at least 6 times in the next 2 weeks, hoping this straigtens things out (no pun intended).

To give you a little history, I'm in my mid-40's, am a former competitive bodybuilder and powerlifter, so I do have the foundation for strength and at my heaviest in January, was "fit enough" to speed walk for 45 minutes on a treadmill at 3.6mph at a 0% incline. I could normally handle walking anywhere from 3 to 6 miles a day, could handle shoveling snow, lifting stuff, etc. On this diet, I have to take it easy as I feel like I am prone somewhat to injury/strain.

So.....my question and concern is, will diving 4 dives/day for 3 days cause any type of injury at a max of 60 feet per day? Any concerns for pressure causing my back or neck to start cramping or hurting? I have heard the term scuba diving is a lazy mans' sport, and I don't plan to really exert myself much at all. I don't want to worry about this while 60 ft down and wind up with an emergency.


Sorry for the long-winded post, just want to make sure I give everyone the right picture and understanding of my situation and concern. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[mselenaous]

Getting older ain't for wimps. Congrats on the weightloss.
The dives here are mostly 35+/- 5 ft or 100 ft deep wrecks. Rainbow Reef is a great op. After a couple of relaxing first dives, you should be able to easily complete your AOW class with Rainbow Reef then do any of the dives you choose.

I recommend you talk to the staff about taking your gear off in the water and not climbing boat ladder with the gear on. One of the biggest back strains is trying to negotiate on a boat & up a ladder with heavy gear on.
I call myself a lazy diver because I will frog kick and glide almost motionless...amazing how long my air lasts that way.
Also check your posture in the water. We tend to hyper extend our backs when we are diving in the horizontal position and lift our heads up to see forward. Remember to relax your back periodically.

Let me know when you are in town, maybe meet up for a

Some of the medical mods might have additional information.

 

[ericg753]

Looking forward to visiting KL soon, thank you for the advice! I do have my Open Water cert, just missing 1 more dive (navigation) for Advanced. I paid my scuba shop last April, didn't have time to squeeze this in due to weather issues our first day. Spoke to him recently, said he will still honor it so I can complete and get my Advanced.

Taking gear off in the water - GREAT IDEA!! I can see how after 4 times it will become a major issue. Normally I can do this no problem at all, it's this low-cal diet....UGH. It's a blessing and a curse, I miss food and beer LOL

Speaking of which, I don't think it's going to be terrible if I grab a couple of beers one night and some good food...heard the fish tacos are great! So yes if you're up to it I can look you up...PM me to exchange info.

 

[Incident]

Just wondering...if you work at a hospital, why not seek out some advice from someone on the staff there?

I mean no disrespect to chiropractors or those who seek their services, but if you are trying to sort out the source of your pain, a chiropractor is not the place to go looking for answers. You really should be seeking to find the source of whatever is causing the pain, then treat it with the corrective measures it requires.

BTW, I have had my spine (L5-S1) fused, so I can fully appreciate how much back pain sucks.

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

I think that Mselenaous' recommendation is reasonable as long as you know the source of the pain and your physician is ok with you exercising at a level you may need to perform at while diving, including responding to emergencies or unforeseen circumstances. I would echo Incident's advice above and encourage you to see a neurologist or spine specialist before you dive.

Best regards,
DDM

 

[ericg753]

Incident and Duke, thank you for your advise. I am seeing my PCP tomorrow morning, then will move quickly to a neuro/spine specialist if needed. I'm more concerned about coming onto the boat with the equipment, instead of while in the water. If I take off my inflated BCD with one hand and hold onto the ladder with the other, I should be okay. That and will take a bottle of Advil/Motrin with me.

 

[TSandM]

I have to say that as an MD, I have become very disheartened with what traditional medicine has to offer for back pain. I think it is very important to rule out major pathology in the spine -- If someone has a fracture, or a tumor, or an abscess, we have ways to deal with those things. But for an awful lot of people who just have back pain, there aren't great options. I recently received a bunch of e-mails inviting me to a CME session on dealing with adult spinal deformity, in which the PRESENTER mentioned that there is a 70% rate of serious complication with surgical approaches to this problem.

Sometimes we're better off in the hands of a chiropractor or acupuncturist, or Rolfer, or yoga instructor. Once you are sure there isn't one of the major problems, do what works.

 

[KevinNM]

I've seen comments by orthopedic surgeons that, in general, physical therapy and exercise is more effective than surgery for most patients. If the patients did the PT and exercises. But since they usually won't actually do these, surgery usually has a higher success rate. Which is kind of sad.

 

[ericg753]

Thank you all for your suggestions and advice. I visited a chiropractor Wednesday night and was adjusted, will visit again tomorrow. I visited my PCP today, both he and my chiro feel this is more of a muscle strain/spasm issue than neurological damage, based on my symptoms and examination. I have always had a strong foundation, it's coincidental that during this rapid weight loss I am having for the first time pain in my upper back and base of my neck (I have had lower back issues stemming from an injury in my teens, to which I go for adjustments every 2-3 years and I am fine for a while).

Both said it's coincidental but highly unlikely it has anything to do with the weight loss. I beg to somewhat differ but hey, I'm an IT expert, not a doctor or chiropractor. So for now....take it easy, no sudden jerky movements or heavy lifting, I'm going to continue going to the chiro every 3 days until my trip, pop some Advil and take it nice and easy on my dives.


Thank you all again!