Getting a Regional Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome diagnosis can be terrifying. As you research your options, there is one treatment that is proving to be highly effective for patients suffering from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. This medical treatment is helping individuals who have received a RSD, traumatic brain injuries, stroke, radiation necrosis, chronic pain syndrome, or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome diagnosis to live a pain-free life again.
What is HBOT?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy treatment (HBOT), also known as hyperbaric medicine, is defined as the medical use of oxygen at levels higher than normal. The goal of HBOT is to increase the flow of oxygen to your body?s tissues. As a tertiary effect, the blood?s oxygen transport abilities are also increased. HBOT occurs in hyperbaric pressure chambers, either rigid or flexible, which delivers 100% pure oxygen to the body.
How does HBOT work?
There are two significant therapeutic benefits of hyperbaric medicine: its compressive effects for scuba divers and the increased flow of oxygen in the tissues and blood of the body. This added oxygen helps your body fight bacteria and promote healing. When your body?s tissues become injured, they need an increased flow of oxygen to heal and survive. HBOT can help to increase the formation of blood vessels and nerve endings in painful or injured tissue. As blood circulation increases and nerve ending heal, pain sensitivity then decreases.
HBOT and You
HBOT has proven to be a highly successful method of treating a Complex Regional Pain Syndrome diagnosis or as a treatment for RSD. HBOT is FDA- approved. It is recognized by Medicare as a reimbursable treatment option for 14 different conditions, so hyperbaric oxygen therapy cost could be minimal. Hyperbaric oxygen chamber therapy has also been used for the treatment of reflex sympathetic dystrophy, chronic Lyme disease treatment, AIDS, and chronic fatigue syndrome, just to name a few. As you know, it is crucial to begin treatment of CRPS or RSD as soon as possible after diagnosis. Don?t hesitate to ask your doctor if this could be the right treatment for CPRS for you!