This particular approach did not really do much for me and it is very expensive, $8,000 for 40 sessions to see if it would work. It may work for you so I include some facts for you to consider.
The air we breathe contains 21% oxygen. Our red blood cells carry the oxygen by way of plasma to distribute it throughout the body to where it is needed most. When there is a restriction (occlusion) in blood flow due to surgery, illness or injury, the red blood cells block the blood vessel and are unable to transfer oxygen to the cells on the other side of the occlusion. This causes swelling and starves the area of oxygen, causing hypoxia (a lack of oxygen). When this occurs, the tissue begins to break down. With hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), the patient breathes 100% oxygen under pressure. The increased amount of oxygen combined with pressurizing the patient causes the oxygen to diffuse into the blood plasma. This oxygen-rich plasma is able to travel past the restriction, diffusing up to three times further into the tissue. The pressurized environment helps to reduce swelling and discomfort, while providing the body with at least 10-15 times its normal supply of oxygen to help repair tissue damaged by the original occlusion or subsequent hypoxic condition. Hyperbaric oxygenation directly increases the saturative effects of tissue oxygenation, slowing and reversing hypoxia induced tissue death – restoring blood supply to the compromised region by the development of new capillary networks (angiogenesis), enabling the body to alter the course and impact of the disease process. While in the chamber, you will be breathing pure oxygen while being pressurized per the physician’s orders. When the chamber starts to pressurize, you will start to feel your ears pop like being on an airplane. When you reach pressure, the oxygen does not smell, taste or feel any different than the air you’re breathing outside. It’s like lying on the sofa at home watching TV. There is a constant flow of oxygen filling in at the head of the chamber and it is filtered out through the foot. This helps regulate a comfortable temperature. Treatment time can take up to 90 minutes. When your treatment time is up, the chamber will begin its ascent. This only takes a few minutes, then your treatment will be over. After treatment, it is important to drink water, eat healthy, and rest.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is approved by the FDA to treat many medical conditions. Every year, scientific studies are published proving that HBOT can also be beneficial in the treatment of many more. Insurance companies are adding reimbursable indications as studies are being published, giving us the ability to expand and treat more conditions. Another factor for an increase in people turning to HBOT is the increase in diabetes and individuals who develop non-healing wounds. Per the New England Journal of Medicine, there has been a 75% decrease in amputations over the past few years due to treating diabetic wounds with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Our hyperbaric chambers are approved by the FDA to treat many medical conditions. Additionally, HBOT is approved by Medicare to treat the following conditions:
Air or Gas Embolism
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Chronic Osteomyelitis
Compartment Syndrome/Crush Injury/Other Traumatic Ischemias
Compromised Skin Grafts and Flaps
Decompression Sickness (Bends)
Diabetic and Selected Wounds
Exceptional Blood Loss (Anemia)
Gas Gangrene
Intracranial Abscess
Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection
Osteoradionecrosis and Radiation Tissue Damage
Thermal Burns
Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss is also covered by selected commercial insurance companies.
HBOT can also help with the following off-label conditions:
Fibromyalgia
Lyme Disease
Migraine
Multiple Sclerosis
Near Drowning
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Recovery from Plastic Surgery
Sports Injuries
Stroke
Traumatic Brain Injury
Addiction
Autism
Anoxic Brain Injury
Avascular Necrosis
Cerebral Palsy
Crohn’s Disease
Circulation conditions
Concussion
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome