There has been a lot in the press in recent months about Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and its benefits for treating fibromyalgia patients. Research, published last year by Rice University, showed very promising results.
It’s quite impressive reading and– though I remain reserved about it– I have decided I want to try this treatment out for myself. I will be beginning my treatment in May.
The clinical trial by Rice University involved 60 women who were aged between 21-67 years old and who had been diagnosed with fibromyalgia for at least two years. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The first group were evaluated at baseline and then again after two months of HBOT.
The second group were evaluated at baseline, after a control period of no treatment and again after two months of HBOT. The researchers’ evaluations consisted of physical examinations (to assess tender points and pain thresholds), extensive evaluations of patients’ quality of life and SPECT imaging of brain activity.
The HBOT protocol consisted of 40 sessions; 5 sessions per week for 90 minutes with 100% oxygen given at twice atmospheric pressure (2ATA). 12 patients were excluded from the study and therefore 48 women completed the clinical trial. Patients were excluded due to health issues being incompatible with HBOT, claustrophobia and inability to sign informed consent.
The results from the clinical trial showed that HBOT in both groups resulted in a significant improvement in quality of life and a significant improvement in fibromyalgia symptoms. Interestingly, the SPECT brain imaging showed rectification of abnormal brain activity.
Although it may sound like a miracle cure, a researcher involved in the study has said the long-term response from HBOT is unknown and some patients will likely need follow-up treatment.
In the UK, treatment of HBOT is accessed through MS Therapy Centres. I was told that, used alongside current self-management strategies– such as pacing, diet and other lifestyle changes– HBOT can have a positive impact on a patient’s quality of life and help to reduce the three main symptoms of fibromyalgia: pain, fatigue and poor quality sleep.
In May I will be having 20 sessions of HBOT; 5 per week for 4 weeks (followed by weekly sessions if I want to continue). I am excited to find out how this treatment will affect me and if it will help to improve my quality of life.
Wish me luck and let me know what your thoughts are about HBOT in the comments down below.
If you enjoyed this post and want to find out how I got on, be sure to check out my update post describing how I found this treatment.
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This is a really interesting post 🙂 I’m going to check out the study now that you mentioned. I’ve been seeing a lot around the internet over the past year about Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for fibromyalgia and I’m really looking forward to reading about how the treatment works for you. Good Luck!
Thank you Sarah. It’s been a positive start so far. If you want to follow along be sure to sign up to my email list, if you haven’t already 🙂
I have been having oxygen therapy very week for about a year and a half for Fibro/chronic pain. Average pain levels from 6/7 before now down to about 3/4. Would 100% recccomend giving it a go. 🙂
Hi Emma, that’s really promising that oxygen therapy has helped you. Thank you for sharing.
Do you need a doctor’s referral to go to hyperbaric chamber? Has anyone found success with salt Chambers? Thanks for the response.
Hi Judy, I can only speak for the UK but here you do not have to get a doctor’s referral. You simply get in contact with your local MS Therapy Centre to enquire about HBOT. I have no experience of a salt chamber so I am afraid I can’t comment on that.
Hi Donna! I found your blog on Google while searching for HBOT treatments. I know this is an old post now but I hope you’ll might give me an answer anyway. I’m both amazed and shocked to see that you were receiving this treatment.
I’m swedish, 26 years and was diagnozed with fibromyalgia last year. No doctors I’ve met here have ever mentioned any possible treatment for fibromyalgia at all, but thank god for the internet. I’ve finally got the change to talk to the leading researchers in Sweden where I discussed the HBOT treatment. I’ve got the answer that the Israeli study was unsuccessful – no one got better and that’s why we’ll never have and never will receive a treatment like this in Sweden… I do feel like they’re not really telling the truth.
When you just wrote “I want to try this treatment”‘ it sounded so simple. How did you do it? And at which MS center? (I saw your other comment). Did you pay it all by yourself? Maybe you did cover up some of my questions in your journal for your subscribers? I really want to try this treatment out and are willing to come over to your country (and ofc pay it myself as a non UK-citizen) though I’ve given up my hope of getting any better in my own country.
Greetings from Sweden
Hi Erika. The treatment is offered in the UK through a Multiple Sclerosis charity. This is primarily offered to MS patients but some centres also allow patients with other conditions– such as Fibromyalgia– to have access to treatment. Yes, I had to pay for it by myself– I think it was around £240 for the 20 sessions or thereabouts. However, I didn’t manage the full course and I had a huge crash. I’m not sure if you have read my update post?
Thanks for the answer. I appreciate it really. Yes I’ve read your blog post as well when you’re saying that the treatment didn’t work out for you (sounded horrible). Was that the one you ment? I’ve actually searched for all your post that covers fibromyalgia on your blog and I’m reading the post as soon as I got time, (I just couldn’t resist to contact you before I was done).
The cost for the treatment were extremely low though, I must say. A treatment like this in Sweden is very rare to get and cost around 1000£ and up for a whole treatment. But as I said before, I’m sad it didn’t work out for you. But what did they say at the center? Did they promoted the treatment as “Yeah, we’ve seen some good results one some patients”, or did you just walk in there with an open mind and the doctors/nurses didn’t really said anything? Just interesting to know the attitude towards this treatment overseas.
Btw, I’m sorry if this will bring up some unwelcome emotions from you. Like why should you help a random person online when yourself didn’t got better with this treatment? I hope your disappointment didn’t took to hard on you. (I know it will on me) But I’ve also seen your latest post about stam cell treatments in Germany, which seems to have helped you? So I really really do hope that you’re feeling that you’re finally on the right track to get cured.
Sorry, the £1000 number is wrong. I was ment to say that the treatment here cost around £10.000 as a starter price.
Hi, don’t worry it does not bring out any unwelcome emotions. I just wanted to make sure you were aware of my experience before sharing more information about it. As, obviously due to my own experience I can’t say it’s something I recommend doing, though I’m more than happy to answer questions about my experience. Yes, as it is run through a charity the price is very reasonable. They couldn’t offer any medical advice to me. They are not doctors or nurses. There was someone trained in oxygen therapy and volunteers also ran the session. I was initially told that I could try 24ft sessions (for fibro the recommendation was 33ft I think… 2 x atmospheric pressure) as this may have been easier for me. However, as I crashed so badly, in the end, they said they did not recommend that I continue with treatment. They basically say that research has shown it to be helpful but ultimately it is up to you to decide if you want to go ahead with the therapy.
Yes, I have had stem cells in Germany and this has helped immensely. I definitely feel I am on the road to remission 🙂