This form is against HBOT for MTBI treatment but...
 

I have read a lot of posts in which HBOT is dismissed as a form of therapy for Post Concussion Syndrome but its articles like these that make me wonder if I should be trying this therapy instead of sitting around and hoping for this to just disappear.

http://www.saratogian.com/general-ne...d-for-veterans

We have had a number of people on NT try HBOT. After spending thousands of dollars, the improvements have been slight for some, not noticeable for others. The research says that it takes 40 to 80 treatments to see an improvement, if there is an improvement. At common rates for HBOT treatments, that is $6000 to $8000 just to start with 40 treatments.

Personally, I had high hopes that HBOT would help. I would have spent savings to do it. But, the studies just do not substantiate the cost unless one can tolerate the financial risk.

I forgot to mention. The primary benefit seen as presented in this article is for relief for symptoms of PTSD, not PCS/mTBI. Studies are ongoing regarding mTBI and HBOT.

HBOT benefit
 

Seems like it helps, I have called a few different clinics, there are some non-profits offering this to people who can't pay for it at a lower rate or if you are a veteran you get it for free. The MD at one place said she has seen it help 80% of vets with brain injuries. So, either it has a great placebo effect or it works, in either case improvement is improvement. I am seriously thinking about forking over the cash and trying it, life with Post Concussion Syndrome just feels so empty.

more links on people it has helped..
 

http://jewishbusinessnews.com/2013/1...xygen-therapy/

http://denver.cbslocal.com/2014/03/3...ved-treatment/

So all the research isn't all bad. Also, I don't really believe in the FDA, the don't think chronic lymes exist also, they think vitamins are a big sham...so why should one listen to them about this.

some spect scans
 

here are some spect scans....http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0123144218.htm

The SPECT scans show increase capillary growth and function. This is the strong suit of HBOT. This is why HBOT is so helpful with wound healing. The researchers claim that increased capillary growth can be extrapolated into neuro-regeneration, which has not been shown.

The studies have shown that HBOT helps some with mTBI and appears to do nothing for others with mTBI. They cannot figure out why some are helped and others not.

I have found a local chiropractor who does HBOT for $95 per one hour treatment when a 10 treatment package is purchased. His system goes to 2 atmospheres with 100% oxygen delivered by a Built in Breathing System (BIBS), basically a face mask that delivers the 100% oxygen from an oxygen concentrator. I was dismayed by how little the HBOT tech knew about their system.

I have also found that clinics have two different types of chambers. Many have the much cheaper 'soft' chambers. These are canvas like tubes with just a few small windows. For someone with claustrophobia, they sound scary. Others have the much more expensive hard single or dual chambers. These are often made with plexiglass so the patient can see out. Then there are the huge steel chambers that are the size of a railroad tank car. They can hold up to 10 or more people. The cheaper chambers use the BIBS. The more expensive system use high percentage oxygen in the whole chamber.

The use of HBOT for PTSD sounds very interesting.

If you can afford 40 treatments, I don't see a reason to not try it. I am trying to justify the expense in hope that it will help with my PTSD.

Chambers
 

The person at the Rocky Mountain Hyperbarics told me that different chambers have different efficacy especially in the treatment of the brain injury world. He said that soft shell chambers usually don't reach the atmospheric pressure necessary for this to be effective and that you shouldn't be treating at 2.0 ata but instead at 1.5ata.

He also mentioned that one person chambers have the most concentrated oxygen. I was thinking about getting a soft shell chamber for the house but now I am thinking about just going to a place and getting therapy done for 40 sessions, see if it helps and then do forty more sessions. I can't imagine living my life with this condition, money has lost its value. I am going to be living with my parents anyways if it doesn't heal so might as well throw everything at it.

It sounds like you got the numbers backwards. 1.5 ata is 1 1/2 atmospheric absolutes or 1.5 x 14.7 psi. = 22.05 psi. 2 ata is 2 x 14.7 = 29.4 psi. 2 ata is the pressure used for TBI/PTSD research. It is the recommended pressure.

One person chambers may or may not have the highest oxygen concentration. It depends on the system. Some use face masks to breath the oxygen. Others fill the chamber with oxygen so no mask is needed. There are large multiplace chambers that use hoods or masks to provide 100% oxygen.

Most at-home systems, especially the soft sided systems, only go to 1.5 ata.

So, as you look at systems and treatments, there are two specifications to consider. The pressure listed as atmospheres, ata, or as dive depth (10 meters or 33 feet is 2 atmospheres) and oxygen concentration as a percent. The hyperbaric industry was developed by the deep sea diving industry so some use dive depth because they were trained in a dive school.

Some systems use a face mask or hood to provide the oxygen. Others pressurize the chamber with oxygen, eventually reaching a high percentage, although expiration (exhaling) puts co2 into the chamber. They need to have air scrubbers to remove the CO2 unless they have a strong flow of oxygen flowing in so they can vent air to keep CO2 levels down. CO2 in excess of 3% is not safe for more than 15 minutes no matter how high oxygen levels are.

From the picture of Rocky Mountain, it appears they may use both. There is a breathing hood on the bed by the clear chamber.

Just a comment on the title of this thread to clarify .... this forum is not for or against any treatments....it is an open discussion where members can mention the pros and cons of treatments. The forum remains neutral.

Non-Profit Information
 

Can you post more information about the non profits. Our family could use to try HBOT. Hubby for his concussion and our son has autism. We wanted to try HBOT but cannot afford it for him.

Here is an HBOT study for people in or near New Orleans and Tulsa, Oklahoma.

http://hbottbistudy.org/

It is free to participants. Although the study looks dated, Ms Harch just sent me a flier about it so it appears to be ongoing.

Mark your information is incorrect
 

I have called a few different places. The protocol for tbi is 1.5ata not 2.0ata, they say that 1.5ata is the magic atmosphere. All the places that work with tbi suggest that atmosphere. The concussion study happening on hbot is at 1.5 ata. Soft shell chambers offer 1.3 ata, that is why its considered mild hbot.

HBOT Non Profits
 

www.chambersforhope.org sarasgarden.org hopeforhealinginstitute.org http://rockymountainhbot.com/ . The last one is free for veterans and they have a civilian department but it depends on if they are getting donations or not. Most of them will help with covering the costs, they don't cover it completely.

It just shows how there is a need for more study. A study I found on PubMed used 2 ata for mTBI. I see that Dr Harch has been using 1.5 ata in his recent studies. Another study found no difference between 1.5 ata and 2.0 ata.

Anecdotal reports not withstanding, here is a study that gives me pause.
http://journals.lww.com/headtraumare...sistent.2.aspx

I sure would like to see good results from Dr Harch's new study. It would be great if Dr Harch would limit his claims to those he can substantiate. Some of his unsubstantiated claims weaken his ability to get support for the more valid claims. The peers who have reviewed some of his claims have been rather harsh on Dr Harch.