Cerebral Palsy, referred to as “CP”, is a neurological disorder result from a brain injury or malformation that is caused while the child’s brain is under development. The injury can occur before, during or after birth. It can also result from abuse, medical malpractice, infections, and accidents. Having CP can affect ones muscle control, coordination, and tone, as well as reflex, balance, posture and body movements. It also can affect fine and gross motor skills, and motor function. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a great alternative treatment to help improve symptoms associated with Cerebral Palsy.

How can Hyperbaric oxygen help Cerebral Palsy?

Under pressure, oxygen can get to the damaged tissues of the brain and reduce tissue swelling by constricting blood vessels and interrupting the vicious cycle where oxygen lack leads to tissue swelling, which then leads to further oxygen deficiency. Many children with Cerebral Palsy have been able to gain muscle control, reduce seizure activity, improve speech and fine motor skills, gain the ability to swallow, and more after receiving  hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Do you have a loved one with Cerebral Palsy? Give us a call today and get your child on the path to an improved quality of life.

Note* Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an adjunctive therapy and should be used along with speech therapy, physical therapy, and other alternative treatments to optimize healing. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not approved by insurance for Cerebral Palsy in the state of Virginia and is still considered investigational. This is not to be considered medical advice.

According to the Institute for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, Fibromyalgia syndrome is a common, chronic disorder. It is characterized by widespread pain, diffuse tenderness, and a number of other symptoms.

Although fibromyalgia is often considered an arthritis-related condition, it is not truly a form of arthritis (a disease of the joints) because it does not cause inflammation or damage to the joints, muscles, or other tissues. Like arthritis, however, fibromyalgia can cause significant pain and fatigue, and it can interfere with a person’s ability to carry on daily activities. Also like arthritis, fibromyalgia is considered a rheumatic condition, a medical condition that impairs the joints and/or soft tissues and causes chronic pain. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been shown as an alternative treatment and benefit those suffering with Fibromyalgia.

If you or someone you know is suffering with fibromyalgia, there is hope. Start the road to getting your life back today. Call 757-452-3934 to schedule your consultation.

Fibromyalgia and HBOT:

The recent study (below in the “study” section of the page) provides evidence that HBOT can improve the symptoms and life quality of FMS patients. Moreover, it shows that HBOT can induce neuroplasticity and significantly rectify abnormal brain activity in pain related areas of FMS patients.

As Parkinson’s Disease patients become more empowered to look for multiple treatment modalities to prevent and/or treat a multitude of health issues, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is being used more and more as a safe, adjunctive therapy. Patients with PD are increasingly using hyperbaric oxygen therapy to keep symptoms at bay.

At Hampton Roads Hyperbaric Therapy, patients with Parkinson’s Disease have experienced relief with many symptoms of Parkinson’s. Watch the videos below to see and hear real patients tell their own stories about their experiences with hyperbaric oxygen therapy and Parkinson’s.

There are more and more case studies and research being conducted to understand the mechanisms behind the assistance that HBOT can provide in treating Parkinson’s as an adjunct to other treatment modalities.

How it helps

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.

Let us help you determine if HBOT is right for you. To learn more about hyperbaric oxygen treatment, call 757-452-3934.

A stroke occurs when the blood flow is cut off to a certain area of the brain. When an artery becomes blocked, this results in an ischemic stroke. when a blood vessel bursts or leaks, it becomes a hemorrhagic stroke. Within minutes of a stroke, the affected brain tissue  become hypoxic and are simply lacking oxygen. Some of the long term effects of a stroke includes paralysis, slurred speech, droopiness, memory loss, decrease motor skills and more.

Stroke Recovery

Some of the main treatments for stroke recovery include, physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and rehabilitation. These are all wonderful therapies but most stroke survivors plateau after a certain amount of time. Unfortunately, most of the damaged tissue to the brain still remains without blood flow and becomes dormant, limiting the available to continue improvement.

How Can Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Help?

The hyperbaric pressure forces the oxygen to dissolve and hyper oxygenate every tissue, muscle, fluid, and bone in the body. With consecutive treatments, HBOT is able to get blood flow back to the injured areas of the brain and accelerate healing. Many of our patients have finished treatment with improved speech, balance, motor skills, ability to have an improved quality of life.

Below are some of the most recent studies, as well as video testimonials using hyperbaric oxygen therapy for stroke. Give us a call today to learn more.

At Hampton Roads Hyperbaric we treat many patients with mTBI, persistent post concussion syndrome and anoxic brain injury, both military and civilian community members. Our patients search for healthy, effective interventions to find relief from myriad symptoms that brain injury creates. Those symptoms include anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, chronic headaches, cognitive decline, memory loss, chronic pain and many other issues that create challenges in every day life.

