Greetings,
I'm posting this as somebody who has met many unfortunate diabetics with limb amputations who were never given the option of hyperbaric oxygen therapy prior to surgery. Many providers fail to offer this option to their patients and remain skeptical of HBO therapy despite the research, evidence, and proven results. In my humble opinion, patients should at least be given this option if/when their wound progresses to a severe enough point. It is inexcusible for surgeons to continue to amputate limbs without ever having even given patients this option. I want to arm you (the patients) with the following information...
1.) Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is appropriate for any diabetic ulcer that is graded 3 or higher on the "Wagner Scale". This means that the doctor documented that "abscess", "gangrene", or "osteomyelitis" is present in the wound. Patient's often struggle with these kind of wounds for months or years before amputation.
2.) Many health insurance companies (including Medicare) will actually pay for this therapy. That should tell you something right there.
3.)When used early and aggressively, this therapy can mean the difference between amputation and limb salvage.
4.) HBO therapy, in and of itself, is not a "magic cure" for diabetic ulcers. It is imporant that other treatment measures such as debridement, antibiotics, and aggressive wound care remain in place during the therapy. When therapy is used with other measures it can be quite effective.
5.) HBO therapy cannot fix black (dead) tissue. It can, however, stop the tissue death process and save all other viable tissue.
6.) HBO therapy requires at least marginal blood supply to the wound for it to be effective.
Many of the people I've met whom have been successfully treated with HBO therapy have themselves or their family/friends to thank. Often these people had to advocate for the therapy themselves as it was never offered to them as an option by their physician. It is my hope that many of you will never have a diabetic ulcer that progresses to this point, but be aware of this option if you ever develop one. The sooner this therapy is implemented, the better the results. Don't be afraid to question your doctors. Some physicians are huge advocates of HBO while many others choose to ignore it.
-Thanks
-justpassingby
I'm posting this as somebody who has met many unfortunate diabetics with limb amputations who were never given the option of hyperbaric oxygen therapy prior to surgery. Many providers fail to offer this option to their patients and remain skeptical of HBO therapy despite the research, evidence, and proven results. In my humble opinion, patients should at least be given this option if/when their wound progresses to a severe enough point. It is inexcusible for surgeons to continue to amputate limbs without ever having even given patients this option. I want to arm you (the patients) with the following information...
1.) Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is appropriate for any diabetic ulcer that is graded 3 or higher on the "Wagner Scale". This means that the doctor documented that "abscess", "gangrene", or "osteomyelitis" is present in the wound. Patient's often struggle with these kind of wounds for months or years before amputation.
2.) Many health insurance companies (including Medicare) will actually pay for this therapy. That should tell you something right there.
3.)When used early and aggressively, this therapy can mean the difference between amputation and limb salvage.
4.) HBO therapy, in and of itself, is not a "magic cure" for diabetic ulcers. It is imporant that other treatment measures such as debridement, antibiotics, and aggressive wound care remain in place during the therapy. When therapy is used with other measures it can be quite effective.
5.) HBO therapy cannot fix black (dead) tissue. It can, however, stop the tissue death process and save all other viable tissue.
6.) HBO therapy requires at least marginal blood supply to the wound for it to be effective.
Many of the people I've met whom have been successfully treated with HBO therapy have themselves or their family/friends to thank. Often these people had to advocate for the therapy themselves as it was never offered to them as an option by their physician. It is my hope that many of you will never have a diabetic ulcer that progresses to this point, but be aware of this option if you ever develop one. The sooner this therapy is implemented, the better the results. Don't be afraid to question your doctors. Some physicians are huge advocates of HBO while many others choose to ignore it.
-Thanks
-justpassingby