We have been dealing with Osteonecrosis for some time now since Steve finished his treatment just over 3 years ago. We've also had to deal with osteomyelitis in his jaw bone just recently as well. In may this year he broke his jaw by stretching when he sat at his computer. His jaw bone was so weak it just fractured. Last year we fixed the right hand side of his jaw, this year is the left. Recently the fracture became a break right through the mandible. 2 weeks ago he had yet another surgery to fix this which involved the removal of about 3-4cm of jaw bone and then a metal plate inserted that runs from level with his left ear, on his cheekbone, down to the right hand side of his chin.

The last 3 times he's had surgery on his jaw he has had HBO. Since late last year he has completed 71 dives. It does work and is worth doing but I do know that his doctors would not even consider it unless he had biopsies prior to rule out any cancer (hence how we found out about the osteomyelitis). The HBO treatment isn't painful and we've actually found it appears to make steve's skin look better and his hair darker. He had exposed bone on both sides of his gum for over almost 3 years and the HBO has healed this, prior to the last surgery. The doctor's said that is 90% of the battle, healing that gum. If Simon does need this down the track rest assured it is ok, the treatment is relatively easy. Steve is now having minor issues with a retracted ear drum but that appears to be righting itself too. He has 3 more sessions to go. Biggest pain for him with relation to HBO is the daily trips to the hospital but from what I've seen with regards to how it works, its definitely worth doing if its required.

It is good that Simon has a facility nearby. When we started the osteonecrosis journey we were in nsw on the hunter valley and had to travel to randwick for HBO. Living in Townsville now we have a facility a 10 min drive down the road. Makes a massive difference to us. All the best to Simon, I hope it all goes ok for him.