Diving and AntiInflammatory Drugs

Gilles · 12th November 2005, 00:01

I've been recovering from back surgery (along with a bout of Epidural Fibrosis) during the last 6 months. Still using NSAIDs (Arcoxia) to keep swelling down, but finally becoming well again.

Jungle running, jogging, and beach volleyball remain out of my list of activities. Now a couch potato well and good. Hope to revive Rebreather scuba again mid-January 2006. I do and will continue to reduce my pharmacy. Down to vitamin B12, Panadol, and Arcoxia.

Any Orthopaedic surgeons out there that happen to be divers, have any opinions/info that I should know about?

Need to rebuild skills so will be doing the obvious taking it easy.

babar · 12th November 2005, 14:23

Could you tel us what the generic name for Arcoxia is? Many trade names are country specific. That is not a familiar name to me in the states.

What did your surgeon advise regarding lifting limits? Are you 'allowed' to lift the Rebreather in the first place?

Can you give us more details of the surgery. what was done?

Cheers, hope your feeling better

abowie · 12th November 2005, 19:43

There are 2 issues here.

The first and foremost is what your back will let you do. Best speak to your own surgeon and physiotherapist about that.

The second is the anti inflammatory issue. Arcoxia (etoricoxib) is a Cox2 inhibitor like Celebrex (celecoxib) and Vioxx (rofecoxib). We don't have it in Australia so I can't speak from first hand experience but in general it shouldn't present any particular problem with diving.

Gilles · 12th November 2005, 22:12

Quote: (Originally Posted by babar)

Could you tel us what the generic name for Arcoxia is? Many trade names are country specific. That is not a familiar name to me in the states.

What did your surgeon advise regarding lifting limits? Are you 'allowed' to lift the Rebreather in the first place?

Can you give us more details of the surgery. what was done?

Cheers, hope your feeling better

As Andrew Bowie mentioned, Arcoxia is Entoricoxib. I've heard the same opinion (as his) from non-diver doc's. Do you differ? Although I'll continue trying to get off of it, I definitely feel a difference between not taking it and taking it. Stuff actually works.

Surgery was a L4-L5-S1 laminectomy and a L5-S1 discectomy. Definitely not allowed to lift the 35 K's of Meg Rebreather (yet). I'm less sensitive to load versus shock and vibration (boat ride is more of a concern). Intend on having asistants carry the load of the RB until I jump in the water.

babar · 13th November 2005, 04:05

Quote: (Originally Posted by sabgia)

As Andrew Bowie mentioned, Arcoxia is Entoricoxib. I've heard the same opinion (as his) from non-diver doc's. Do you differ? Although I'll continue trying to get off of it, I definitely feel a difference between not taking it and taking it. Stuff actually works.

Surgery was a L4-L5-S1 laminectomy and a L5-S1 discectomy. Definitely not allowed to lift the 35 K's of Meg Rebreather (yet). I'm less sensitive to load versus shock and vibration (boat ride is more of a concern). Intend on having asistants carry the load of the RB until I jump in the water.

No I quite agree, I don't have any problem with the medicine itself. Although it should be noted here that most of the cox2's have been withdrawn from the market in the states. My concern would be more from the laminectomy and the rehab entailed. Diving often causes one, (well, me anyway) to arch ones back. Having spinal fusion can increase the stress on surrounding vertebrae, and the adjoining diskspaces.
Having a helper to lug your unit for you, will help, I would certainly recommend taking you unit off in the water and having someone pull it out of the water for you. Just don't underestimate the torque and strain of swimming and turning with the unit on your back. I would talk to your doc about it, and start out with some pool excercises.

Gilles · 14th November 2005, 11:04

Quote: (Originally Posted by babar)

No I quite agree, I don't have any problem with the medicine itself. Although it should be noted here that most of the cox2's have been withdrawn from the market in the states. My concern would be more from the laminectomy and the rehab entailed. Diving often causes one, (well, me anyway) to arch ones back. Having spinal fusion can increase the stress on surrounding vertebrae, and the adjoining diskspaces.
Having a helper to lug your unit for you, will help, I would certainly recommend taking you unit off in the water and having someone pull it out of the water for you. Just don't underestimate the torque and strain of swimming and turning with the unit on your back. I would talk to your doc about it, and start out with some pool excercises.

