Looking for an HBOT
 

I am wondering if anyone knows if there is an HBOT (that treats crps patients) in Minnesota ? Is this treatment FDA approved ? Does insurance pay for something like this ? Thank You

looks like not a lot of them in MN - but here are some I found.

The websites have ins info, and what conditions approved for.

http://www.mnhyperbaric.org/

http://www.hcmc.org/depts/em/hyperbaric.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.org/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy/

Don't know about locations in MN, but I am starting HBOT here in Texas on Monday. Lots of hospitals have the chambers for wound treatment. I found my location by searching for "HBOT in Houston". Maybe you could do the same in your city.

I have Blue Cross Blue Shield, and they DO cover it as long as you have a prescription from your doctor. Unfortunately, I have a $1000 deductible, so that is what my first treatment will cost. Then it is about $250 per treatment (my 20%) after that until I hit my out of pocket max of $4000.

You go for two hours per day five days per week for a month usually. Then the HBOT doctor decides if you need to go more. My PM doctor and I decided that because of the cost, I will go for ten treatments,and if I haven't seen any improvement, I will stop the treatments then. I plan on posting here if it works. My PM also said if it works for me, he has several other patients that he will recommend it to. Hope this helps you.

Hbot
 

My insurance company paid for the whole time- 30 sessions- unfortunately it did not work for me but there are others that it worked well with!

I have looked into this and many major hospitals will not do this for rsd or nerve conditions so you have to go to private hbot centers. For most and obviously not all but insurance does not cover. I was going to go to Tampa for this but after research I found that most are the same chamber of course you have to ask and was more ideal to be near home. I have put it on hold for now though.

Hbot
 

I work at small hyperbaric oxygen facility, and we work with Blue Cross, Blue Shield and the doctors. Most of our client-patients use write-offs for their medical expenses, including the costs of commuting. HBOT does not usually 'work' after just one or two sessions and should really be evaluated over the course of 80-120 sessions (hours). There's no quick fix when it comes to most conditions that HBOT (hyperbaric oxygen therapy) is used for. You can learn more (or call or email me) at *edit*, just outside of Boston. HBOT is very effective and a wonderful and safe complement to almost any drug and health regimen. We're hoping that autism and cerebral paslsy and others, like RSD, are going to be covered in the future. I encourage anyone with any illness to check to see if that condition can be treated with HBOT (symptoms like depression, fatique, skin diseases, neuropathy, etc. are treatable with HBOT). Mike,*edit*

Krank FYI
 

Hello friends...its been a while.
I have been reading this post and trying to hold back but as some of you may have figured...I have to jump in. I am pleased to see this topic come up year after year! I am very disappointed that HBOT for RSD/CRPS is not used more commonly. mryan, thanks for your post!
I 'll try to keep this short because most of you already know this, but for the sake of this thread and Krank I feel I must reply.
I have full body RSD twenty years this past July. My first trip for HBOT was to Canada. I did ALL forty dives (highly recommended amount) at 1.5ata. I stayed at a facility and the expense was much less than in the USA . I didn't have insurance. There were children with CP, stroke victims, MS, and RSD patients. I benefited greatly from these 40 dives. BUT, when I got home I continued to see improvement for weeks after treatment. I had very good results for about eight months, and then needed to return for more HBOT at about the 1 year mark.
After the results of the first forty dives, I decided that I would learn all that I can about HBOT, Oxygen and Open water diving. During this process, I went to Texas and did 40 dives at 2.4ata. Again, the results were great. I continued my scuba diving lessons and earned my Nitrox (enriched air ..more oxygen in air mixture) and became a rescue diver.
One year later, I again, required more HBO treatment and went to Texas for 40 more dives at 2.4ata. It was at this point I decided to purchase a HBO chamber. There are also others here that have HBO chambers and have great results with them as well.
Recently, while working with a Doctor to treat his parent with Alzheimers the results I saw again were amazing!
I totally agree with the previous post about the benefits of HBO treatment! I am in NO way advocating a in home chamber for anyone. There are so many precautions, requirements and certification needed to operate the chamber safely. But here are some of the benefits of HBOT:

Research has shown that at 1.5 ATA, many of the regulatory hormones, neurotransmitters, and enzyme systems operate in a balanced, optimized state.
HBOT also produces several long term health benefits, including enhanced growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis), optimization of the immune system's ability to remove toxins and destroy bacteria, increase the activity of fibroblasts (the cells responsible for tissue repair) and enhanced metabolic activity in previously inactive brain cells.

