In 2022 Berkshire Community Foundation awarded Berkshire Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre £4,782 towards their project: ‘Providing Oxygen Treatment to help people with MS in Berkshire manage their condition’.
This vital project involved using an oxygen chamber, the only one of its kind in Berkshire, to treat those with MS with oxygen therapy. Berkshire MS Therapy Centre offers 13 oxygen sessions a week and the chamber can sit up to six people per session, these sessions are run by qualified volunteers.
The Berkshire MS Therapy Centre aims to support those living with Multiple Sclerosis. They have over 30 years experience working with people from Berkshire and the surrounding counties. Beneficiaries can be newly diagnosed, reaching out for support for the first time or they may have lived with MS for a while, Berkshire MS Therapy Centre will be there to help with specialised treatments within an understanding, supportive community.
‘Using the oxygen helps my legs, voice and with the pain. When I do not use it, my husband can’t understand me and my legs seem like I have invisible weights on my ankles’
– Service User
‘After my first session I noticed a general sense of wellbeing. I felt like my limbs were moving more smoothly and I had better energy levels’
– Service User
Many symptoms of MS are hard to treat, medication can be expensive, or the side effects/risks are too much. The benefits of oxygen treatment are well documented and the oxygen chamber is the only one within Berkshire. After using the chamber most people report improvements with pain and fatigue, two of the most common but challenging symptoms to treat. Other benefits include better bladder control, improved wellbeing and improved balance and co-ordination. Covid meant two long periods of closure where beneficiaries reported that 92% felt their MS worsened during the closure and 96% felt that returning to oxygen has helped. Throughout the project Berkshire MS Therapy Centre provided 1013 oxygen treatments to 80 service users with 91% reporting that it helps with their physical wellbeing and 86% said it helps with their mental wellbeing. Carol, who regularly attends the centre for oxygen treatment describes the impact of having the treatment on her life, including her ability to work.‘The most significant difference to my life by having oxygen therapy is my concentration levels. During the pandemic, I really noticed that I would lose concentration frequently and kind of ‘drift off’. I was concerned that it may start to impact my ability to work. Oxygen has made such a difference to my concentration levels, and I feel like I am ‘me’ again! I also really missed the social aspect of being in the oxygen chamber and I am pleased to be back being able to chat with friends. Oxygen also enables me to be able to attend physiotherapy at the centre straight afterwards as it gives me an energy boost to be able to participate. During the pandemic and without the oxygen therapy I was unable to do all these things, so I’m very glad it’s back!’
Berkshire MS therapy Centre continues to support those living with Multiple Sclerosis.
Be part of something great.
If you would like to know more about how you can support causes like this, to change lives for the better in Berkshire, please get in touch.
