daily, and none showed any indications of seizures or toxicity,
suggesting that the extended time course did not affect the
animals negatively.
In conclusion, neuropathic pain typically does not respond well
to conventional treatments, and few patients receive total relief of
their pain. Treatments include either opioids or non-steroidal antiinflammatories,
which have side effects or run the risk of
dependence, or anti-depressants, which are usually given in less
than effective doses (Harden and Cohen, 2003). Hyperbaric oxygen
treatment appears to be successful in relieving neuropathic pain
for an extended period of time, and thus should be considered as an
alternative measure to the therapies that are currently utilized.
Future research should be aimed at investigating the precise
mechanisms underlying the effect of HBO treatment on neuropathic
pain, in addition to determining the time course of pain
alleviation.