Most people have only heard of using a hyperbaric chamber for the "bends," another name for sickness brought on by an air embolism. But many other conditions such as stroke, cerebral palsy, head injuries and chronic fatigue have all benefited by HBOT. Macular degeneration has also been alleviated, as have any disease associated with oxygen deprivation. Healing of some areas of the body cannot take place without appropriate oxygen levels in the tissue. Illnesses or injuries often linger at the cellular or tissue level, thereby taking longer to heal. In many cases, such as with circulatory issues or nonhealing wounds, adequate oxygen levels cannot reach the damaged area in order to heal naturally. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy provides this extra oxygen naturally and with minimal side effects.
Stem Cell Increases
HBOT assists your own stem cells to regenerate damaged tissues, which is crucial to accelerated healing. These progenitor stem cells (not to be confused with embryonic stem cells) are crucial to the repair of injured tissues and organs. In response to injury, stem cells move out of bone marrow to the injured sites, where they differentiate into specialized cells that are important to the healing process. Stem cells from bone marrow are capable of providing specialized functions in many different organs and tissues throughout the body. This movement, or mobilization, of stem cells can be triggered by a variety of stimuli---including pharmaceutical agents and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Hyperbaric oxygen treatments increase by eightfold the number of circulating stem cells throughout the body.

http://www.ehow.com/about_5144172_be...n-therapy.html

The protocol of 40 dives minimum seems to be very reasonable and again I saw improvement up to six weeks after the treatment. I found a reduction in swelling, less inflammation, drecreased pain, more mobilty, increased circulation (no more mottled skin) and a sharper sense of awareness (less RSD brain). Oh, better sleep, and more energy, also. I still do series of 40 dives and maintenance dives.
Although I have heard some say that they were cured after 40 dives, this was NOT true for me, personally. I continue to treat with HBOT on a conservative schedule..as I personally am not sure of the consequensces long term use of HBOT.
All the best to you Krank on your endeavor to find an HBO facility. If you have any questions, you can pm me. Blessings...Di

I am not for or against HBOT, but I did think you might be interested in reading this news item that was posted in our Health News headlines today.

'Bends' therapy under attack (Topix)
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...k-1280132.html

No Luck either
 

I have been unsuccessful too, no way my insurance wiil pay, those that insurance did are so fortunate. I had a script too from my pain management dr. they would not cover rsd at the one connected to the hospital in fact the minute they heard it was rsd they didnt want me.cz

Hbot
 

You have to go to an independent HBOT- They will not take RSDers in the ones connected to a hospital....United Health Care covered my 30 txs for me;; Unfortunately it didnt help me but it has helped others!

Deb

My mom and I called a few places on HBOT after speaking to the staff in Tampa who does the most for RSD. I forgot but there is a certain chamber that is better supposivly but many use it. I think they stated that if you see no results after 20 or so they stop it. Most insurances and major hospitals will not cover or do this for RSD or nerve conditions. You have to find a free standing one. You have to either get a physical and ekg I think prior to make sure you are ok to undergo this. Many offered to show me around and a tour. I am blessed I could of done it but right now am putting it on hold. I guess what bothers me on some of these types of treatments is I feel it is a sales thing. Mryan I hope you are on here researching people who have conditions to give better care not as a way to sell so to speak. It really bothers me as one office I called about HBOT tried to sell me these special booties and another not for HBOT but sell products on a website. Just not right to me and I have heard of others who get taken advantage of due to wanting pain relief.
On a side note though I am too sensitive for this I feel as I don't let someone touch me even is acupuncture I was suggested. When I spoke to the person about this they did say you can have the needles not in the rsd area for ex if you have leg pain like I then they put it in your ears. It is not so much about making the pain go from what I heard but more about helping with anxiety,appetite,sleep which all in turn helps one feel less pain.

thanks to DianaA for telling me about her experiences. i called canada and talked to them back in May 2009. it will cost about $4000 for 40 dives in 20 days and that includes staying there. so a $1000 plane ticket will bring it to about 5 grand to try HBOT. i have been waiting til this fall or winter when i am at my worst so i can see exactly what HBOT can do for me.

If any of you can wait til winter and want to try HBOT, maybe we can plan a trip together so we can keep each other company (pass the time etc).

Mike

Great Idea!
 

Mike,
You will find the staff at the camp, just an amazing caring group of people. You will also see mothers of children with CP, that feel blessed by each and every improvement they see in their child. You will see an amazing amount of love between mother and child. Also everyone their will be on the same mission....healing! I'm sure you will be touched.
I truly hope you gain benefit from the treatment and pay special attention to improvement even weeks after the treatment. It takes time for new micro vascular systems to grow. Try and do all 40 dives.
When I was there there was a parent who had an ear infection and couldn't take her child in, so I took the child into the multiplace chamber with me. Go with an open heart and mind. I think it would be amazing if someone else could do this with you. Regardless, you will leave with life long friends.
There are usually people there with cars that will offer you trips into town and dinners out on weekends, or for grocery shopping. I'll give you hints on the restaurants later. Try "Chez Piggy" if you get the opportunity, fantastic. If Dots Taxi can pick you up at the airport, ( I think I still have her number) that will be the icing on the cake. She is amazing! Call and let me know your schedule if you can. Also, I believe that the HBOT has kept me mobile, on much less medication and has prevented atrophy. I wish you the best.
Blessing....di

HBOT for PVL patients
 

Anyone knows about HBOT facility for kids in houston?
I am planning to get this for my 6 months old daughter who is found with severe PVL in brain. Any idea for treatment for such a young baby. Does it cause any side effects?