You may have heard that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can treat decompression sickness from deep-sea dives.
But this therapy is not just for deep underwater scuba divers. Many individuals can benefit from HBOT, which can heal some infections, skin injuries, side effects of radiation treatment therapy, concussions, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).
An explanation of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and its application for treating a variety of conditions, such as chronic wounds, bone infections, and tissue damage, is presented below.
Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
The human body’s skin and tissues are astonishingly adept at repairing themselves—if they have the oxygenated blood supply it needs to pull it off. Tissues need oxygen and nutrients, delivered in the blood, to heal. In hyperbaric oxygen therapy patients breathe 100% oxygen under increased pressure to boost tissue oxygen levels to promote blood vessel formation.
HBOT treatment may heal old wounds and tissue damage thought to persist for months, years and in some cases, decades. HBOT’s healing effects also usually last long after your treatments are over.
What Conditions Does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Help?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a Medicare and FDA-approved treatment for a variety of medical conditions, including the following:
Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Ulcers (sores) and other stubborn wounds also usually respond well to HBOT. Patients with diabetes are not strangers to such chronic skin wounds. If your physician has diagnosed you with a diabetic foot ulcer that’s Wagner Grade 3, or higher, then hyperbaric therapy might be a good idea.
Diabetes can also impact your immune system and your circulation, resulting in sores ahta can become serious.
HBOT has, in some cases, helped people avoid amputation from a skin wound that will not heal. If amputation is a possibility, inquire with your insurance company whether HBOT is available to you first.
Does Insurance Cover Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
“HBOT is not a treatment we accept insurance for in our office”, states Dr Campbell.
What is Hyperbaric Therapy Like?
(Schedule and appointment today with Vegas Hyperbaric and Decompression now!)
HBOT can often require from 6 to 60 treatments lasting 1 to 2 hours. Many patients come for only 2 to 4 treatments. It’s important to know that everyone’s HBOT requirements are different, so the number of treatments would be less or more depending on what’s wrong with your health.
During HBOT treatment therapy patients get to watch TV or just relax while the oxygen does its job. You might experience your ears popping in the chamber when the pressure in the chamber increases. Patients often say it is like lying on a plush couch, and it hurts nothing.
Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Right for You?
As with all medical therapies, HBOT has risks and potential side effects, including earaches. Vegas Hyperbaric and Decompression will guide you through all the ins and outs of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and how it affects your body. You can also reduce the side effects by using a reputable hyperbaric oxygen provider.
Dr. Campbell of Vegas Hyperbaric and Decompression is passionate about hyperbaric oxygen therapy because he’s seen positive results from treatment.
“Being able to see our patients live a healthier life is so rewarding,” states Dr. Campbell.
