Our entire team at Limb Preservation Center loves helping each and every patient who walks through our doors. It’s inspiring when we get to celebrate a huge healing success with our patients! We are so fortunate to get to do this on a regular basis with our hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) patients. 

HBOT has the power to alleviate symptoms and promote healing for a range of conditions—from chronic wounds to the late effects of radiation. For one patient at the Limb Preservation Center of East Tennessee, HBOT healed his painful complications after radiation therapy and allowed him to return to a normal, healthy lifestyle. Discover Juan’s story in today’s blog post!

Typical Complications from Radiation Therapy

In his mid-60s, our patient Juan underwent intensive radiation therapy. This left him grappling with significant side effects that impacted his daily life greatly. Radiation therapy can cause many complications in patients that we see at Limb Preservation Center, including:

• Bowel and urinary dysfunction
• Intermittent bleeding
• Ulcers
• Skin irritation

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Treatment Plan

Seeking relief from post-radiation complications, Juan knew he needed to seek healing. He embarked on a journey to find the right relief, which is what led him to our treatment team at the Limb Preservation Center of East Tennessee. After our team assessed Juan’s condition, we prescribed a series of HBOT sessions. 

HBOT involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, which enhances oxygen delivery to tissues and promotes healing. For Juan, this meant undergoing 30 treatments, each lasting 90 minutes at 2 ATA (atmospheres absolute). Treatment was delivered Monday-Friday for six weeks, and he never missed or rescheduled any treatments.

Juan was initially apprehensive about HBOT, but gradually adapted to the sessions. He found comfort in the supportive environment provided by our medical team and in the chambers themselves. 

Our HBOT chambers are 7ft+ monoplace hard-sided chambers with clear sides, so patients can comfortably see outside of the chamber throughout treatment. Our experienced HBOT Technician also remains in the room with patients during treatment and can answer any questions you may have.

As Juan’s treatments progressed, he began noticing remarkable improvements beyond just his post-radiation symptoms we targeted. 

Results

Since beginning hyperbaric oxygen therapy, Juan remarkably had no bouts of hematuria or anemia. He was symptom-free! By the completion of his treatment plan, he was given a fully healed outcome for irradiation cystitis with hematuria.

Not only that, but Juan also experienced:

• Enhanced blood pressure control
• Increased stamina
• Improved sleep quality
• Noticeable boost in overall energy levels

“On March 19th, [2024], I finished my 40th treatment with HBOT indicated for my condition. At the beginning,I was very anxious, for several days my blood pressure went up minutes before going in. Then I started trusting the people in charge and feeling more comfortable. I started adapting to the process of going in and out and also decompressing my ears. After several days, I started feeling more energetic, I have more stamina, while walking a mile every day, and my pulse is getting lower.”

Juan, Patient at Limb Preservation Center of East Tennessee

Juan’s story highlights the immense value of HBOT, even beyond its targeted purpose. We are overjoyed that HBOT was successful in treating Juan’s radiation complications and allowed him to return to a pain-free lifestyle. HBOT is currently FDA-approved for a variety of conditions, and we hope to continue helping patients across East Tennessee experience its many benefits.

“I think HBOT is very beneficial for the treatment of many conditions and hope that in the near future it will be approved as prevention in many more conditions.”

Juan, Patient at Limb Preservation Center of East Tennessee

You don’t have to be experiencing wound complications to qualify for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. If you or a loved one are exploring treatment options for post-radiation symptoms, complications, or similar conditions, request an appointment with us today! Hyperbaric oxygen therapy could be your first step toward healing. 

Ready to start your HBOT journey? Contact us today to schedule a consultation and determine if you’re a good candidate!

Juan underwent 30 sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) at the Limb Preservation Center of East Tennessee following radiation treatment for cancer. Throughout his treatment process, Juan experienced significant improvements in his radiation-induced proctopathy and irradiation cystitis with hematuria—including reduced bleeding and enhanced overall well-being. Beyond the side effects we were targeting, HBOT also positively impacted his blood pressure, stamina, and energy levels. Juan’s journey highlights the transformative power of HBOT in managing complex medical conditions and improving patients’ quality of life.

Juan, we are all so excited about the improvements you have seen! We are proud of every member of our Limb Preservation Center of East Tennessee family, and celebrations like this make our work all the sweeter.

Limb Preservation Center of East Tennessee is the newest and most advanced wound care practice in Lenoir City, Tennessee. Are you looking for experienced wound care that’s convenient and near home? Call Limb Preservation Center of East Tennessee at 865-770-5462 or request an appointment online to arrange a comprehensive chronic wound evaluation with our wound healing experts.