Oxygen Treatment
In more than 25 years of operation, over 2 million sessions of oxygen treatment using barochambers have been undertaken without a single serious incident. This outstanding record was commended by the Department of Health following a review of Centres in 2008. It is a great tribute to the thousands of people with MS, and their relatives and carers, who have been involved in this movement. User experience indicates a range of benefits including relief from fatigue, incontinence and muscle control.
At present, oxygen treatment is rarely given in the UK NHS, so the MS Therapy Centres provide an important resource for people with MS who wish to use this treatment. The centres also provide oxygen treatment to people with other conditions, including sports injuries, osteo-radionecrosis, ulcers, cerebral palsy and stroke.
What is Oxygen Treatment?
Oxygen treatment refers to breathing a high level of oxygen for a short time to correct a lack of oxygen in the tissues of the body. To raise the level of oxygen in damaged tissues pure (100%) oxygen can be breathed with a tight fitting mask, but because oxygen is poorly soluble in blood it is also necessary to use a higher pressure. Individuals receiving oxygen treatment therefore need to sit in a pressure chamber, known as a barochamber. These are rooms built of steel or concrete which accommodate between one and 12 people. Barochambers are pressurised up to twice normal atmospheric pressure. The pressure inside is increased by using compressed air, and oxygen is provided by a built-in breathing system. This is exactly the same technology used in pressurised commercial aircraft. Oxygen treatment in a MS Therapy Centre is ‘self help’ which simply means that the person with MS takes the decision to sit in a chamber and to breathe the oxygen. The oxygen treatment is administered by trained operators.
What is an Oxygen Treatment session like?
Oxygen treatment sessions at MS Therapy Centres are simple, non-invasive and painless, and once they have become accustomed to the procedure most members find the sessions pleasurable and relaxing. Each session consists of three phases.
1. Pressurisation
After members have entered the barochamber to start a session the door is closed and there is the sound of incoming air as the pressure increases. It will usually get slightly warmer by a degree or so Celsius. Members usually feel ‘fullness’ in their ears, similar to descending from altitude in an aircraft. This can be relieved by clearing or ‘equalising’ the pressure in the ears, either by using prescribed techniques or just making conversation. If a member suffers discomfort they must inform the operator and the rate of compression can be either relieved or reduced. Other sounds can usually be ignored, but experienced operators generally give reassurance to members until they are used to the experience.
2. Treatment
The treatment begins when the pressure reaches the prescribed level (from 1.25 atmosphere (ata) to 2.0 ata depending on the stage of treatment). Members may then rest, read, listen to music or watch television.
3. Depressurisation
The operator advises members when the treatment is complete and reduces the pressure slowly, until it is the same as the ambient atmosphere. At this point, the barochamber door can be opened and the session ends.
In 2006 the MS Therapy Centres carried out 97,000 oxygen treatment sessions.