Thank you for your opinion about the drugs and diving with broken back. Actually did not have fusion performed. Have L5 sitting directly on S1 without any sort of implant. I do plenty of pool training (swimming laps) and weight training (spine tensioning or neutral). The Rebreather and my diving passion has helped me to work to get well.

babar · 14th November 2005, 18:15

Quote: (Originally Posted by sabgia)

Thank you for your opinion about the drugs and diving with broken back. Actually did not have fusion performed. Have L5 sitting directly on S1 without any sort of implant. I do plenty of pool training (swimming laps) and weight training (spine tensioning or neutral). The Rebreather and my diving passion has helped me to work to get well.

Well, goodluck to you and let us know how it goes.

**rigdiver** · 17th November 2005, 12:58

Gilles;
I've used all the cox inhibitors. They work well for me. I've dived alot with these types of meds in my system. I broke 3 Lumbar vertebrae many yrs ago and chronic back pain is something I live with. Unfortunately most of the cox inhibitors are off the market in the US. Vioxx worked really well for me, but caused my stomach to burn. Eating every 4 hours helped. Celebrex worked, but not as well as Vioxx. They are not available now. Bextra seems to work pretty well, but not as good as the first two. The legal system here has hit drug co's with billion dollar settlements. Never mind a drug helps 99.999% of the people that take it. If it "may" have caused anyone a stroke or heart attack, then sue the pants off of em.
More legal stuff: I'm not a Dr., so I can't prescribe or even recommend anything.
Just an R.N.;

Bill

Gilles · 20th November 2005, 11:30

Quote: (Originally Posted by rigdiver)

Gilles;
I've used all the cox inhibitors. They work well for me. I've dived alot with these types of meds in my system. I broke 3 Lumbar vertebrae many yrs ago and chronic back pain is something I live with. Unfortunately most of the cox inhibitors are off the market in the US. Vioxx worked really well for me, but caused my stomach to burn. Eating every 4 hours helped. Celebrex worked, but not as well as Vioxx. They are not available now. Bextra seems to work pretty well, but not as good as the first two. The legal system here has hit drug co's with billion dollar settlements. Never mind a drug helps 99.999% of the people that take it. If it "may" have caused anyone a stroke or heart attack, then sue the pants off of em.
More legal stuff: I'm not a Dr., so I can't prescribe or even recommend anything.
Just an R.N.;

Bill

Bill, thanks for your reply. Nice to find out that I'm not the only one crazy enough to continue diving. If you ever travel to Malaysia or Singapore, any doc will prescribe this pharmacy for you.

***ScubaDadMiami*** · 26th November 2005, 05:06

Just in case you are taking aspirin, I recently read that aspirin "seem[s] to increase the risk of CNS oxygen toxicity." Mount, Sawatzky & Hess. Tek Closed Circuit Rebreather, p. 40.

12th November 2005, 00:01	#1 (permalink)
Gilles Worship the feminine Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Den Haag (Netherlands) Posts: 762	Diving and AntiInflammatory Drugs I've been recovering from back surgery (along with a bout of Epidural Fibrosis) during the last 6 months. Still using NSAIDs (Arcoxia) to keep swelling down, but finally becoming well again. Jungle running, jogging, and beach volleyball remain out of my list of activities. Now a couch potato well and good. Hope to revive Rebreather scuba again mid-January 2006. I do and will continue to reduce my pharmacy. Down to vitamin B12, Panadol, and Arcoxia. Any Orthopaedic surgeons out there that happen to be divers, have any opinions/info that I should know about? Need to rebuild skills so will be doing the obvious taking it easy. __________________ Gilles http://www.dirrebreather.com
(Offline)

