Mike’s HBOT Testimonial: Post Concussion Syndrome –
Mike had been plagued with sleep issues after multiple concussions. He’s been through multiple sleep studies and his sleep quantity and quality is better than it’s been in years since completing 40 hyperbaric oxygen dives. Better sleep = more energy. As far as his chronic pain goes, Mike says [HBOT] has by far been the best solution for his pain. “You don’t realize how much pain you were in until you aren’t in pain anymore.” Watch Mike’s story here.
Sergio’s Story: Sergio was to be promoted to Warrant Officer in the SEAL Teams on May 9, 2014. Many family members were headed to Virginia Beach to attend the ceremony and congratulate their loved one. One day prior on May 8, Sergio was participating in the command Navy SEAL fitness test, which he has completed many times, suffers a heart attack and dies. He was revived by rescue and on his way to the hospital dies two more times. The result is an anoxic brain injury that leaves this once powerful Navy SEAL who could overcome any obstacle put in front of him unable to walk, talk, read or write. As Sergio says, “I was like a baby again.” But he decided he had been in worse spots before and this was a speed bump. He would get better. He must get better.
Watch this compelling story of recovery as Sergio describes his long, dramatic recovery relying on sheer grit, determination, positive mindset and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Traumatic Brain Injury: The “Signature Injury” of members of the U.S. Armed Forces
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are two of the most prevalent injuries suffered by members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center reported total cases of mTBI between 2000 and 2021 to be nearly 454,000 but many veterans are not diagnosed for months or years after separating from service. TBI and PTSD are injuries that affect the whole family and active duty members, veterans and their families are suffering.
What is Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
TBI is caused by a jarring of the head possibly from a fall, accident, explosion, repeated gunfire exposure or a blow to the head. The jarring causes damage to brain tissue, blood vessels and cells that link areas of the brain and the brain to the body. Symptoms are insidious and, if left untreated, worsen over time. Symptoms may include confusion, vertigo, sleep disturbance, memory loss, headaches, blurred vision, tinnitus, anger, mood swings, slowed thinking, depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. A complicating risk factor for mTBI is a person’s lifetime accumulation of TBI events. Receiving multiple concussions has been associated with greater risk of developing progressive neurodegenerative conditions, like chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and early-onset dementia. Many veterans will not receive early diagnosis or will not seek treatment and in individuals with chronic, persistent symptoms of TBI, traditional medical interventions may be less than successful.
A complicating risk factor for mTBI is a person’s lifetime accumulation of TBI events. Receiving multiple concussions has been associated with increased risk of suicidal ideation as well as greater risk of developing progressive neurodegenerative conditions, like chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and early-onset dementia. Many veterans will not receive early diagnosis or will not seek treatment and in individuals with chronic, persistent symptoms of TBI, traditional medical interventions may be less than successful.
The Power of HBOT
The power of HBOT is in the processes that occur in the body when breathing 100% oxygen at simulated depths below sea level. During therapy, studies have shown that HBOT helps reduce inflammation, create new blood vessels (angiogenesis), improve cellular functions, trigger the mobilization and growth of new stem cells and help eliminate anaerobic bacteria.
By going under pressure, oxygen is forced to dissolve into the plasma and get to the injured areas, saturating the hypoxic tissue, muscle and bone. This forces the inflammation to go down and the growth of new blood vessels forcing accelerated healing, which reduces bruising, swelling and pain. Increased oxygen also stimulates stem cells and reduces lactic acid.
How Does HBOT Improve Symptoms of TBI?
HBOT has been used to treat decompression sickness for more than 75 years. It is used daily in hospitals to reduce inflammation and heal wounds. Here, we just use it to help reduce inflammation and heal the wound in the brain.
Recent tudies show the efficacy of HBOT for numerous health conditions including mental health conditions like depression, anxiety and symptoms of PTSD. Research published in March 2022 showed symptomatic and cognitive improvements in veterans with mTBI Persistent Postconcussion Syndrome who received hyperbaric oxygen therapy. In the past, it was believed that once brain cells were injured they could not be revitalized. In the recent past, studies have shown injured cells can rejuvenate with the increased pressure to force 100% oxygen to the injured tissue. Evidence such as SPECT imaging, computer-based cognitive assessments, self-assessments and QEEG conducted pre and post therapy prove the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy as effective and a healthy intervention for many types of brain injuries.
What to Expect
Here at Tier I Therapy Centers, you will receive HBOT in one of our two hyperbaric chambers. In our four-person, multi-place chamber, 100% oxygen is administered through a light weight hood while the chamber is pressurized in air to specific depths below sea level. You will remain at depth for 60 to 90 minutes, depending on your prescription. You will be in the sitting position during treatment and can read or watch a family-friendly movie provided by our staff.
Dave explains in this video, “One of the things I want to appeal to veterans who might be seeing this video is that I (and just about everybody that I have talked to) was the hardest person to persuade to go [to hyperbaric oxygen therapy] because I think all of us have this innate feeling is that somebody has it worse and they should go. And that may be true, that there are plenty of other veterans who are suffering from TBI symptoms worse than you. But you have to realize these symptoms do not get better without treatment. They only get worse.
