Long Term Effects of Neurological Decompression Sickness & where to get support

[CaptainR]

Hi All, In 1992 I suffered a severe Type II Decompression Sickness that saw me flown in a portable chamber for TUP into a large chamber at a city hospital. After several days with numerous O2 soaks I emerged.

It took me four or five months to get over the physiological shock of what occured. Over the course of the next couple of years I noticed so many changes in my vision, speech, memory, coordination, tremors etc. Eventually I saw two of Australia's well known leading Diving Doctors - I volunteered for batteries of tests and was poked, prodded, scanned numerous times, psychologically tested - the end result - the lesions that showed up in my brain where attributed to my accident dive accident as I was to young to have such lesions. That one accident resulted in a permanent 5% loss of bodily function.

As time rolls on the sysmptons are still there, some have gotten worse over the years. My memory (tracking) is now in the 10th percentile - tested by the same specialists who performed the initial tests. For those who are interested my accident was investigated by Government workplace health & safety inspectors as I was working as a MSDT at the time - they could not fault the dives or any aspect of that weeks diving - just one of those things!

I have worked hard though, have a better job than before (What would I do without all the memory assistants on computers PDA's etc!!) then I discovered something I wished I had found out in 1992........

Unfortunatley my wife had a stroke, after weeks of recouperation I took her to a Stroke Association Meeting. Sitting there listening to other young people (She was 28 at the time) who had strokes and their continuing symptons and after effects I was ASTOUNDED to hear so many of my own. I started thinking - well a clot is a clot - be it a blood vessel or a air bubble - the end result is similiar......I discussed it long and hard with the Stroke Association and they were amazed....so for all you divers who ar suffering the long term after effects of Neurological bends - you aren't going mad!! The best support agency I found was the Stroke Association -give it a go.........

Regards
CaptainR

 

[Bob3]

Thanks for the heads up, a good support system is very important, a person can feel awful lonely having to deal with an injury like that & a group can take quite a bit of the load off.

 

[The Iceni]

Hi captainR,

So sorry to hear your sad tale, which proves I am a very lucky man having nearly died in 2002 after losing consciousness from a cerebral artery gas embolus.

The vast majority of strokes are caused by a blood clot somehow getting into the arteries of the brain. This blocks them, causing damage due to local of oxygen and nutrients and the build-up of toxic bi-products of metabolism. A so-called thromboembolic stroke. (thrombus = clot)

As you say, a neurological DCI causes a type of stroke and the aftercare should be no different whatever the cause.

I have just started back at work after a long period of rehabilitation.

 

[Rachael-Amy]

Hey, I've been looking like something like this for a fair while now..

In May'09 I had a diving accident and was diagnosed with decompression sickness. After two weeks of hyperbaric treatment I was referred to a spinal injuries hospital where I stayed for 8 months (for a few months I was paralysed from the chest down and had to learn to walk again, I still can't feel my R leg) Initially, my injury seemed very physical, as an arterial gas embolism caused spinal cord damage at T5 & L2. But after I came home from hospital I noticed things I hadn't noticed whilst in there. I can't remember things or retain information, my concentration is very poor and when my pain is pretty intense my speech slurs .. I wrote and tried to get into contact with my Hyperbaric consultant but they just told it was the damaged caused. As DCS is fairly uncommon I haven't had anybody to speak to about what's happening to me on a daily basis. Luckily I only have to use the wheelchair a few days a week now, but the memory issues are causing me slight concerns.
Any help or just someone to tell me that its 'normal' after the accident would be a great help
Thanks
Rachael

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi Rachael-Amy,

There isn't a lot of information in your post, but on the face of it I'd guess that your issues with memory/cognition are the result of your incident of severe dive-related AGE and that they are permanent.

Just to cover the bases:

1. How old are you?
2. Are you otherwise in good health?
3. Taking any medications? If so, what for and when did you start taking each?
4. Do you have any history of head injury or any history of any condition that can adversely impact brain?
5. Do you have any family history of any conditions that can adversely impact brain (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease)?
6. Are your symptoms of memory/cognitive impairment stable or do they seem to be progressive?
7. Have you been worked up for these complaints (e.g., CAT or MRI of the head, neuropsychological testing, neurological examination focusing on your mentation)?

Regards,

DocVikingo