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 and neurotherapy as effective and healthy interventions for many types of brain injuries.

A study led by Dr. Paul Harch, Clinical Professor and Director of Hyperbaric Medicine at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, that included 30 active-duty or veterans (men and women) ages 18 to 65, with one or more mild-moderate blast TBI  occurring at least 1 year ago and post 9/11/01, revealed that participants experienced a significant reduction in symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTS symptoms and suicidal ideation. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5674654/

How it helps

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.

Call us for a consultation to learn more about hyperbaric oxygen therapy for brain injury at 757-452-3934.

Neuropathy is typically described as a problem with the nerves that causes pain, many times in the peripheral nerves (peripheral neuropathy) as opposed to the central nervous system (spinal cord and brain).

There are many causes of neuropathy, to include but not limited to:

• Diabetes
• Drugs (including chemotherapy)
• B12 or folate vitamin deficiencies
• Liver disease
• Kidney disease
• Cancer
• Injury
• Infection
• Inflammation

When there is no known cause for neuropathy, it is called idiopathic neuropathy. Symptoms of neuropathy include pain, numbness, and tingling, loss of feeling, burning, stabbing pain, etc.

Below is an informative video of Dr. Vinik, with EVMS right here in Norfolk, describing neuropathy.

At Hampton Roads Hyperbaric Therapy, we offer Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Near Infrared Light Therapy (NIR)  to help treat neuropathy.

How Does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Help Neuropathy?

To paraphrase the study below, in addition to the increased oxygen in the blood, all body fluids including the lymph and cerebrospinal fluids are infused with the healing benefits of molecular oxygen. The oxygen can reach deep into places typically inaccessible to red blood cells, like bone and certain tissues. It also enhances white blood cell function and promotes the formation of new capillary and peripheral blood vessels. Hyperbaric treatment results in increased infection control and faster healing of a wide range of conditions.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) involves chronic inflammation to the digestive and intestinal tract. The two main types of IBD are Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease. Ulcerative Colitis causes inflammation in the digestive tract and Crohn’s Disease affects the lining of the digestive tract.

Both can lead to severe, painful symptoms. Symptoms such as reduced appetite, diarrhea, trouble going to the bathroom, bloody stools, weight loss, abdominal pain, fatigue, and more. Most patients stop responding to the approved drugs and steroids approved for IBD over time and nothing is helping.

How can hyperbaric oxygen help?

Hyperbaric oxygen is a natural and non invasive therapy that gets into the hypoxic areas of the body and  can reduce the inflammation, start the growth of the blood vessels, and strengthen the immune system. Many patients that have gone through hyperbaric oxygen therapy and as a result,  have been able to get off steroid medication, have regular bowel movements, regain weight, and return to living a healthy life.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) has emerged as a treatment option for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a debilitating condition characterized by profound tiredness that is not alleviated by rest. While the exact causes of CFS remain unclear, researchers have been exploring various treatment modalities to help manage its symptoms and improve patients’ quality of life. HBOT involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized room or chamber, allowing the lungs to gather more oxygen than would be possible at normal air pressure.

Studies have shown that HBOT may have beneficial effects on CFS patients by increasing oxygen levels in the body, which can help reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and enhance cellular function. This, in turn, may alleviate some of the symptoms associated with CFS, such as fatigue, muscle pain, and cognitive difficulties.

How can hyperbaric oxygen help?

One of the key mechanisms by which HBOT helps CFS patients is through the promotion of tissue repair and regeneration. The increased oxygen levels in the body can stimulate the production of collagen and other healing factors, aiding in the repair of damaged tissues and improving overall cellular function.

Furthermore, HBOT has anti-inflammatory effects, which could be particularly beneficial for CFS patients as inflammation is believed to play a role in the development and progression of the condition. By reducing inflammation, HBOT may help alleviate some of the symptoms of CFS and improve patients’ overall well-being.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a suitable adjunct treatment option for chronic fatigue syndrome, which is helping many CFS patients manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Studies are showing that only a small percentage of patients with COVID 19 are completely free of symptoms after full resolution of the virus. Doctors and clinics around the globe are starting to look at hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a way to combat post COVID 19 syndrome (known by many as the “Long Haulers Syndrome”). 

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HBOT: A Promising Adjunctive Therapy for MS

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune condition affecting the central nervous system, leading to a range of debilitating symptoms. Although there is no cure for MS, various therapies aim to alleviate symptoms and slow disease progression. One such therapy that has garnered attention in recent years is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT).