Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Treats Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is the medical name for a disorder characterized by damaged peripheral nerves.

These nerves are responsible for transmitting information from the brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system) to the rest of the body.

When these nerves are damaged, the transmission of these signals is disrupted, resulting in symptoms such as numbness, tingling, pain, and muscle weakness, particularly in the hands and feet.

Peripheral neuropathic pain is a complex disease that is treated mainly by addressing the underlying cause.

Emerging evidence suggests that Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treats peripheral neuropathy and reliably alleviates its painful symptoms.

It’s all to do with the role that oxygen plays in healing the body, specifically the nerve cells.

What Are The Causes of Peripheral Neuropathy?

Peripheral nerve trauma can occur as a result of a variety of conditions. The following are some of the most common causes of nerve damage:

Diabetes is a leading contributor to the development of peripheral neuropathy. About 20% of the population in the United States has diabetes, and there are currently about 3 million people managing the disease on a daily basis. People with pre-diabetes or impaired blood sugar tolerance may display symptoms. Pain from injured nerves is more probable the older a person is, the longer they have had diabetes, and the less well-controlled their illness is. Numbness, burning, electrical sensations, and stabbing or shooting pain in the feet or legs are all symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, and they tend to be more severe at night for the 50% of people with long-term diabetes who experience them.
Nerve damage can be caused by trauma or injury of any kind, including broken bones, vehicle accidents, and even simple falls. This could be a minor wound that mends on its own, or it could be severe damage, such as a severed nerve from a shattered bone.

Pressure on a nerve for an extended period of time can cause permanent damage. The use of crutches, engaging in repetitive motions like typing, or remaining in one position for too long are all examples of activities that can cause nerve compression.
Chronic inflammation and other factors are linked to many autoimmune diseases and can cause nerve damage. Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy are examples of such diseases.
Injury to the nervous system can be brought on by a wide variety of infections. Shingles, Lyme disease, Epstein-Barr virus, human immunodeficiency virus, and hepatitis C are all examples.
B vitamins, niacin, and vitamin E are all essential to good nerve health, and their deficiency can have serious consequences.
Benign tumors, cancerous tumors, or other abnormal growths, can put undue pressure on the nerves which trigger symptoms.
Certain medications or medical procedures, such as radiation or chemotherapy, can cause nerve damage.
Other potential causes of nerve damage include poisoning, connective tissue disorders, kidney disease, liver disease, bone marrow disorders, hypothyroidism, and certain genetic diseases.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Treats Peripheral Neuropathy

Complications of Peripheral Neuropathy

Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for nerve health because nerve damage left untreated can lead to complications.

Approximately 25% of people with diabetes get foot ulcers, and in the worst cases, these ulcers require amputation.

Poor circulation in the feet is a common complication of diabetes. Untreated cuts, scrapes, or even blisters from ill-fitting shoes can take longer to heal or even turn into ulcers if the blood supply to the area is cut off.

Burns, scalds, and other injuries might go unnoticed if you can’t feel pain or temperature changes.

Falls are more likely to occur when someone has poor balance and coordination, which can increase the likelihood of serious injury.

Nerves that regulate the heart and blood flow are vulnerable to damage from diabetes-related neuropathy.

This type of neuropathy, known as cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN), is characterized by a lack of endurance during physical activity and low blood pressure that leads to fainting or dizziness upon standing.

If you have lost sensation in your skin, even temporarily, it may be difficult to detect minor cuts and scrapes, increasing the risk of infection.

Numb spots should be checked for injuries, and minor ones should be treated right away.

In the worst cases, an infection can cause gangrene, which can result in the amputation of a toe or foot.

Treatments for Peripheral Neuropathy

There is a lot that can be done to prevent peripheral neuropathy or slow its progression, whether you’ve already noticed symptoms or you’re just trying to reduce your risk of them.

Prescription painkillers are most effective when they are able to block sensation at the spinal column’s nerve roots.

The inability of these dysfunctional nerve signals to reach the brain is what prevents them from being experienced as pain.

Over time, your body may develop a tolerance to your medication, requiring you to increase your dosage every so often.

