Testimonial

Spinal Cord Injury - Quadriplegia

"In 1994 I injured my neck in a car accident. The insurance doctors told me I was classified as a 'complete C5/6 quadriplegic'. I had no feeling from my upper chest down.

After 6 years with only limited movement of my upper arms and hands, I was given 'no hope of any further change or improvements'. Eventually I found out about Hyperbaric and Spinal Rehab.

I commenced Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and physical therapy on a daily basis. I was initially in the chamber for at least 90-minutes which could have been once or twice a day.

After each chamber session, I usually receive direct acupuncture needling into different parts of my body, but usually my stomach and legs. The acupuncture needles are stimulated with a high frequency electrical current which causes my muscles to react and contract.

Initially I did not feel the needles but now I feel a tingling and contracting sensation with each treatment.

Some of the needle points cause strong muscular contractions after the treatment. I find this very uncomfortable as it causes major spasms of my legs. Dr Hooper tells me that this is still a positive response because it is stimulating both neurological and vascular activity.

The first thing both my wife and I noticed initially after starting treatment, was that my energy levels had gone up enormously. Before I started treatment I had extremely limited ability to get myself around in my wheel chair. I could only go so far and then needed a rest. I had always tried to push a little bit further, but I could never break through that barrier. Usually I would require at least three five-minute breaks to complete a 2 km block. This has now steadily improved and now I can cover the same distance in a shorter time and without even a break.

Also my skin has improved a lot, it doesn’t feel as dry and looks more natural. When I get my daily stretch exercises done I now know where my legs are with my eyes closed. Before treatment I had absolutely no idea where any part of my body was below the middle of my chest. You could place my foot up over my head and I wouldn’t even know! I can also now feel my muscles stretch and now have some sensation in my legs, stomach and back region. My back has become a lot stronger and I can now pull my stomach in and upwards towards my ribcage. I can also contract my buttocks now. I couldn’t even feel these areas let alone move before starting treatment. I can now sit and manage myself in my wheelchair and transfer a lot better because of improved pelvic and abdominal control.

During January 2000 my reflexes in my knees came back. This has been confirmed with a number of the insurance doctors evaluating my progress. About 18 months after of my accident I was required to be assessed by independent medical doctors for the insurance company. One of the tests during this insurance assessment identified which reflexes were present and which were completely gone. The reflexes in my knee were one of the groups that were completely absent. Now they have returned. My insurance doctor continues to tell me 'not to get my hopes up'!

The other major improvement that I have had is that I can now tolerate the hot temperature a lot better. With my sort of injury there is difficulty in my body adjusting to temperature changes. In the summer of 98/99 I would have to go inside an air-conditioned room when the temperature got to about 25 degrees Celsius. This past summer in Melbourne with temperature up around 37 degrees, I have been able to cope without difficulty. This has given me a lot more quality of life because now I can go out with my family a lot more than before without having to worry about getting overheated.

The latest improvement is that I am getting some more feeling in my big toe and the lower part of my right leg. You can feel the muscle tighten in my right calf when I try to contract it. A lot of people comment that I look really well and healthy. I want to thank Dr Hooper for all he has done for me and I give God the glory for healing me.”

I can be contacted via email at: roefsp@net2000.com.au

Comment: Peter is a TAC (Transport Accident Commission) patient - Both the TAC and the VWA (Victorian Workcover Authority) refuse to reimburse any expense associated with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Funding for HBOT is restricted to hospital chambers ONLY and limited to only 'limb and or life threatening' disorders. This 'approved' list DOES NOT include Spinal Cord Injury regardless of the change or improvement gained through HBOT treatments!