Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Description

Notes

Comments

We have discussed many times about the involvement of lack of oxygen in RSD, which is probably the reason why HBO appears to works so well. Sharon - Lincoln, UK

As with all medical treatments and procedures, there are some concerns associated with the use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Oxygen is legally defined as a drug and will react similarly when introduced into the body. Complications associated with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy are notably rare and quite minimal. The medical and clinical use of hyperbaric oxygen is significantly less in both the operating pressure and the duration than normally experienced by divers that would experience side effects. The sensation of hyperbaric therapy is slightly more exaggerated than the experience of being on an aircraft. While in the chamber, it will be necessary to equalize the pressure in the ears and sinuses. Before beginning the therapy, you will be instructed and the proper method will be demonstrated.
There is a possibility of experiencing a change in vision during the therapy. This may be either an improvement or regression in the eye sight. Any such change is temporary with the eye sight returning to normal. It is recommended that a change in eye prescription not be obtained before three to four months after the therapy. People with preexisting cataracts may experience a worsening of the condition.
Medications that would preclude hyperbaric exposure are doxorubicin, cis-platinum, disufiram and mafenide acetate.
For further information go to - http://www.angelhyperbarics.com/html/benefits/benefits1.html
- Information provided by Catherine - Huddersfield, Yorkshire, UK

After weeks of concern about HBOT, endless Internet searches and conversations I eventually found a HBOT clinic in Southwick. I was told that I did not need a referral from a doctor. As long as HBOT is a recognised treatment for your illness you just make appointment and go...
This centre was and is charity funded and there are 6 others with the same criteria for treatment around the UK. All that is asked for is a minimum donation of £6 per hour.
After my first session I did have some discomfort - I could not hear properly for a couple of days! But I will continue with it. I have just got over a cold and that may be the reason why my ears were affected so much. Even if ear problems continue I am going to persevere. After my second session I am still OK about it. You can't take anything battery operated into the chamber for fear of making sparks; I did ask about SCS and was told that it is no problem as long as the device is not being used during the 'dive'. Anyway, I didn't see any explosions other than a nosebleed half way through the session! Pebbles (a member of RSD UK Group)

I started HBOT 6 weeks ago. I have had 7 dives at 16.5 ft, 4 at 24 ft and 16 at 33 ft so far. I intend to have 40 dives altogether.
My first dive at 16.5 ft gave me awful pain in my ears both descending and ascending. This happened for 3 dives. On the fourth dive I had no problems at all and have had none on subsequent dives. The first night after my first dive I slept like a log, something I have not done since my RSD began on 3rd July 2000. That was a godsend in itself.
I didn't notice any changes in the pain or hypersensitivity until I started diving at 33 ft. The RSD is in my left hand and had begun to spread up my arm and into my shoulder prior to having the HBOT treatment. I had the hypersensitivity and pain in my elbow and burning had started in my shoulder. I now have no hypersensitivity in my elbow and no burning in my shoulder. That had all started to go from my first dive at 33ft and had completely gone by dive 20. As for the main RSD site in my hand - that has begun to have less pain and less hypersensitivity as from dive 16/17. I am still having a bit of pain in my hand and it is still red, hypersensitive and burning but the movement has returned and I am doing my own physio on it to help with movement and flexibility.
Hopefully by the time I reach 40 dives which is the goal I have set for myself I will be well on the way to beating it.
I recommend everyone try HBOT. It is not over expensive I pay £15 per dive. It does not hurt like spine blocks etc and it does not make you feel like a zombie like drugs do. People in the UK with RSD have to pay themselves they cannot get it funded because it is not recognised by the powers that be in the UK as a treatment for RSD. Paul - Guisley, Yorkshire, UK

I have a SCS fitted and looked into the problems with internal batteries before I started HBOT. 2.0 atmospheres absolute (ATA) or 29.4 pounds per square inch is reached at 33ft. As far as I am aware most chambers only go down 33ft which is OK with SCS. I checked again today at clinic and was told the same. If ATA exceeds 2.0 the whole system cuts out. Pebbles (a member of RSD UK Group)

Further HBOT Links -
http://www.nationalhyperbaric.com/solutions15.html
http://www.hyperbaric-forum.com/ubb/Forum21/HTML/000020.html
http://www.hyperbariccenter.com/hbot_and_rsd.htm
http://www.hyper-oxy.com/___medical_conditions/___medical_conditions.html
http://www.oceanhbo.com/ohc/list.htm
http://www.hot4rcpkidsfoundation.on.ca/questions_and_answers.htm
http://www.hyperbaricoxymedicine.com/home.html
http://www.oxytherapy.com/oxylist/1999/01/143.html
http://www.hbot.com/
http://www.gulftel.com/~scubadoc/divuk.htm
http://www.netnet.net/mums/hbolist.htm
http://www-fhs.mcmaster.ca/canchild/publications/keepcurrent/KC99-2.html
http://www.oxytank.com/how.htm
- Links Information provided by Paul - Guisley, Yorkshire, UK

There is a HBOT clinic in Effort, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. When I contacted them, they said all you needed was a prescription from your doctor for Oxygen. Amanda - near Philadelphia, USA