PHYSIOCONSULTATION

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, erosive, symmetrical inflammatory disease that can progress to synovial destruction, severe disability and premature mortality. Immunotherapies, while beneficial, can cause significant adverse events. These patients with RA treated in our facility with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO₂) for unrelated diagnoses all reported significant but unanticipated improvement in RA-related pain, increased activity and improved sleeping patterns.

Studies of hyperbaric oxygen on the central nervous system show that at tensions of 1.2‐  1.5 atmospheres absolute (ATA), it decreases blood flow by 1‐20% (mean of various studies is about 10%), 2 other physiologic changes occur. These include greater permeability of the blood brain barrier to medications and increased oxygen tensions tissues that far outweigh the net effects of mild vasoconstriction. The deformability of erythrocytes is increased resulting in improved transportation in the microvasculature circulation and lactate removal. Hence reducing pain and increasing mobility.