An injury can heal while pain carries on. That can make everyday movements, exercise, work, or a good night’s sleep harder than expected.
Persistent pain can be confusing because it does not always follow the same timeline as tissue healing. The pain is real, and understanding what may be keeping it going is an important part of deciding what to do next.
Why can pain continue after an injury heals?
Pain is the body’s warning system, but that system can become more sensitive. Think of an alarm that keeps sounding after the original problem has passed. Signals can stay turned up even when damaged tissue has healed. This is one possible reason pain may continue after an injury.
Persistent pain can also have several contributing factors. The original injury, inflammation, nerve sensitivity, sleep, movement, stress, and other health conditions may all affect how pain is experienced. That is why an individual medical assessment matters.
Where might HBOT fit?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT, involves breathing oxygen inside a chamber where the pressure is higher than normal air pressure. This allows the lungs to collect more oxygen while a patient is monitored by trained staff.
For persistent pain, HBOT is being studied as an adjunctive option. Adjunctive means it may be considered alongside a broader care plan rather than as a replacement for diagnosis, rehabilitation, medication, or another treatment recommended by a clinician.
What did the 2026 review find?
A 2026 systematic review examined 11 randomized controlled trials involving 480 adults with chronic pain syndromes. Eight of the trials focused on fibromyalgia. The remaining studies examined complex regional pain syndrome, idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia, and radiation-induced brachial neuropathy.
“HBOT shows potential as an adjunctive intervention for selected chronic pain syndromes, particularly fibromyalgia.”
Leys and colleagues, Journal of Pain Research, 2026
You can read the study on PubMed or view the full systematic review.
What does this mean if you are still in pain?
Persistent pain is not a single diagnosis. The cause, location, duration, medical history, and treatments already tried can all affect which options are appropriate. A clinician can help determine whether symptoms need further investigation and how different approaches may fit together.
HBOT for chronic pain syndromes is an off-label use. A medical review should consider your history, current care, treatment goals, and whether you are a suitable candidate before any protocol is discussed.
Exploring your options
If pain is still affecting your day after the original injury has healed, you can speak with an MD Hyperbaric team about medically supervised HBOT and whether it may fit into your wider care plan.
Find your nearest MD Hyperbaric center to learn more and arrange a consultation.
Sources
- Leys AM, Hans GH, Saldien V, Wildemeersch D. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Managing Chronic Pain Syndromes: A Systematic Review. Journal of Pain Research. 2026.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Follow Instructions for Safe Use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Devices. 2025.
Important information
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or insurance advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider for personal recommendations and check with your insurance company for current policy details.
What Our Patients Say
Real Patients. Real Results
Post-Surgical Recovery“Getting HBOT helped me a lot with my wound healing. I noticed my scars remarkably lightened. My mood and energy levels improved as well in just three weeks of getting two sessions each week — despite my demanding work schedule, I felt like I had more energy.”Namae
Inflammatory Bowel Disease“I was prescribed HBOT by my specialist to treat a complex and traumatic issue stemming from IBD and reconstructive GI surgeries. I did a full course and absolutely saw improvement right away. The staff are amazing, very professional and caring.”Kathleen
Injury Recovery“I broke my wrist playing tennis and came to MD Hyperbaric Westchester to help speed up my recovery. After a few sessions I have felt a tremendous improvement in energy, sleep — and my doctor says my wrist is healing remarkably well.”John
Cancer Adjunct“I'm a breast cancer survivor, and after radiation near my lungs, I thought this treatment might be useful. I can feel a difference in my breathing and cognition. I definitely recommend it if your body has gone through a traumatic experience.”Aziza
Wellness“I recently began using Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at MD Hyperbaric, and it's been one of the most unique and impactful wellness treatments I've explored. I was drawn in by the potential benefits for anxiety, fatigue, and overall cellular repair, but I didn't expect it to feel this restorative — and my skin is glowing too!”Olesia
Still Have Questions?
