Saturday, June 28, 2008

Just a few notes

I just wanted to make a few comments about the Hyperbaric before I begin.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the treatment, and who will be following me here,  there tends to be a pattern that is important to note. Many patients start to feel better, then they sort of hit this wall where their symptoms and pain actually increase rather than decrease. This is an important and crucial point in the treatment process because it is often where some patients quit; feeling the treatment not only isn't working but is actually making them worse.

If they could only push past this spot, and where it comes depends on the patient, the medical history, treatment modality, length/depth of dives, etc., but if they could only push through this spot they usually achieve some amazing results.

That is my first point. If you read this and see that my pain starts to get worse, please stay tuned. I will stay the course, to see it through. 

The second point has to do with whether or not I am a good candidate to begin with. Who knows? I think most Drs who examine me for the first time would say I am a very tough case and one of the worst they have seen, despite the fact that some people who see me say "You don't look like you have CRPS?". Currently I am not in a wheelchair, although I did use one for a while. Currently I am not using a cane, although I did for many years. Currently I am not forced to spend all my days in bed, although like many of you there are days when it is a real struggle not to do so. Many people who see me would think I was "normal", those who are my friends and family and spend some time with mw know the truth, I have gotten much better at handling and hiding my pain. Plus, most people don't see our "down-time". 

As I mention in my bio, besides having full-body CRPS I also have Fibromyalgia, failed-back syndrome, peripheral neuropathy in my feet and legs, Uveitis, very bad eye problems (especially my left eye), Sjogren's Syndrome, and a few other minor issues. I have had quite a few surgeries from accidents over the years. In other words, I am not the ideal "clean" candidate as Doctor's like to say. But I thought it was important to try this treatment and share my experiences with others, the same way I did with the low-dose ketamine infusion. 

HBOT has such amazing potential for CRPS patients. It is non-invasive, it isn't very expensive compared to other treatment options, especially the implants, and if done in the correct environment it is a safe procedure. 

If you would like to learn more about how it works, you should stop by our website and check out the HBO Section. If you have already been through it yourself send me an email detailing your experiences so we can share them with others, especially if it was done in a facility with the hard-sided (chambers as opposed to the soft-sided home chambers). 

The section can be found by visiting AMERCIAN RSDHOPE HYPERBARIC OXYGEN TREATMENT

Thanks for reading!

Thursday, June 26, 2008

And so it begins - June 26th, 2008

My name is Keith Orsini. As you can see by my profile I have dealt with what has been classified as the "most painful form of chronic pain that exists today", CRPS or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome for over 34 years now. My CRPS is systemic, or full-body. 

I am not only a patient but also one of the Directors of American RSDHope. American RSDHope is a national non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of this disease as well as educating the patients, loved ones, and medical community on all aspects of this excruciating and painful disease. 

What I aim to accomplish with this blog is to record and share my experiences as I go through a treatment called Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. It is a new form of treatment for CRPS patients and has been having great success. 

My personal journey along the oxygen road will officially begin this Monday, June 30th, 2008.  On that date I will begin a series of twenty or so treatments using Hyperbaric Oxygen in a Seachrist Chamber to treat my Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. 

I will be getting my treatment at one of the top HBO Treatment centers in the country; National Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Palm Harbor, Florida. You can check out their website by going for more information on what HBO is all about as well as learn how to visit their clinic for treatment. Doctor Allan Spiegel is the Clinic's founder and Medical Director. 

I invite you all along for the ride. I hope to publish a post every day here so that others who are considering this treatment will be better prepared for what comes and know what to do, not to do, what to expect, etc. 

Thanks for reading and be sure to drop by our website if you need more information on any of the above information. We have recently added a new HBO section to our treatments area and will be constantly adding to it over the course of the summer!


Thanks!