12th November 2005, 14:23	#2 (permalink)
babar Curmudgeon Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Sport Kiss Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Evolution Other CCR Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 421	Re: Diving and AntiInflammatory Drugs Could you tel us what the generic name for Arcoxia is? Many trade names are country specific. That is not a familiar name to me in the states. What did your surgeon advise regarding lifting limits? Are you 'allowed' to lift the Rebreather in the first place? Can you give us more details of the surgery. what was done? Cheers, hope your feeling better __________________ Babar Evolution Plus Sport kiss
(Offline)

12th November 2005, 19:43	#3 (permalink)
abowie Fighting Girl Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2005 Location: Land of Oz Posts: 573	Re: Diving and AntiInflammatory Drugs There are 2 issues here. The first and foremost is what your back will let you do. Best speak to your own surgeon and physiotherapist about that. The second is the anti inflammatory issue. Arcoxia (etoricoxib) is a Cox2 inhibitor like Celebrex (celecoxib) and Vioxx (rofecoxib). We don't have it in Australia so I can't speak from first hand experience but in general it shouldn't present any particular problem with diving. __________________ Andrew Bowie Rebreather-friendly Buddy
(Offline)

12th November 2005, 22:12	#4 (permalink)
Gilles Worship the feminine Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Den Haag (Netherlands) Posts: 762	Re: Diving and AntiInflammatory Drugs Quote: (Originally Posted by babar) Could you tel us what the generic name for Arcoxia is? Many trade names are country specific. That is not a familiar name to me in the states. What did your surgeon advise regarding lifting limits? Are you 'allowed' to lift the Rebreather in the first place? Can you give us more details of the surgery. what was done? Cheers, hope your feeling better As Andrew Bowie mentioned, Arcoxia is Entoricoxib. I've heard the same opinion (as his) from non-diver doc's. Do you differ? Although I'll continue trying to get off of it, I definitely feel a difference between not taking it and taking it. Stuff actually works. Surgery was a L4-L5-S1 laminectomy and a L5-S1 discectomy. Definitely not allowed to lift the 35 K's of Meg Rebreather (yet). I'm less sensitive to load versus shock and vibration (boat ride is more of a concern). Intend on having asistants carry the load of the RB until I jump in the water. __________________ Gilles http://www.dirrebreather.com
(Offline)

13th November 2005, 04:05	#5 (permalink)
babar Curmudgeon Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Sport Kiss Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Evolution Other CCR Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 421	Re: Diving and AntiInflammatory Drugs Quote: (Originally Posted by sabgia) As Andrew Bowie mentioned, Arcoxia is Entoricoxib. I've heard the same opinion (as his) from non-diver doc's. Do you differ? Although I'll continue trying to get off of it, I definitely feel a difference between not taking it and taking it. Stuff actually works. Surgery was a L4-L5-S1 laminectomy and a L5-S1 discectomy. Definitely not allowed to lift the 35 K's of Meg Rebreather (yet). I'm less sensitive to load versus shock and vibration (boat ride is more of a concern). Intend on having asistants carry the load of the RB until I jump in the water. No I quite agree, I don't have any problem with the medicine itself. Although it should be noted here that most of the cox2's have been withdrawn from the market in the states. My concern would be more from the laminectomy and the rehab entailed. Diving often causes one, (well, me anyway) to arch ones back. Having spinal fusion can increase the stress on surrounding vertebrae, and the adjoining diskspaces. Having a helper to lug your unit for you, will help, I would certainly recommend taking you unit off in the water and having someone pull it out of the water for you. Just don't underestimate the torque and strain of swimming and turning with the unit on your back. I would talk to your doc about it, and start out with some pool excercises. __________________ Babar Evolution Plus Sport kiss
(Offline)

