What is decompression sickness commonly referred to as?

Decompression sickness is commonly referred to as "the bends" due to the way the symptoms are manifested. The term originates from the characteristic bending or contorted positions that affected individuals often adopt in response to pain or discomfort caused by the formation of nitrogen bubbles in the bloodstream when a diver ascends too quickly. As the pressure decreases during ascent, dissolved gases that were safely compressed under higher pressure conditions, such as nitrogen, can form bubbles that cause a variety of symptoms ranging from joint pain to serious neurological issues.

The other terms listed are related to different pressure-related conditions but do not refer to decompression sickness. Altitude sickness is associated with rapid ascent to high altitudes, aerotitis pertains to ear pain from pressure changes, and barotrauma describes injuries resulting from pressure differentials, but none of these specifically denote the condition known as "the bends."