Questions About HBOT? Let's Chat
Book your free 15-minute discovery call today.
MD Hyperbaric Is Rapidly Expanding
Find Your Nearest HBOT Center
Before Your First Visit
Frequently Asked Questions
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a proven treatment that enhances healing by flooding the body with oxygen. Used for over 100 years, it supports brain health, anti-aging, athletic recovery, and medical conditions by boosting oxygen in blood, tissues, and organs. Patients breathe 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber, accelerating recovery and promoting cellular repair.
HBOT is FDA-approved for 14 conditions like burns, carbon monoxide poisoning, and non-healing wounds. Emerging research also supports its use for post-surgical recovery, brain injury, fatigue, inflammation, athletic recovery, and anti-aging. Our medical team will assess if HBOT is right for you.
Yes, HBOT is safe when properly supervised. At MD Hyperbaric, treatments are protocol-driven, medically overseen, and administered by certified staff. Our Medical Director and onsite Safety Director ensure every session is carefully monitored, and we continuously update our protocols based on the latest research to prioritize patient safety.
Typically, most treatment sessions are approximately 60 minutes, though some conditions may require up to 90 or 120 minutes. Pressurization and depressurization may add about 20 minutes to the appointment, so you should plan for about 90 minutes for your visit.
The number of sessions depends on the condition being treated. Some patients may benefit from a few sessions, while others may require a more extended treatment plan. A typical protocol will involve 10-40 daily sessions to build up oxygen in the cells. Our Medical Director will recommend a specific treatment plan to address your goals and needs.
Prior to treatment, please try to avoid alcohol or carbonated drinks. It is best to avoid smoking and other tobacco products during your treatment period, as they may interfere with the body's ability to transport oxygen. Otherwise, there are no restrictions for food or activity before or after your treatment. We encourage you to have healthy meals and stay hydrated.
Most patients find HBOT sessions relaxing. You will rest comfortably in a 7.5-foot-long steel chamber, breathing 100% pure oxygen through a mask. During pressurization and depressurization, you may feel pressure changes similar to airplane travel. A trained technician will monitor you throughout the session.
The term "dive" is used because the process simulates the experience of a deep-sea dive in a pressurized environment. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has deep roots in diving as an important therapy for treating divers experiencing decompression sickness.
At MD Hyperbaric, we use the FDA-cleared OxyHealth Fortius420, a spacious hard-shell chamber delivering 100% medical-grade oxygen via mask. It operates up to 3.0 ATA, allows tailored pressures, supports air breaks, and includes three windows for comfort and safety.
At MD Hyperbaric, we use hard-shell chambers that deliver 100% medical-grade oxygen at higher pressures for superior therapeutic benefits. Soft-shell chambers operate at lower pressures without medical-grade oxygen, making them less effective for medical treatment.
Our team will assess your medical history and specific circumstances through an intake process. An initial evaluation with certified staff and the Medical Director will determine your eligibility for HBOT.
No referral is needed. Our Medical Director will review your intake forms and prescribe HBOT if appropriate. If you have a prescription from a provider, we will coordinate with them. For serious health conditions, we may recommend getting clearance from your physician.
Some MD Hyperbaric centers accept insurance for certain on-label conditions — the FDA-recognized indications for which HBOT is an established standard of care. Whether insurance applies depends on your diagnosis, your plan, and the center you visit, so please contact your local center to confirm. Where insurance does not apply, HBOT is a self-pay treatment: most FSA/HSA plans allow reimbursement, and we can provide a superbill and receipt to help you submit a claim.
It depends on how you pay. For insurance-covered treatment at participating centers, your cost depends on your plan's deductible, copay, and coinsurance — the center verifies your benefits and explains expected costs before treatment begins. For self-pay treatment, we offer a variety of pricing options designed to suit different medical and financial needs, including pay-as-you-go and package options at reduced rates when purchased upfront. Please contact us to discuss pricing and options. We accept cash, credit, or check.