Significant Benefits reported by Multiple Research Teams
Over the last 15 years, a pattern of distinct wounding has come to the forefront as veterans of the War on Terror have returned from the combat zone. These unique injuries have perplexed physicians for over 100 years. Labeled as invisible wounds, these wounds that impact the lives of over 500,000 soldiers, sailors, airman and marines and their families.
The mechanism of injury for these wounds creates a different distinctive pattern of damage that researchers from the University of Maryland identified for the first time earlier this year.(1) These wounds can be seen to form in response changes in ambient pressure in the combat zone provided by detonation of explosive ordinance, improvised explosive devices, firing of individual and crew served weapons. The positive and adverse effects of changes of pressure on the human body have been studied and documented for over 100 years. In response to changes in ambient pressure, the effectiveness of a therapeutic option, hyperbaric oxygen have been recognized by researchers and scientists worldwide. (2)
In response to mounting anecdotal evidence reporting the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen in treating veterans with invisible injuries, the DOD/VA/Army medicine has conducted trials investigating its. To date these have shown that HBOT is both safe and effective: “Randomization to the chamber . . . . offered statistical and in some measures clinically significant improvement over local routine TBI care.” “ People did get better and we can’t ignore those results,” said COL R. Scott Miller, primary investigator of the DOD largest and most recent study.
Despite repeated findings of significant benefits in all their studies, officials within the VA healthcare system maintain “HBOT just does not work”. This is not what is reported in the peer reviewed journals. The following results were acknowledged in Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine in November 2014 Significant improvements in post concussion symptoms and secondary outcomes, including PTSD(which most participants had), depression, sleep quality, satisfaction with life an physical, cognitive and mental health function.
Isn’t it time we let the results speak for themselves?
PDF: Corrected Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy-Effective Treatment of Silent Injuries from Combat