What is a characteristic of Type I decompression sickness pain?

Type I decompression sickness, also known as "benign" decompression sickness, typically involves pain in the joints and muscles. A prominent characteristic of this type of pain is that it may be misinterpreted as trauma-related pain because of its sudden onset and the areas it affects, often resembling typical aches and pains from physical injury. This can make diagnosis challenging, as divers or medical personnel might initially attribute the pain to an injury rather than a physiological response to changes in pressure experienced during a dive.

While Type I decompression sickness is indeed painful, the pain does not always present with severe nausea, which is more common in other medical conditions or in the more severe Type II decompression sickness. It's also not effectively managed with over-the-counter medications, which may not address the underlying cause of the decompression sickness. Although some symptoms of decompression sickness may arise shortly after surfacing, immediate onset is not a definitive requirement, as symptoms can sometimes be delayed.