Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy-Alternative Treatment? Experiences? Research?
 

I am strongly considering hyperbaric oxygen therapy as it has been suggested. I understand that it is potentially promising, but there have not been double blind studies. However, there are issues preventing double blind studies from occurring (funding, issues with placebo group in oxygen). I would love to hear if you had injury as a child, how many years from last concussion you received treatment and if you experienced any benefit in cognition or quality of life? Also, where you conducted your treatment. Additionally, if anyone has PCS in the New Orleans Area Dr. Harch is still recruiting participants for phase 3 of the study. Thanks so much

I did 6 sessions. Made me like a zombie after. Did nothing else that I know of.

reedrube,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

Dr Hatch's study has been mentioned many times on NT. I think one person has applied to be in it.

qtsipsq has done a series of HBOT dives. I don't think he found any benefit.

What symptoms are you struggling with ?

What have you done to try to reduce those symptoms ?

Please feel free to introduce yourself and tell us about your injury.

I did 40 sessions, 5 days a week, in the fall of 2014. I improved slightly over those few months, but I think that was more from my mood being boosted by other things in my life than the HBOT. Obviously can't say for sure, but I don't think it helped me much, and in hindsight I wish I would've saved the money.

Thanks so much...did you do it at 1.5 ata?

That sounds right, but I honestly can't remember. The depth was prescribed by a doc who has treated many PCS patients, so I think it was probably the appropriate depth based on current research.

HI
My daughter did the study with Dr Harch and by far his has been the best treatment in 4+ years. At first she didn't see much improvement but near the end the HBOT improved many of her symptoms and has reduced her recovery time from over stimulation.

Good luck,

Hopefulmom,

Can you tell us more about the improvements your daughter experienced ?

How did she tolerate the chamber ? Did she nap or read or use a smart phone to occupy her mind ?

I understand Dr Harch uses the larger rigid clear tubes vs the tubes with a few windows.

From all the research I've read, it takes up to 40 dives to start to see improvements. Many do 60 to 80.

How far post-injury? were your childs tbis-pediatric? Thanks and I am glad to hear about the progress!

HI Reedrube,

To answer your questions:
1. daughter got dropped on her head in a college class. this was 5/4/11. her HBOT treatment started around May 2014.

2. we had done a bunch of therapies and most of them sent her backwards.

3. she has been diagnosed with some symptoms being PCS and some being migrainious vestibular (meaning the migraine affects the vestibular system but does not originate in the vestibular system. this testing was done at the head/neck clinic at UCSF.

4. she loves Dr. Harch and her housemate that she met through airbnb in New Orleans ended up going because she had just had a mTBI and was off work. often you can negotiate a better price for housing since it's longer term. The bus system is good but the music is awesome and often free. note she has light sensitivity.

Mark In Idaho-

thanks for always being there for this group. I've been here for years!

I will ask her tomorrow to be more specific for you

but her endurance, recovery from over stimulation, her speech, and her memory improved.

The study is two months long but it is free so you just have to pay for your stay, food, and bus fare! I believe she watched movies while in the chamber, but I will ask her your questions and respond.

(If I say Mark-In-Idaho has some questions for you; she will know exactly who I am talking about!)

I will be back with more information,

Hi,

My daughter said that she would not have been able to tolerate a closed area so her treatments were in chambers that she could see out. You can't bring your own electronics but they have movies that you can watch, etc.

Her nausea, fatigue, word retrieval, dizziness, headaches, recovery time from stimulation, light sensitivity levels all increased to way better than before the treatment (She will probably always have some level of PCS according to DR. Harch).

Please feel free ask more questions,