Is any discomfort felt during hyperbaric treatments?
Hyperbaric treatment is painless, but some patients may have the sensation of fullness in their ears, similar to what is experienced driving up or down a mountain road, changing altitudes in an airplane, or changing depths in underwater diving. The feeling of fullness occurs as the eardrums respond to the changes in atmospheric pressure. In order to avoid this, patients are taught how to force air into the middle ear during the 5 to 7 minutes that it takes for the chamber to be pressurized. This can be done by swallowing, moving the lower jaw or blowing with the nose pinched. Patients learn these procedures and have a chance to practice prior to their first treatment. Generally, patients experience no after effects from hyperbaric oxygen therapy. However, some patients report a “popping” or “cracking” sensation in their ears between treatments. This sensation can be relieved using the same techniques that patients use to clear their ears while they are in the chamber (similar to cleari
