Treating Veterans near me with TBI and PTSD
Between 2000 and 2020, more than 430,000 US service men and women have experienced their first lifetime Traumatic Brain Injury, not including service members who incur subsequent TBI’s. They can occur from a sudden blow or jolt to the head from impact, blast exposure and even a whiplash injury. Studies suggest that service members who have been injured by a TBI may still have ongoing symptoms of post concussive syndrome that have gone untreated.
TBI of any severity can cause symptoms across multiple functional domains, including physical, cognitive and psychological.
Among veterans with positive TBI screens, 80% indicate comorbid psychiatric diagnosis and up to half of those meet the criteria for PTSD. From the Vietnam war to Operation Enduring Freedom, Veterans suffering from PTSD has increased from 15% to 20%. PTSD is a complex psychiatric condition that develops in certain individuals after experiencing a major traumatic event. Behavioral symptoms of PTSD include re-experiencing the trauma, avoidance behavior, mood alteration, and hyperarousal.
The negative impact that such symptoms and risks can make on one’s quality of life makes it clear that veterans with PTSD and TBI’s require safe, effective treatment options. Unfortunately, less that half of the patients receiving traditional psychosocial treatments gain clinically meaningful improvements, and many continue to have residual symptoms. Thankfully there is compelling evidence to suggest that Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) may significantly reduce the negative symptoms experienced by TBI and PTSD patients, even years after the incident.
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HOW WE HELP
As chiropractors first, our doctors know the importance of the nervous system when it comes to the body. At Clarity Hyperbarics in Des Moines, our chamber can help with brain health, but when it comes to the spine, chiropractic is the gold standard. Our goal is to HEAL your nervous system and eliminate the cause of dysfunction for good.
WHAT IS HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY IN DES MOINES, GRIMES, & ANKENY, IOWA?
HBOT is a medical treatment focused on delivering 95-100% pure oxygen to an individual sitting inside a pressurized chamber via a mask. The chamber will gradually pressurize to 1.3 ATM which is equivalent to diving down to 12 feet underwater.
At Clarity Hyperbarics in Des Moines, we believe in the low and slow approach, which is why we utilize a soft sided hyperbaric oxygen chamber. We find that patients who are suffering from chronic brain injuries recover more fully under low doses of pressure. This low dose is easy on the patient, easy on the brain, while remaining extremely effective.
HOW DOES HBOT AFFECT TBI AND PTSD AT CLARITY HYPERBARICS?
HBOT has been shown to improve cognitive function and quality of life in those who have experienced a mild TBI. Other studies show improvement in those who have suffered even a moderate to severe TBI. These improvements are correlated with increased activity in brain regions associated with each cognitive impairment.
HBOT also can have positive behavioral and neurological effects in patients with PTSD by regulating the immune system. New evidence suggests that patients with PTSD may have alterations in their genetic code, such as a dysregulated immune system. This dysregulation can be seen to lead to oxidative stress and inflammation. Combine HBOT with neurologically based chiropractic care, and your immune system will function better than you ever thought possible. A 2015 study showed that those with PTSD can be shown to have elevated levels of proinflammatory markers in the blood plasma. The exact place hyperbarics deliver oxygen to in the body.
All of this stress and inflammation seen within the body can lead to increased cellular aging and an increased risk of cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological diseases. This leads to an increased burden on those with PTSD, increasing their disease risk and well as leading to physical and emotional downfalls. Thankfully, HBOT has been shown to inhibit the chemical messengers responsible for inflammation that we commonly see elevated in those with PTSD. At the same HBOT is also known for increasing gene expression in genes associated with anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidant expression. In this way, HBOT can improve chemical imbalances that end up causing serious damage to those with PTSD.
EFFECTS OF HBOT ON THE BODY
CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR
VETERANS WITH PTSD AND TBI
Chiropractic care at Clarity Chiropractic is different from your normal experience at a chiropractor. We utilize one of the most researched chiropractic techniques to properly assess the nervous system. By focusing on the neurologic tone of the body, we asses the brainstem and spinal cord removing any torsion throughout the spine. By utilizing our in house X-ray suite and neurologic scans, we can objectively track your bodies ability to change, and can cater care exactly to what you need.
Chiropractic care is phenomenal when it comes to assessing the spinal cord and nerves of the body, but leaves something to be desired when it comes to healing the brain. That is why our doctors invested in a hyperbaric chamber. As doctors of the nervous system, their job is to provide the optimal habitat for a healthy nervous system.
If you are interested in reading the research, contact our office and we will get you in touch with the proper articles that suit your needs