Hyperbaric treatment

[Wengen]

Does anyone know if hyperbaric treatment would be beneficial for GCA? Apparently it does help with some conditions with inflammation.

Many thanks

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I don't know about GCA but you have reminded me that I did get into a conversation at a congress with someone from San Diego who works in oxygen transport research and we talked a bit about whether it might be beneficial in PMR. I think we decided that it might well be. I'll have to dig out his paper from that meeting - won't be easy as the "book" isn't out yet!

[Wengen in reply to PMRpro]

Many thanks for your reply. I am tempted to try it !

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Wengen]

The one thing that occurs to me is that would it not need to be ongoing? It'll be like the pred - you need it as long as the underlying autoimmune disorder is active and causing new inflammation every day.

Getting the use of a hyperbaric chamber isn't that easy either!

[Wengen in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for your reply PMR pro. I was hoping that it could be a beneficial boost. Hopefully it wouldn't do any harm except to my bank balance !

[Gosingen]

Sorry Wengen, I've never heard of this treatment, will search web to see what it's all about. Good luck with your GCA.

[Wengen]

Thanks for your reply Gosingen. Good luck to you as well.

[olive2709]

I was given hyperbaric treatment in 2008 so I could have dental work done reason was radiotherapy treatment I had on my neck/jaw area in 1981 . Funding had to be approved ,this was my timetable Mon to Friday for 4weeks

Car picked me up at 6:45am drive to unit 2hours if no traffic

Into chamber with 4/5 others at 9:30 having changed into greens bra removed no metal in chamber + rings ext

If no problems out of chamber 11:30

Leave unit by noon

Home by 2pm

I had to take a 4weeks leave, it wiped me out so with tiredness of Pmr /GCA !!!!!???

Had treatment then had to repeat routine for 2more weeks

There are dangers ,you breathe oxygen through face mask in chamber can't remember the medical term the effect is like a fit caused by oxygen and chamber pressure saw it happen to 2 people . Cost to my local nhs £5,000

[Wengen in reply to olive2709]

Thanks for the post Olive. It does sound very tiring.

Thanks again.