So if you’re out there and you are on the fence, you need to think in terms of do I want to be a better father? Do I want to be a better husband? Do I want to perform better in whatever I am doing in my life? Because if the answer to any of those is yes, then you need to sign up and not worry about the guys who aren’t, get in [there] and get treated.”
What are you waiting for? Tier I Therapy Centers have been helping veterans with traumatic brain injury heal since 2014. Let us help you get back in the game now. To learn more about hyperbaric oxygen therapy for brain injury, call 757-452-3934.
*Disclaimer: Information provided here is not to be considered medical advice. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for non-approved, off-label indications is considered to be investigational.
THE PROBLEM: First Responders are Suffering from Depression, Anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress and Injury. First responders suffer multiple injuries and are exposed to primary and secondary trauma throughout their careers. Repeated exposure to trauma results in psychological distress similar to the traumatized victims. Preliminary results released in May 2022 by the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police summarize answers from 2,635 first responders, or about 20% of all first responders across the state. Clinical scores revealed as much as 20% of officers who responded are experiencing moderate to severe depression and/or anxiety, PTSD, problems with alcohol and thoughts of suicide.
Of law enforcement respondents who received scores of clinical significance, the vast majority did not have a formal diagnosis (69% for depression, 74% for anxiety, 73% for PTSD).
THE SOLUTION: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and Neurotherapy
How HBOT Works: HBOT has been used to treat decompression sickness for more than 75 years. It is used daily in hospitals to heal wounds. Neurofeedback has been used since the 1970’s as an adjunctive therapy for a variety of psychiatric disorders including generalized anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress and addictive disorders.
Today, studies show the efficacy of HBOT for numerous other health conditions including depression, anxiety and symptoms of PTSD. Research shows that HBOT used in conjunction with other brain treatments, such as neurofeedback, makes that treatment more effective.
The power of HBOT is in the processes that occur in the body when breathing 100% oxygen at simulated depths below sea level. During therapy, studies have shown that HBOT helps reduce inflammation, create new blood vessels (angiogenesis), improve cellular functions, trigger the mobilization and growth of new stem cells and help eliminate anaerobic bacteria.
How Neurotherapy Works: The brain is the center of our emotions. Each emotion and behavior we have has associated brainwaves. Neurotherapy is a drug-free, non-invasive way to measure brainwave activity and treat common mental health challenges.
Using QEEG, we can identify brain wave imbalances and irregularities. After careful analysis of the data, we can accurately address the irregularity in brainwave activity to effectively treat the condition. A 2022 retrospective study of 593 participants demonstrated the effectiveness of remote neurofeedback in improving depression, anxiety and cognitive decline.
The human brain is changeable, which means it will respond to conditioning. Through a series of neurofeedback sessions, the brain can learn how to self-regulate. It is similar to the idea of physical conditioning, where a person’s muscles grow stronger with repeated exercise. Click here to see a success story of how the military is testing the effectiveness of neurofeedback to treat concussion or mild traumatic brain injury in soldiers to improve emotional issues and sleep disturbance.
HBOT Testimonial of Police Officer Hit By Drunk Driver at Routine Traffic Stop
Retired Virginia Beach Police Officer, Ted Marriner, was hit by a drunk driver in 2005. He was diagnosed with a mild traumatic brain injury and had been suffering with post-concussion syndrome (PCS) for 9 years. His chronic symptoms included headaches, disrupted sleep cycles. balance issues, anger outbursts and cognitive issues to name a few. Studies show HBOT improves symptoms of PCS months or even years after the original injury. Click here to see Ted talk about how hyperbaric oxygen therapy healed his brain injury, improved his symptoms and gave him back his quality of life.
“It took me several years of trying to find something and after so much disappointment and hopelessness, and finally finding somebody who was willing to take the ball and run with it, actually get in, get the treatment and see the difference…it works. I don’t have any question about it.”
At Tier I Therapy Centers, we “take the ball and run with it,” specializing in restorative therapies for first responders. We combine traditional counseling/therapy with neuro and biofeedback and neuromodulation to ensure a comprehensive, individualized treatment protocol for patients who experience depression, anxiety, ASD, traumatic brain injury, cognitive decline, compassion fatigue, operator syndrome, post traumatic stress and trauma.
Call today and speak with one of our friendly staff members about whether or not hyperbaric oxygen therapy and/or neurotherapy is right for you. 757-452-3934.
*Disclaimer: Information provided here is not to be considered medical advice. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for non-approved, off-label indications is considered to be investigational.
Dale had a positive attitude when he arrived at Hampton Roads Hyperbaric despite the long list of health issues he needed to address. He had been living with these ailments for years, not unlike many other veterans today.
Dale dealt with the fall-out from mild traumatic brain injury and other service-related issues. He had constant anxiety and depression which played a huge factor in his every day life. Dale also experienced pain, cognitive decline, insomnia and other things that robbed him of living the life he wanted to live the way he wanted to live it.
Dale’s hyperbaric oxygen therapy was funded by the amazing folks at Coastal Authority Care Foundation, an incredible organization dedicated to helping heal the invisible wounds of war.
Dale’s experience and recovery is a testament to his own dedication and tenacity combined with support from people who care deeply. They say it take a village to raise a child… well, it takes a country to heal a veteran.
Mike’s HBOT Testimonial: Post Concussion Syndrome –
