Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive, degenerative disease of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). MS is demonstrated as a loss of myelin (a protective sheet of protein and lipids covering the nerve fibers) leading to improper distribution of nerve signals which can cause: tremor (shaking), extreme weakness, numbness, paralysis, in-coordination, visual impairment, bowel and bladder dysfunction.
Hyperbaric Oxygen in nervous system problems:
- Reduces muscle spasticity
- Relieves numbness (improves regeneration of peripheral nerves) and allows better sensitivity
- Increases energy level and exercise capacity (helps in better outcome of physical therapy)
- Reduces fatigue and tremor
- Improves mobility and coordination
Hyperbaric Oxygen in bladder and bowel problems:
- Reduces bladder spasticity (muscle tension), urinary urgency and frequency
- Increases bladder capacity, muscle strength and improves bladder emptying (coordination in relaxation and contraction of the muscle)
- Increases bowel movement by strengthening and regulating rectal sphincter control
- Prevents infection to occur by generally strengthening immune system and increasing capacity to fight infection by enhancing antibiotics activity, directly killing bacteria or indirectly helping in leukocyte killing mechanism
In a recent publication in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine entitled, “Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis, a Randomized, Placebo Controlled, Double-blind Study,” researchers demonstrated significant objective improvements in a variety of MS symptoms in 70% of patients treated. At one year after treatment, deterioration was noted in 55% of MS patients not treated as compared to only 12% of patients who underwent hyperbaric oxygen treatment.
