Aches and pains after deep air dives

Long exposures requiring mandatory decompression stops using air as both a bottom mix and decompression gas usually results in aches and pains post dive that are difficult to explain.

I attribute this effect to asymptomatic bubbles kicking around the system despite executing the ascent flawlessly to the prescribed dive plan. Naturally, the best combination is nitrox or trimix for the bottom mix (depending on depth) with nitrox mixes for travel and EAN60 - EAN80 or 100% O2 for decompression gasses. 

For the travelling diver to remote areas, this isn't always feasible in both terms of logistics or cost. Once again, the highest percentage decompression gas is preferred, but you sometimes take what you can get.

I feel unexplained (low key) pain in my left elbow and shoulder that may remain during subsequent repetitive dives; I feel this is the so called slow tissue compartments off-gassing probably around the site of scar tissue from previous exposures.

Incidentally, I don't tend to feel such low-key pain when diving with nitrox as a bottom mix for dives in the 40 - 50 metre range despite low nitrox mixes for deeper dives.

If I am able to off-gas on higher oxygen mixes I feel no such pain, so I have attributed this phenomenon to the high nitrogen loads of deep air diving. The obvious answer is to avoid deep air dives decompressing on air.

Slow ascent rates and extended shallow stops may lessen the impact but does not fully negate the phenomenon, nor does short duration mid-water stops lasting for 1 - 2 minutes in length.

So when diving in remote areas, if no nitrox is available I will continue to utilise air as a bottom mix and decompression gas and continue to exhibit mild asymmetric symptoms attributed to the so called silent bubbles without exhibiting actual decompression symptoms.