Did you know that divers can experience severe health complications when they ascend too quickly from, deep waters, leading to a condition known as decompression diseases or the bend? Here, we will explore the causes, symptoms, and treatment of the disease.

What Is Decompression Disease?

Decompression disease commonly known as ‘the bends’ poses a significant risk to divers who

ascend too quickly from the depths of the ocean. This occurs when a person experiences rapid changes in pressure typically during activities like scuba diving, high-altitude flying, or working in a pressurized environment. If the pressure is reduced too quickly during rapid ascent while diving, nitrogen comes out of the solution in the blood and forms bubbles, which can cause damage in tissue and blood vessels.

Symptoms of decompression disease

The severity of decompression disease symptoms can rang from mild to life-threating. It depends on nitrogen forming into bubbles. Symptoms usually occur within minutes to hours

after the pressure change and can include:

• Joint and Muscle pain: Often felt in the shoulders, elbows, knees, and ankles.
• Dizziness and Headaches
• Fatigue
• Skin rash or itching 
• Difficulty breathing 
• Numbness or tingling 
• Confusion or unconsciousness
• Paralysis or loss of function in severe cases

Treatment for decompression disease

Immediate Oxygen Therapy: It’s a must to provide 100% oxygen therapy. It helps in nitrogen bubble reduction and increases oxygen.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: This is one of the most effective treatment for those patients who suffer in decompression sickness. This hyperbaric chamber helps to stimulate the high pressure in the environment and also allows the nitrogen bubbles to get dissolved in the body safely.

Rehydration: Drinking fluids like water or soft juice is essential to help the body recover.

What is Spinal decompression? 

Spinal decompression means a therapeutic technique aimed at relieving pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. .It is used to treat conditions spinal cord or nerves. It is used to treat conditions like herniated discs, bulging disc, sciatica, and degenerative disc disease by relieving pressure on the spine. Which causes pain due to the compression of spinal nerves.

There are two main types of spinal decompression :

1. Non-surgical spinal decompression: This involves mechanical traction to gently stretch the spine.It creates negative pressure in the spinal disc which may help retract herniated or bulging disc, reducing pressure on nerves and promoting on nerves and promoting the flow of healing to the area.
2. Surgical spinal decompression: This is option when conservative treatments do not work. Procedures like laminectomy discectomy or spinal fusion are performed to remove bore or tissue pressing on the spinal cord or nerves, creating more space for them.

Both types aim to alleviate pain, improve mobility, restore function. 

Carpal Tunnel decompression & Cervical decompression 

Carpal Tunnel Decompression 

Carpal tunnel decompression helps to produce relieve pressure for surgical works. The median nerves passes the carpal tunnel in the wrist position. The syndrome that causes in this is associated with numbness, weakness in hands and fingers, and also deep pain.

Causes of carpal Tunnel Syndrome:

–Repetitive hand movement

–Wrist injuries 

–Pregnancy-related swelling 

Surgical procedure, open carpal tunnel release, endoscopic carpal tunnel:

The goal of carpal tunnel decompression surgery is to cut the transverse carpal ligaments in the carpal tunnel. The small incision is made in the wrist and the surgeon cuts the ligament directly.In such cases, the smaller incision is made with a surgeon’s camera with ligaments and less visible scarring.

Cervical decompression 

Cervical decompression helps to refer the medical treatments and helps to relieve the pressure on the spinal cords. The compression takes place on the herniated discs, also on spinal stones, and sometimes degenerative disc disease takes place on the neck region.

Causes of cervical Compression:

–Herniated Disc: A bulging or reported disc in the neck may press on surrounding nerves or the spinal cord.

–Cervical spinal stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck region can compress nerves.

-Degenerative disc disease: Over time the disc between the vertebrae may lose flexibility. 

Decompression injury

A decompression injury means tissues or organ damage caused by a rapid reduction in ambient pressure, leading to the formation of gas bubbles in the body, primarily nitrogen. This type of injury is most commonly associated with decompression sickness often seen in divers, aviators, astronauts, and workers in pressurized environments. Decompression injuries occur when the body is subjected to rapid changes in pressure causing dissolved gases to form bubbles in the bloodstream and tissues. Decompression injuries can be serious, but prompt treatment and prevention techniques can help minimize long-term damage.

Decompression explosion

A decompression explosion refers to a phenomenon that occurs when a pressurized environment is suddenly exposed to a lower-pressure environment causing rapid and often violent expansion that can occur in various industrial or underwater settings where rapid decompression leads to an explosive release of energy. When a pressurized container, chamber, or environment submarine or a deep-sea diving bell is compromised allowing high-pressure air or gas to escape rapidly.

Effect and danger:

–Blast injuries: The rapid release of gas can create a shockwave causing physical injuries.

-Structural damage: The force of the explosion can damage equipment, buildings, or vessels.

-Decompression sickness: Decompression sickness can lead to nitrogen gas bubbles forming in the bloodstream.

Prevention:

.Gradual ascension when diving 

.Using dive tables or dive computers to manage time and depth.

.Avoiding flying or going to high altitudes soon after diving.

.For more severe cases,continued HBOT sessions and monitoring are often required. 

Can a chiropractor treat Decompression disease?

Yes, chiropractors can help treat decompression sickness, also known as decompression illness (DCI). While chiropractors primarily address spinal and musculoskeletal issues, they can play a role in the recovery process for individuals affected by decompression sickness. DCI, which occurs due to rapid changes in pressure (commonly in divers or high-altitude aviators), can cause joint and muscle pain, and in some cases, nerve damage.

At Infinity Wellness Chiro, we offer supportive therapies such as spinal adjustments, myofascial release, and rehabilitative care to manage joint pain and improve mobility, which may be beneficial for individuals recovering from decompression sickness. However, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is the primary medical treatment for decompression sickness, and chiropractic care is typically used as a complementary treatment to help manage symptoms like pain and stiffness after medical intervention.

Chiropractic care can be part of an overall wellness plan to improve recovery and address lingering pain after DCI treatment.

Conclusion:

Decompression is a serious sickness caused by rapid changes in pressure, leading to the formation of gas bubbles in the body. Immediate recognition and treatment are essential to prevent permanent damage. Early intervention with oxygen administration, rehydration, and prompt medical care is critical in minimizing complication. Prevention through proper dive practices gradual ascension and careful monitoring of pressure changes can significantly reduce the risk of developing DSC.

FAQ

What is decompression sickness?

-Decompression sickness occurs when nitrogen gas absorbed by the body during exposure to high-pressure forms bubbles in the bloodstream and tissues due to rapid decompression. 

What causes decompression sickness?

-DSC is caused by a rapid decrease in pressure such as ascending too quickly after a dive.

What are the symtomps of DSC?

-Symptoms are dizziness, confusion or headaches, difficulty breathing, fatigue and weakness, nausea or vomiting, etc.

What are symptoms of spinal compression?

-Back pain, numbness or tingling in the legs or arms, weakness in the limbs, difficulty walking or standing. 

When should I seek treatment for cervical compression?

-If you experience persistent neck pain, numbness tingling or weakness in your arms or hands consult a healthcare provider for evaluation and treatment.