Question to Wise & scubadivers here?

[Max]

Wise,
You probably remember good Dr.Krassioukov we both met on Conference in Montreal?
I cannot find anything, & I wish I could scubadive http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif
Please everybody who experienced it post your stories or better e-mail Good Doc.

==============================================


Dear Maxim,

You are a specialist on founding interesting staff. Have you ever heard
about episodes of autonomic dysreflexia in quadriplegic during diving or
snorkeling?
At least in the medical literature there is no cases reported.
All the best.
Dr Krassioukov
Andrei Krassioukov MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery
Division of Neurosurgery
Toronto Western Hospital
University Health Network
University of Toronto

399 Bathurst Street
Edith Cavell Pavilion 5-026,
Toronto ON M5T 2S8
Office: 416-603-5021;
lab.: 416603-5229;
FAX: 416-603-5745;
email: akrassio@uhnres.utoronto.ca

<A HREF="http://www.pluslotto.com/default.asp?urlref=3300003298889" TARGET=_blank>
http://www.lpics2.com/banners/A3.gif </A>

[KLD]

I have a number of clients who scuba dive and have never yet heard of a single case where someone got AD when diving. Of course it makes sense to be sure your bladder is empty prior to doning your wetsuit, and staying away from any sea urchins would probably be a good idea!

The only contraindications I know for scuba diving have to do with those with baclofen or other types of implanted pumps (they can't do this safely).

[Wise Young]

Like KLD, I have not heard of or know anybody who had an AD attack while scuba diving. Wise.

[zaziwe]

Max,

I did my rehab at Shepherd Center in Atlanta. Their Therapeutic Recreation Program teaches SCUBA. Their # is 404-350-7786.

Here's a link to the Handicapped Scuba Association- http://www.hsascuba.com/

http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

[This message was edited by zaziwe on October 30, 2001 at 11:02 AM.]

[Cappy]

I'm a T5-6 para. Been a certified Class A NAUI diver for 3 years. As to date, I have never had an AD experience with diving. I do try to empty my bladder before diving. Rinsing the suit with fresh water is a fix for urinating in the suit.

I've dived with 2 quads and neither of them have had an AD experience. They do try to empty the bladder before each dive.

Cappy

[Max]

http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/tongue.gif http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/cool.gif http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif

[samtihen]

I'm active in the scuba diving (http://myscubadives.com) community and have talked to a few divers with spinal injuries. There are obviously some additional issues to deal with, but the general agreement is that diving is still safe - well, as safe as you make it. One of my good instructor friends is actually just about to start a class so that she can better handle disabled divers.

[SCI-Nurse]

Spinal injuries are not the same as spinal cord injuries, and I don't think many PEOPLE with disabilities want to be "handled". Suggest you learn a little more about the topic before posting on a 10 year old thread like this anyway.

(KLD)

[Wise Young]

I'm active in the scuba diving (http://myscubadives.com) community and have talked to a few divers with spinal injuries. There are obviously some additional issues to deal with, but the general agreement is that diving is still safe - well, as safe as you make it. One of my good instructor friends is actually just about to start a class so that she can better handle disabled divers.

Samtihen,

Thank you for your post. Scuba is a good source of recreation for people with spinal cord injury. With proper training, it is quite safe and liberating for both paraplegic and quadriplegic divers. The following is a youtube video of some spinal-injured people scuba diving.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruMotmDMmlQ

For those who are interested in learning more about diving, they should go to the web sites.

http://iahd-americas.org/index.html
http://www.apparelyzed.com/forums/topic/3717-scuba-diving/
http://tenfootstop.blogspot.com/2006/07/scuba-diving-for-individuals-with.html

There are many others...

Wise.

[jessica_wheeler2004]

I was a diver for years. I only recently had to give it up do to having a shunt put in my brain. Diving was very freeing and something I found amazingly fun to do. I learned that the best BCD to use is a hybrid. One that mainly inflates in the back, but slightly wraps around the front. This will keep you well balanced on surface an underwater.

A rear inflated vest would keep me nice and face down under water but at the surface it wanted to flip me on my face when I wanted to lay back on my back. A jacket style BCD that inflated a lot around the front would cause me to flip on my back underwater. The perfect happy medium was a hybrid vest. I just sold mine for really cheap unfortunately. But they are really nice if you get one.

[cbdives]

I'm a certified scuba instructor through the "Handicapped Scuba Association". I'm also disabled with Peripheral Neuropathy. Diving offers no barriers to me

Joe