OT - HBOT for back pain and HUGS TO DORIC!

Earlier this year I followed DoriC's thread re hyperbaric oxygen therapy for healing Mike's wound.

First things first: DoriC, I hope things are still going well for Mike. Your thread(s) are always inspiring.

Now I find myself looking for healing modalities for back pain arising, in part, from an inflammed nerve root. I have had a number of injections plus a rhizotomy and have been slow to heal. So, I thought of hyperbaric o2 therapy. Have any of you had any experience with this?

Anyone know about Medicare coverage for same?

Thanks for letting me go OT here - I just know this is a good place to get good advice.

The list of approved indications for HBOT is maintaned by the UHMS.

You can research Medicare coverage by reviewing your carrier's LCD.

There are a lot of people using HBOT for a lot of "off-label" reasons, some of which may prove fruitful (I hope TBI works out).

There are also a lot of people using HBO because they think it will solve all of the problems of the universe (like poverty-- specifically, theirs).

Bright Choice wrote:Earlier this year I followed DoriC's thread re hyperbaric oxygen therapy for healing Mike's wound.

First things first: DoriC, I hope things are still going well for Mike. Your thread(s) are always inspiring.

Now I find myself looking for healing modalities for back pain arising, in part, from an inflammed nerve root. I have had a number of injections plus a rhizotomy and have been slow to heal. So, I thought of hyperbaric o2 therapy. Have any of you had any experience with this?

Anyone know about Medicare coverage for same?

Thanks for letting me go OT here - I just know this is a good place to get good advice.

Oops, I must have missed this but thank you for asking about Mike. The surgeon checked his wound last week and was very pleased with the way it closed and is even going to write a paper on his case. I'm not as enthusiastic because I've seen this close before(although not as completely and neatly) and I know that shrapnel is still lurking in his body. And I'm now having some PTSD after that grueling schedule and not knowing the outcome. Mike came through it much better than I did but he's always been the hero in our family. As for your situation, I'll defer to Dave's suggestions. I do know there were many patients using the HBOT with unusual and complicated wounds although I could not "eavesdrop" enough to learn their exact diagnoses. The unit opened in August and by the time we started in October the schedule was already full. Medicare covered all our treatments totaling in the many thousands. It's certainly worth looking into, keep us posted.

Hyperbaric Oxygen treatment has come back into use after many years of little use outside of diving accidents.

The high levels of oxygen tend to cause some cell growth to accelerate. This can cause problems for swelling related issues where there is cell growth.

There used to be compete hyperbaric hospitals in the 1920s and 30s. They had a high fire risk. Just in the last week a horse and two people died in an accident where the horse kicked something in a hyperbaric chamber and caused a spark that caused an explosion. The risks are real but the benefits with things like burns are remarkable.

deltadave wrote:
There are a lot of people using HBOT for a lot of "off-label" reasons, some of which may prove fruitful (I hope TBI works out).

There are also a lot of people using HBO because they think it will solve all of the problems of the universe (like poverty-- specifically, theirs).

deltadave - thanks for your comments. Sorry to be so slow in acknowledging them but I haven't been able to comfortably sit at my pc to reply. I have always been interested in HBT but I think in my situation I may be grasping at straws. I loved your comment about HBT solving "all the problems of the universe" especially their poverty. So true.

Now in the case of Doric's Mike it makes perfect sense.

Thanks for your input!

DoriC wrote: Oops, I must have missed this but thank you for asking about Mike. The surgeon checked his wound last week and was very pleased with the way it closed and is even going to write a paper on his case. I'm not as enthusiastic because I've seen this close before(although not as completely and neatly) and I know that shrapnel is still lurking in his body. And I'm now having some PTSD after that grueling schedule and not knowing the outcome. Mike came through it much better than I did but he's always been the hero in our family. As for your situation, I'll defer to Dave's suggestions. I do know there were many patients using the HBOT with unusual and complicated wounds although I could not "eavesdrop" enough to learn their exact diagnoses. The unit opened in August and by the time we started in October the schedule was already full. Medicare covered all our treatments totaling in the many thousands. It's certainly worth looking into, keep us posted.

DoriC - I am glad to hear that Mike is doing well but so disappointed to hear that you are still struggling with PTSD. That has to be rough after all you have been through. I hope you are getting some good help and start to feel better real soon!

Let's all of us on CPT send DoriC some thanks, big hugs and prayers for a full recovery!