Steroids

I have damaged my shoulder whilst exercising. My Doctor gave me a course of anti-inflammatory drugs and cream. These haven't worked and he now recommends a short course of steroid injections will this affect my future diving once the treatment has ceased.

I have damaged my shoulder whilst exercising. My Doctor gave me a course of anti-inflammatory drugs and cream. These haven't worked and he now recommends a short course of steroid injections will this affect my future diving once the treatment has ceased.

I doubt the steroids will have any effect, although if the injury was serious I've heard said (I have no knowledge for sure) that that area will be more prone to DCI.

As always with medical queries, don't take a internet forum's answer, ring up a UKSDM referee. You can find a list of them on the BSAC website.

Ben

:=I have damaged my shoulder whilst exercising. My Doctor gave me a course of anti-inflammatory drugs and cream. These haven't worked and he now recommends a short course of steroid injections will this affect my future diving once the treatment has ceased.

I doubt the steroids will have any effect, although if the injury was serious I've heard said (I have no knowledge for sure) that that area will be more prone to DCI.

As always with medical queries, don't take a internet forum's answer, ring up a UKSDM referee. You can find a list of them on the BSAC website.

Ben

I speak as an orthopaedic surgeon, not as a medical referee. The term 'damage' does not give anyone sufficent information to provide you with a proper answer to your question.

Steroid injections, when properly used, for the right condition can be extremely effective, and will not prevent you diving. There is no proper reason for having more than three injections in one shoulder, as more than that number MAY cause non-diving complications.

I do not know of any evidence that steroid injections interfere with diving, and indeed have had such treatment myself and continued to dive, the injection dealing effectively with my problem.

If you are not keen on steroid injections, physiotherapy treatment may be the solution. If you are looking for a local physiotherapist, look in your Yellow Pages under "Chartered Physiotherapists", which will avoid the cowboys/cowgirls.

As a last resort, many painful shoulder conditions are amenable to arthroscopic ("keyhole") surgery noawadays, without anything more than a short absence from diving.

If you want more information, please contact me off forum at <a href="mailto:diverron@supanet.com">diverron@supane t.com</a>, and tell me a little more about your problems.