Pain improvement in rheumatoid arthritis with hyperbaric oxygen: report of three cases.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, erosive, symmetrical inflammatory disease that can progress to synovial destruction, severe disability and premature mortality. Immunotherapies, while beneficial, can cause significant adverse events. Three patients with RA treated in our facility with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO₂) for unrelated diagnoses all reported significant but unanticipated improvement in RA-related pain, increased activity and improved sleeping patterns.