14th November 2005, 11:04	#6 (permalink)
Gilles Worship the feminine Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Den Haag (Netherlands) Posts: 762	Re: Diving and AntiInflammatory Drugs Quote: (Originally Posted by babar) No I quite agree, I don't have any problem with the medicine itself. Although it should be noted here that most of the cox2's have been withdrawn from the market in the states. My concern would be more from the laminectomy and the rehab entailed. Diving often causes one, (well, me anyway) to arch ones back. Having spinal fusion can increase the stress on surrounding vertebrae, and the adjoining diskspaces. Having a helper to lug your unit for you, will help, I would certainly recommend taking you unit off in the water and having someone pull it out of the water for you. Just don't underestimate the torque and strain of swimming and turning with the unit on your back. I would talk to your doc about it, and start out with some pool excercises. Thank you for your opinion about the drugs and diving with broken back. Actually did not have fusion performed. Have L5 sitting directly on S1 without any sort of implant. I do plenty of pool training (swimming laps) and weight training (spine tensioning or neutral). The Rebreather and my diving passion has helped me to work to get well. __________________ Gilles http://www.dirrebreather.com
(Offline)

14th November 2005, 18:15	#7 (permalink)
babar Curmudgeon Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Sport Kiss Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Evolution Other CCR Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 421	Re: Diving and AntiInflammatory Drugs Quote: (Originally Posted by sabgia) Thank you for your opinion about the drugs and diving with broken back. Actually did not have fusion performed. Have L5 sitting directly on S1 without any sort of implant. I do plenty of pool training (swimming laps) and weight training (spine tensioning or neutral). The Rebreather and my diving passion has helped me to work to get well. Well, goodluck to you and let us know how it goes. __________________ Babar Evolution Plus Sport kiss
(Offline)

17th November 2005, 12:58	#8 (permalink)
rigdiver LEARNING CONTINUALLY Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Megalodon Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: TEXAS Posts: 421	Re: Diving and AntiInflammatory Drugs Gilles; I've used all the cox inhibitors. They work well for me. I've dived alot with these types of meds in my system. I broke 3 Lumbar vertebrae many yrs ago and chronic back pain is something I live with. Unfortunately most of the cox inhibitors are off the market in the US. Vioxx worked really well for me, but caused my stomach to burn. Eating every 4 hours helped. Celebrex worked, but not as well as Vioxx. They are not available now. Bextra seems to work pretty well, but not as good as the first two. The legal system here has hit drug co's with billion dollar settlements. Never mind a drug helps 99.999% of the people that take it. If it "may" have caused anyone a stroke or heart attack, then sue the pants off of em. More legal stuff: I'm not a Dr., so I can't prescribe or even recommend anything. Just an R.N.; Bill
(Offline)

20th November 2005, 11:30	#9 (permalink)
Gilles Worship the feminine Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Den Haag (Netherlands) Posts: 762	Re: Diving and AntiInflammatory Drugs Quote: (Originally Posted by rigdiver) Gilles; I've used all the cox inhibitors. They work well for me. I've dived alot with these types of meds in my system. I broke 3 Lumbar vertebrae many yrs ago and chronic back pain is something I live with. Unfortunately most of the cox inhibitors are off the market in the US. Vioxx worked really well for me, but caused my stomach to burn. Eating every 4 hours helped. Celebrex worked, but not as well as Vioxx. They are not available now. Bextra seems to work pretty well, but not as good as the first two. The legal system here has hit drug co's with billion dollar settlements. Never mind a drug helps 99.999% of the people that take it. If it "may" have caused anyone a stroke or heart attack, then sue the pants off of em. More legal stuff: I'm not a Dr., so I can't prescribe or even recommend anything. Just an R.N.; Bill Bill, thanks for your reply. Nice to find out that I'm not the only one crazy enough to continue diving. If you ever travel to Malaysia or Singapore, any doc will prescribe this pharmacy for you. __________________ Gilles http://www.dirrebreather.com
(Offline)

26th November 2005, 05:06	#10 (permalink)
*ScubaDadMiami* Moderator Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 2,137	Re: Diving and AntiInflammatory Drugs Just in case you are taking aspirin, I recently read that aspirin "seem[s] to increase the risk of CNS oxygen toxicity." Mount, Sawatzky & Hess. Tek Closed Circuit Rebreather, p. 40. __________________ Howard Packer IANTD CCR Instructor Miami Beach, Florida CCRDiveTraining.com
(Offline)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode