Testimonial
RSD Letter from a Parent
Dear A.,
We were quite impressed with the results. Not total remission, but clearly
enabling a semblance of life.
We discovered the treatment through research on the web, not through a doctor.
We asked our surgeon, Dr. O. about it, but he had no familiarity and suggested we discuss it with our pain doctor.
Dr. N. had no experience either, but agreed to write a script and give it a try. I
think all doctors involved have been amazed with the results.
I believe the story goes that an RSD victim went diving, and developed the bends.
As a result of the treatment for the bends, the patient’s RSD resolved.
From there, we had heard of about 30 cases where the Hyperbaric Therapy had helped. There
was a nurse, very active on the web, who suffered from "severe RSD" that ultimately convinced us to pursue the treatment.
The treatment
involves 2 sessions a day, 5 days a week, for about 2 to 3 weeks. We did
two weeks and then came back for the third. During the treatment, the patient will actually feel a little worse for the first
5 - 8 treatments. I'm not sure why. However,
they will stabilize, with no improvement for the next 8 treatments. Virtually
everyone we've talked to, who tried the therapy, saw no improvement whatsoever for 15 sessions (week and a half). This can be disappointing as you expect to feel something. Between
session 15 and 16, while we were in the pool, my son indicated that he actually felt "something" but thought it might just
be a good day. By the end of that week, he said he felt 50% better and by the
end of the weekend, if my memory serves me right, he felt 75% better. We had
obligations and could not continue for the 3rd week at that time. He returned
for one more week about a month later. He underwent the HBOT within a few weeks of surgery, so it's hard to clearly attribute
pain resolution to either the therapy or the surgery. However, the symptoms of
the RSD really showed up quickly after surgery. While he does still suffer from
some issues, and will probably never be 100%, he has reached a point where he can go on with college. He starts next week.
I'm attaching
literature from the facility in Columbia. They were great to work with. There is also a physician associated
with the facility who would write a script, if appropriate (not done in our case as our pain management doctor was happy to
give it a try).
Mr. P.
(This
patient had been diagnosed with RSD and sought hyperbaric oxygen therapy within 3 months of onset of symptoms. The patient
requested names not be used.)
