What should I do if I feel ear pain during HBOT?

Tell the staff immediately. They can slow or pause pressurization so you can equalize. Try the Valsalva maneuver: pinch your nose, close your mouth, and gently blow. Don't push through sharp ear pain.

Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Painful?

Q: Is hyperbaric oxygen therapy painful?

HBOT itself isn't painful. The most common complaint is mild ear pressure during pressurization, similar to airplane ear. Staff can slow pressurization if you feel discomfort. Most patients find sessions comfortable and many fall asleep.

Q: What does HBOT feel like?

You lie down in the chamber, feel a slight warmth and pressure as the chamber pressurizes, and need to equalize your ears a few times. Once at treatment pressure, you breathe normally. Sessions last 60-90 minutes. Most patients describe it as relaxing.

Q: Can I do HBOT if I have a cold?

Tell your clinic before the session. Significant nasal or sinus congestion makes pressurization uncomfortable and sometimes painful. Many clinics delay the session until congestion clears.

No. HBOT itself isn’t painful. Most patients find sessions comfortable enough to fall asleep during them. But there are a few sensations worth knowing about before your first session.

Ear Pressure: The Most Common Complaint

The biggest complaint from new patients is ear pressure during pressurization. It feels exactly like the pressure change you feel on an airplane during descent. Your ears need to equalize.

The fix is the same as on a plane. Try the Valsalva maneuver: pinch your nose closed, keep your mouth shut, and gently blow. The pressure releases. Yawning and swallowing also work.

Tell the staff immediately if you feel ear pain. They can slow down pressurization or pause and let you equalize before continuing. Don’t wait through it hoping it’ll pass. Sharp ear pain during pressurization is a signal to speak up.

If you have significant ear trouble equalizing across multiple sessions, your hyperbaric physician may refer you to an ENT. Small tubes placed in the eardrums (myringotomy tubes) solve the equalization problem entirely.

Sinus Pressure and Congestion

If you have a cold, allergies, or sinus congestion on treatment day, let the staff know before you get in the chamber. Congestion blocks the sinus passages that need to equalize with pressure. This can cause real pain during pressurization.

Many clinics will delay a session if you’re significantly congested. One skipped session won’t derail your treatment course. A session with severe sinus pain can.

Decongestants are sometimes used before sessions in patients with chronic congestion. Your hyperbaric physician will advise you on this.

What About Oxygen Toxicity?

Oxygen toxicity seizure is a known risk of HBOT. It’s rare, affecting roughly 1 in 10,000 sessions. It isn’t painful. If it occurs, pressurization stops immediately, the patient breathes room air, and recovery is quick. Most patients have no memory of it.

The seizure risk is why clinical HBOT is done in a supervised medical setting, not a spa.

Fatigue After Sessions

Some patients feel tired after treatment, especially in the first week. This is common and usually resolves as the treatment course continues. It’s not painful, but worth knowing about.

See fatigue after HBOT for more detail.

Claustrophobia

Not painful, but a real psychological experience for some patients. Monoplace chambers (single-patient tubes) feel more confining than multiplace chambers. If you think claustrophobia might be an issue, read the claustrophobia guide and tell the staff before your first session. They have approaches to help.

What Most Sessions Actually Feel Like

You lie down. The pressure rises over about 10 minutes. You equalize your ears a few times. Then you’re at treatment pressure for 60-90 minutes. Many patients sleep, watch a movie, or listen to music. Pressure comes back down over about 10 minutes at the end.

Most patients rate sessions as comfortable. The discomfort, when it happens, is mild ear pressure during the first few minutes. It’s manageable.

FAQ

Q: Is hyperbaric oxygen therapy painful? No. The most common complaint is mild ear pressure during pressurization, similar to airplane ear. Staff can slow the process if needed.

Q: What does HBOT feel like? You lie down, feel slight pressure as the chamber fills, equalize your ears a few times, then breathe normally for 60-90 minutes. Most patients find it relaxing.

Q: What should I do if I feel ear pain? Tell the staff right away. They can slow or pause pressurization. Try pinching your nose and gently blowing with your mouth closed.

Q: Can I do HBOT if I have a cold? Tell your clinic first. Significant congestion can make pressurization painful. Many clinics will delay the session.

Medical Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy must be prescribed and supervised by a licensed physician. Always consult your care team about your specific situation. This site does not establish a doctor-patient relationship.