Pain whilst diving

[Samrigg]

I am a novice diver but have recently started going out with an experienced and very passionate diver and I really want to dive with him. However when I dive I experience an enormous amount of pain - always in my jaw and teeth area.

The last time I dived I was fine for the first 25 or so minutes. Then I experienced a shooting pain through the left side of my jaw bone that persisted in my molars and incisor teeth. The pain made my teeth feel like they were going to explode. When I surfaced the pain lessened but my face and in between my eyes felt strange for a day or so.

I have recently visited the dentist who has confirmed that my teeth are in good health. I have also been advised that I may be biting down too hard on the regulator. However on my last dive I made a conscious effort not to do this.

Does anyone have any good ideas about what could be the cause..

[deveugle]

Description of the pain sounds very much like an inverse block. I fthis goes untreated it might be repeated (treatment would mean drilling out any fillings or possible holes and refilling them without any air trapped).

Were you ascending at the time the pain started (and do you have any fillings) ?

If that is not the case, the biting down could cause some discomfort, but not to a degree as you describe.

Peter

[Adrian Kelland]

Definely sounds like a dental problem, although I would have expected it to get worse on the surface as any trapped gas expands...

Best of luck finding the real problem and getting it cured.

Adrian

[PeteM]

Definely sounds like a dental problem, although I would have expected it to get worse on the surface as any trapped gas expands...

Best of luck finding the real problem and getting it cured.

Adrian

Could also be a small crack letting cold air in which upsets a nerve.

If you are biting too hard a comfy grip can help but if it is not that go back to your dentist and get him to xray the problem area as it could be a fault that is not visible to the eye

[Adrian Kelland]

Could also be a small crack letting cold air in which upsets a nerve.

If you are biting too hard a comfy grip can help but if it is not that go back to your dentist and get him to xray the problem area as it could be a fault that is not visible to the eye
I've been there with the crack thing :( No relief on the surace either :eek:

[Tristan Green]

From the reported lasting feeling in the face and between the eyes this could be related to the sinuses rather than the teeth. Ears, sinuses and teeth are funny things - it's often hard to tell what is causing the problem as all three areas can feel painful and it's not easy to pinpoint the worst bit. I had an ear infection once and the only sign of pain was in my lower jaw!

If your dentist has done x-rays and can't see a problem with a tooth try your nearest diving doctor (click link at the top of the medical forum) and see what they recommend.

Hope you get it sorted soon.

Cheers,
Tristan

[suzie07]

did you tell your dentist you were a diver and experienced these problems? As the others have said, sounds like you need an xray...