If a dive buddy reports aching pain in their shoulder after a dive, what condition might you suspect?

The presence of aching pain in the shoulder after a dive may indicate decompression sickness, also known as "the bends." This condition occurs when a diver ascends too rapidly, causing nitrogen that has been absorbed into the body during the dive to form bubbles as the pressure decreases. These bubbles can affect various tissues and joints, which is often felt as pain—commonly in the shoulders, knees, and back, but it can manifest in other areas as well.

Decompression sickness symptoms can develop within minutes of surfacing or may take several hours to appear, making it critical for divers to recognize this condition and respond appropriately. As such, any report of pain after a dive, especially if localized to a joint or the shoulder, should raise suspicion of this potentially serious condition.

Other conditions such as nitrogen narcosis occur during deeper dives and primarily affect mental and cognitive function rather than causing post-dive physical pain. Hypothermia is characterized by a drop in body temperature and presents different symptoms like shivering and confusion, rather than localized pain. Ear squeeze relates to barotrauma during descent or ascent, usually resulting in ear pain or discomfort, but not typically experienced as shoulder pain following a dive.