Any thoughts on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Hi Guys,

during a hospital visit last week, a patient (with fibromyalgia), informed me that he was getting noticeable relief from hyperbaric oxygen therapy. I , of course, listened fascinated. My mind started racing as to whether it could help with EM. Having researched into this 'treatment', I discover that this 'novel' treatment modality is growing in popularity for chronic pain management. Notably, it HAS NOT been passed by the FDA. I am interested to hear your thoughts.

".Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is breathing 100% oxygen while under increased atmospheric pressure. HBOT is a treatment that can be traced back to the 1600s. The first well-known chamber was built and run by a British clergyman named Henshaw. He built a structure called the domicilium that was used to treat a multitude of diseases.......................

.....................The benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is hyperoxygenation -increasing oxygen within the plasma. HBOT also induces a reduction in blood flow that allows capillaries to resorb extra fluid, resulting in decreased edema. As a gradient of oxygenation is based on blood flow, oxygen tissue tensions can be returned, allowing for the host defenses to properly function. Reperfusion injury is diminished, as HBOT generates scavengers to destroy oxygen radicals"

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God bless

mads

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1464149-overview

280-2006_HBOT_chronic_pain.pdf (93.6 KB)

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Hi Mads,

I just wanted to say that this sounds very interesting! Have you discussed this with your doctor??

Jordy

My son is a commercial diver…I wonder if they use the same thing. I can ask. If it is…I wonder if we could get the same benefit at less cost by going through a dive company. FDA approves it for them!

Dearest ladies,

Thank you for your interest in the post.

Jordy,

Not yet discussed - I see my specialist for Lido/mexil in 2 weeks. My other Dr's/specialists inform me they dare not get involved. They dont understand the SCblocker ,or EM ,so everything has to go through him. I shall ask his opinion . Also asking about medicinal marjuana - worth a shot ;)

Patricia ,

sounds really interesting. Yes, it is the same thing- stops them getting the 'bends' . If FDA have passed it.... well !!!!. I know in the UK I can go have it 'at my own peril' - so to speak. Found out its actually available free via some sort of charity. Think its worth delving a little deeper.

God bless

mads x

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has demonstrated clinical effectiveness for wound healing. It has not been clinically shown to have benefits for a myriad of uses that those in the business of selling hyperbaric treatments claim it is helpful for. In general, members on our communities who have tried this treatment have been put to great expense and have not reported much in the way of improvements.

The small sample size of this study, as well as its origin, makes it less than reliable source, I'm afraid.

It might be beneficial to do oxygen therapy through a home oxygen machine, like people with lung disorders use, if you do therapy several times a day it would increase the oxygen in your blood.

Most healthy people have oxygen saturation levels between around 95 and 100% and this is easily checked by your doctor. Supplementary oxygen is only clinically indicated when this level falls consistently below around 90% in cases of respiratory illness/failure. For people already in the normal healthy range there will be little to no benefit in supplementation and it is not the same as HBOT.