This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

I'm hoping to book a sunny vacation to Cuba. Ideally to a location where I can do lots of SCUBA diving.

Here's the question... I just want to be safe. Is there any reason why a person with MS cannot SCUBA dive? I was only diagnosed in August 2010, so I'm still new to all of this. I have an appointment with my neurologist before leaving for vacation, but I'd like to book it before that appointment.

Thanks, Susanne

Hmmmm.... Excellent question!

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w/m 44
The problem comes with the decision of weighing the unknown with the unknown.

The idea of scuba is that you obtain a normal oxygen supply while diving. Do you have physical limitations? That should be your only concern (although I am not an expert)

I was a diver for 15 years. I've had to stop because the gear is too heavy & I am too weak/unbalanced to ambulate the boat safely or get out of the water. I also have a tremor & I am slow with reactions.

You need to consider the worse case scenarios. Can you retrieve your mask or regulator quickly if it is kicked off (I've been faced kicked many times by inexperienced divers) Are you taking meds that will effect your level of alertness? Can you tread water for the minimum of an hour if you are lost from your boat on drift dives? (this happens rarely, but it's happened to me several times & it's terrifying on the best of times) Keep in mind you of course have your vest that will help, but you should be a strong swimmer. Is your vision clear?

If you are in good physical shape- get out there & dive. Travel as much as you can. Do all the things you may not be able to do later NOW!!!

growing2boys

Great Answer!!!

I am diver too, and you motivated me to not stop diving.

Thank you

Leandro

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Leandro Rogério Silva, 34. Married to the best wife who loves me and always motivates me.
Diagnosed July 10, 2012. Rebif44 since August 2012.

I've just done a bunch of research on this because I'm thinking about scuba for my upcoming trip. Apparently there's no reason no to (provided you are physically able to) but some places don't like taking people with MS because the symptoms of ms are similar to the bends and having ms makes diagnosing the bends difficult. At least that's what I've learned on the internet.

Well, I've continued to dive. I did two dives in Cuba last week with no problems, other than being kicked by the amateur divers!

Happy diving!

Hi, I am a (Dutch) neurologist and today a patient asked me precisely this question. There is actually no literature on the subject except for one case: Aviat Space Environ Med. 2003 Feb;74(2):184-6. Multiple sclerosis presenting as neurological decompression sickness in a U.S. navy diver.
Jan MH. This person had manifestations of MS after diving. Therefore, it is possible that diving itself could elicit the symptoms. But what is the mechanism and what does this mean to people who have MS and want to dive? Well, nitrogen, the gas of decompression sickness, might be at work here. because of the high partial pressure of nitrogen during diving, nitrogen might dissolve in the plaque and cause or exacerbate neurological dysfunction. Is there any proof for this assumption? No, there isn't. On the other hand, and extending this line of reasoning, a rule of thumb might be derived:
1. it is probably not advisable to make decompression dives if active disease is present (Gd+MRI plaques or/and symptoms of MS), dives up to 10 m depth are probably save, but the exact risk remains uncertain.
2. it is probably save to dive if one does not have active disease (see below the advise of the British society),
3. the exact save interval is unclear (the period between the last manifestation and the dive), but according to the British, a year is a save period (but quite long).
4. if the disease is inactive and the patient does not have serious handicaps, impeding his/hers ability to dive, there is no additional danger.
5. location of the lesion is probably important: a high cervical spinal cord lesion as in my patient is an additional risk, because dysfunction at this level could result in tetraparesis or paraparesis.

It would be interesting to hear from other patients and care-takers.

Yours sincerely,

Rudolf


Multiple Sclerosis
The symptoms and signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) and optic neuritis are very similar to neurological decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism. Any neurological symptom arising within 24 hours of surfacing from a dive must be considered dysbaric in origin and the only method of establishing the diagnosis is by assessing the response to therapeutic recompression. Instances have occurred where new neurological symptoms have arisen following dives in individuals who have had suspected or confirmed multiple sclerosis. These have proved very difficult management problems for the attending diving physicians. However, the medical committee recognises that up to one-third of patients do not develop progressive disability and remain relatively unimpaired many years after the onset of the illness. The committee therefore considers that a prospective diver who has experienced the symptoms and/or signs of MS should wait for a period of at least one year before taking up scuba-diving. During that year, no further symptoms or signs of MS should become evident and there should be no further clinical deterioration in the patient.
If a diver with MS experiences further episodes of MS (in or out of the water) then he/she must cease diving for a period of one year during which time there should be no further signs or symptoms of MS and his/her clinical condition should not deteriorate further.
Consideration of individual cases may be undertaken by the medical committee. The position with isolated optic neuritis remains unclear, but a recent episode of isolated optic neuritis would also disqualify for a period of one year.
References:
Elliott DH, Moon RE. Manifestations of the decompression disorders. In: Bennett PB, Elliott DH eds. The physiology and medicine of diving. 4th ed. WB Saunders Co. Ltd. London 1993 p500.

I'd refer you to the research of Dr. Philip B. James, University of Dundee Medical School--who began looking at the similarities in decompression sickness during deep dives and neurological illness, specifically MS. He noted spinal degeneration in commercial divers, and suggests HBOT treatments. http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lance ... 40-6736(88)91167-1/fulltext
He's published much on the subject for the past 30 years.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17439700

here is more of his published research--
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term ... d=17439700

cheer

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Husband dx RRMS 3/07
dx dual jugular vein stenosis (CCSVI) 4/09
dual stents placed 5/09
CCSVI in MS

Wow Rudolf. Great post. Thank you for the info!

Way to go