Decompression - the Risks
Getting the bends doesn't have to be anyone's fault, but it's important to recognise the symptoms as soon as possible. As an all encompassing term decompression illness refers to both lung overexpansion injuries and decompression sickness. Both involve the formation of bubbles in the body (air in the lung overexpansion and nitrogen in decompression sickness). Both require accurate and prompt treatment.
The first thing to recognise is that all dive computers and tables are based on mathematical models that mimic the uptake and wash-out of nitrogen in theoretical body tissues - as a result they are no more than a guide to diving depths and times. If you stay within these limits, the chances are low that you'll be affected by DCI, but the risk is always present - experienced divers get DCI on dives they've carried out a hundred times.
For many divers, the difficult part is admitting they could have DCI. They may blame a heavy weight belt for a dull ache in the lower spine, or explain the pain in their shoulder as being the result of shifting heavy tanks about. In a lot of cases, divers wait until more serious symptoms appear - numbness, weakness or paralysis - before seeking help. When in doubt, treat any new pain or weakness as a possible DCI symptom.
Admitting that you think you may have DCI doesn't mean you've done anything wrong - there is no court that fines you for it! And being treated rapidly with give you a better chance of a complete recovery. Research shows that divers who receive treatment within six hours of the incident usually have the best chance of making a full recovery. Equally, victims of DCI who receive 100 per cent oxygen as soon as symptoms are recognised tend to recover a lot faster and much better than those who don't.
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