Your feet and hands will go numb, your mind will fog up, and you won’t know where you are in relation to time and space.

These symptoms may be misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease, which will only further complicate your treatment.

Vitamin B supplements are effective in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy.

When other treatments and changes to your lifestyle haven’t helped your nerve health, your doctor may suggest a B vitamin complex.

The painful and debilitating symptoms of peripheral nerve damage can be significantly reduced by treating or managing any underlying conditions, such as diabetes.

It is possible to reduce or eliminate peripheral neuropathy symptoms by adopting a healthy lifestyle.

The health of your nervous system can be improved by eating a well-balanced diet consisting of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy proteins.

You can improve your nerve health and overall fitness and well-being by exercising for 30-60 minutes at least three times per week (with your doctor’s approval, of course).

Avoiding activities that put you at risk, such as those requiring prolonged standing or sitting in awkward positions, working with toxic substances, smoking, or drinking excessively, is also crucial.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is among the most successful methods for treating peripheral neuropathy.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treats peripheral neuropathy by boosting oxygen absorption, which has been shown to improve the body’s ability to heal itself at a cellular level.

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Neuropathy can be effectively treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).

Reducing cell death and pain by increasing oxygen levels deep within tissues.

In addition to improving oxygen and nutrient delivery, hyperbaric oxygen also promotes the development of new blood vessels.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy uses 100% oxygen to boost the body’s innate healing processes.

The American Medical Association, the Food and Drug Administration, and Medicare all approve hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a valid method of medical treatment.

Although hyperbaric oxygen therapy procedures are sometimes used as the first line of defense in an emergency, they are typically used as a complementary or supplementary treatment due to their low cost.

How does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy work?

Patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) are exposed to 100% oxygen while in a pressurized chamber.

Only 19-21% of this vital element is found in typical air. As a result, the amount of oxygen dissolving in the bloodstream is increased by a factor of several thousand (up to two thousand).

The healing benefits of this molecular oxygen are infused into all body fluids, not just the blood, through the process of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), including the lymph and cerebrospinal fluids.

New capillary and peripheral blood vessels can be formed, and the function of white blood cells can be improved.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves the body’s ability to fight infections and expedites the recovery process for many diseases and injuries.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Treats Peripheral Neuropathy

New studies have found that oxygen deprivation to the limbs is the direct cause of neuropathy.

Inflammation, poor circulation, pinching the sciatic nerve or its local blood supply, high blood sugar, and toxic chemicals (drugs, pesticides, cleaning solvents, and substance abuse) can all contribute to the formation of excessive free radicals, which can deplete the body of oxygen.

An oxygen deficit causes a nerve cell to shrink, which in turn widens the space (synaptic junction) between neurons.

Communication between nerve cells is strictly prohibited. This is the distance a nerve impulse must travel before it can reach its target.

Too great a separation prevents the transmission of electrical nerve impulses, leading to compromised nerve function.

The goal of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is to heal the body by saturating it with pure oxygen at high pressure.

Reduced blood flow and oxygen to an area are common causes of nerve damage.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves placing the patient in a pressurized chamber filled with oxygen, which helps promote nerve growth and regeneration. Since permanent nerve death becomes more likely the longer nerve damage is ignored, prompt treatment is crucial.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is highly effective when prescribed by doctors to treat nerve damage and regeneration following surgery.

Pain and dysfunction in the arms, hands, legs, and feet caused by diabetic and non-diabetic neuropathies have been shown to be effectively managed and reversed by high oxygenation, Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treats peripheral neuropathy by addressing the lack of oxygen in the nerves itself.

Through a process of healing rather than masking pain, hyperbaric oxygen therapy initiates a variety of beneficial functions:

Greatly improves white blood cell health, helping them eliminate invasive bacteria and fungi
Boosts red blood cell health, improving the efficiency of oxygen circulation
Reduces swelling,
Eliminates inflammation and allows tissue regeneration
Eliminates bone and tissue infections
Improves blood circulation
Improves energy production required for faster nerve restoration
Stimulates new capillary and vessel growth which promotes nerve health
Facilitates normal nerve operation
Promotes better survival and regeneration of damaged tissue