THE FOLLOWING IS OUR TESTIMONIAL THAT RECENTLY APPEARED IN A PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL HYPERBARICS ASSOCIATION. WE SHARE IT IN HOPES THAT IT MAY HELP OTHERS:

In January 2005, our then 13-year-old daughter, Sarah, sprained her ankle in a dance class and was diagnosed with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). RSD is a chronic, life-changing, extremely painful illness for which adequate treatment is often impossible to find. Many afflicted with RSD become disabled, unable to work or go to school, with only minimal relief found with even the strongest medications.

How could something as common as a sprained ankle result in such devastating complications? It is suspected that a short circuit develops in the spinal cord that sends pain signals to the neurovascular nerves that control blood flow through the blood vessels. The blood vessels constrict, decreasing blood flow and resulting in a lack of oxygen to the skin, muscles, and bones. This lack of oxygen and subsequent acid waste buildup leads to the intense pain and other serious complications. Sadly there is no cure for RSD; and it is known to spread, even to the point of becoming full body.

Over an 18-month period Sarah was hospitalized twice for weeklong epidurals, received several nerve blocks, took way too many medications, traveled across country to participate in an intense physical therapy program, and received numerous other complimentary treatments. She was under the care of some of the best doctors in the country, and yet nothing had stopped her pain.

Desperate to find relief for Sarah, we spent hours online searching for information. One evening we ran across a Discovery Health Channel broadcast about a young girl from Europe who had been bedridden with RSD for over four years. In her family’s quest for answers, they discovered that hyperbaric oxygen treatments (hbot) were key to their daughter’s recovery. Having been on so many emotional roller coasters of hope followed by disappointment, we were apprehensive to become too excited.

After further research, we were encouraged and felt compelled to give hyperbarics a shot. Plans were quickly put in place for an extended stay away from home so that Sarah could receive treatments at a freestanding clinic. After the first treatment Sarah thought that she might have felt some relief; and after half a dozen, it was apparent that we were on the right track. Upon completing 22 treatments at 2.5 ATA, Sarah was totally pain free but continued on to complete the 40-treatment protocol.

Sarah was the clinic’s first RSD patient so we did not know what to expect when hyperberics were discontinued. What we found was that Sarah’s pain would resurface every 6 to 8 weeks. We would then pack up and again travel five hours from home so that Sarah could receive boost treatments. Each time it took just three to stop the pain.

After many months of this routine, we began to check into other options. This led us to look at “mild” hbot chambers; but we couldn’t find any information indicating that these could address the pain. In our search we talked with a wonderful couple, she a doctor and he a diver and hyperbarics tech. They graciously invited us to come stay with them to try out their mild chamber. Sarah was in constant pain by the time we arrived, but she again found relief with only 3 treatments. Sarah is now the very proud and thankful owner of her very own chamber. She continues to have a few lingering signs of her RSD, having two pain flares in the past eight months. Both were triggered by infections; but for the first time in 3years, we now have the means to help her.

Despite the many bumps in the road and the months of unending pain, Sarah has emerged a remarkable, happy, bright young woman. She is back in school and carrying a full load, recently received her driver’s license, will soon be attending her first prom … really just out enjoying many everyday teen activities. We share Sarah’s hyperbarics success story because it was only through learning from the experience of another that we finally found the help that she so desperately needed. Sadly the logistics of obtaining hbot, along with the cost, often make it a prohibitive option. It is heartbreaking and a tragedy that endless suffering continues when this remarkable treatment is available and has the potential to do so much for so many.

JEANNE