Using a TENS unit for Pain Management

I had someone ask me if I tried a TENS unit for pain management. It’s worth a try so I told her I would post the info. Back in 1994 I bought a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) unit. You get one or two leads that glue or stick onto the area of pain. The opposite end goes into the unit control mechanism. I paid $600 for my unit and now they are around $150. I had two leads which gives you 4 pads. I would put them on the upper and lower limits of where I felt pain. And then you can set the amplitude, strength, pulsing or not and depending on your unit – other controls. I think that they basically work by scrambling the pain signal to the brain. It might sound hokey but I was able to get off my anti inflammatories and continuing running using just the TENS unit.

The problem lies in allergic reactions to the glue that is used to stick the pads on. It’s a very common problem and the company, Medtronics, has gone into surgical implants. It didn’t take long for the allergy to get going and I got around it by using pads without glue and then taping them in place with paper tape. That worked very well but unfortunately, the unit wasn’t so effective this time.

And I have to tell you it only works while you are wearing it. And the leads can get caught in things plus you always have the control unit and what to do with it. No dresses. You have to have something to attach the unit to.

Anyway, it does work for some people and it’s drug free. Most physio therapists will have a unit so you can try it out with their guidance and see if you are one of the lucky ones.

Neuropathic Pain

I find it very interesting to see the pain managed so successfully with non-narcotic drugs. I’ve been in pain for years supposedly from my arthritis although my case is quite complicated. But isn’t everyone’s case different and complicated in other ways?

NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories) helped the pain but this was far from complete. And these types of drugs are not meant to be taken forever. The ideal case is that you get an acute inflammation from something eg spraining your ankle and you go on the NSAIDs for 10 days to aid with the healing.  Arthritis, however, is not an acute situation but rather is chronic. People go on the NSAIDs because of the pain and the drugs help to different degrees.Unless the patient is persistent about their level of pain, it often stops here. And the patients’ don’t know what is “normal” pain from arthritis. The one thing that they do know is they can’t manage many “normal” daily tasks and this can impact their quality of life (QOL) to varying degrees.

Update August 21, 2009

Well, I can hardly believe the difference between now and the last post. Let me start off by saying that the pain is well under control. In fact, most of the time during the past week I have not had any pain. That’s a show stopper.

Two weeks ago, I had to stop taking my Arthrotec (an antiinflammatory) because I was having the steroid injection into the piriformis muscle. I began taking Cymbalta several weeks prior to that. I’ve had to stop the NSAIDS before and couldn’t wait until the time I could start them again because of the increase in pain. Believe it or not, I didn’t even notice the difference. I was stunned. After a couple of days I thought the inflammation would come back and the pain would get worse. Nada. And now it’s been two weeks and I haven’t taken a single antiinflammatory.

Feeling a Lot Better Then Not

Yesterday, I felt terrific. It gave me new hope. The cymbalta is definitely working. Each day it has been a little better and then yesterday, I almost felt normal. Well you know how that works.

I did a nice walk – managed to go a little faster without trying. I was out there for about 30 minutes. Nice. Sunshine. Walking straighter. I really did feel better. By the time I got home, Bill was waiting to go to the beach where the Harmony Art Festival is taking place. I had thought we were going on Sunday or I wouldn’t have done my walk. Whoops. I didn’t say anything and without taking a little rest, we went to the beach. We were there about two hours. It was fun to walk around and see the different craft booths and the gallery. Outside they were doing art demos and Alan Wylie was there. Bill loves his stuff so he sat on a log and watched. I tried to sit next to him but after five minutes I knew it wasn’t a good idea. OK. I went to lawn and sat in one of the chairs.

Bill could tell I was reaching my limit but he wanted to see the gallery. He found a book there by an artist he would like to take a course in. Then we walked around the lawn area, found the schedule for the art demos and just wandered. I think I did something then. I was a bit of a tough go on the lawn, not even ground and there was a dip that I didn´t see. Darn. I could feel something in my back but it wasn’t sore immediately after.

Around and Around We Go

Well, there is no shortage of changes, no shortage of frustrations and sometimes no shortage of hope. The most recent news is difficult to get through. The physicians are getting risky with their suggested treatments and I’m really having to decide just how much I am willing to gamble. I feel, after the hyperthermia trial in Holland, that I am done with the experiments.

Now I am at steroid injections and am stopping that unless they are done radiographically. I was a neurologist’s office last week and she gave me 6 injections trying to hit the piriformis muscle. I feel terrible now and over the last week it’s been hell. I was supposed to go today for a shot into my neck and begged off. She’s made an appointment to do a repeat one radiographically but this being Canada I have to wait a couple of months…She wants to do botox injections into the muscles. I am totally uncomfortable with that and want a second opinion.

Dr. Fernando Barinagarrementeria Aldatz in Queretaro, Mexico

Dr. Fernando Barinagarrementeria Aldatz is located in the Hospital Angeles de Queretaro.

I got in to see him in about one week. The visit was 800 pesos. He never once made me feel like I should leave. He chatted and asked me all kinds of questions.

Once you make the appointment send some info to him by email. Then phone to see if they got it.

I sent him reports and the hospital had a bit of a computer issue on that day but no one knew where it was.

The receptionists are nice. If you call they may tell you it is his personal email (which it is), so they can’t tell you whether the doctor has received or not.

Tell them to ask him or you’ll waste some time. You might have to phone back but it’s a much better way to get the most from your visit.

For sure, if you have had MRI’s done, bring the CDs.

And just so you know what he looks like I’ve attached a little picture. He is an absolute doll. And his English as good as mine.

Let me know if you need help or info.

Cuidate mucho (take care)

Darlene

Dr. Fernando Barinagarrementeria Aldatz

fbarinaga@infosel.net.mx – Personal

01 442 192 3041 – Cell

442.192-3006 – Work

442.215-9977 – Móvil

Blvd B Quintana No. 141, Loma Dorada
Hospital Angeles de Queretaro
Queretaro, 76060 GTO
Mexico

Otra – Mapa

Nicest and Best Neurologist in Queretaro, Mexico

Forteo?

The latest update from the endocrinologist -the specialist here in the Lower Mainland that handles all patients on Forteo has agreed to handle me…I still have to think about it.

My last bone scan at St Paul’s hospital showed a T score around -1.5. Lion’s Gate Hospital got their own machine finally and so the results cannot be compared. However the first scan from LGH showed a bone density of +3. Come on- no one can take that seriously. The lumbar spine had pretty collapsed on itself so it showed up as a nice piece of bone. They put me on Fosamax after the scan (2006) and I had a repeat done this Feb 09. It shows a 10% loss of bone mass in the lumbar spine. That’s the reason they want to put me on Forteo. However, the L spine is not even osteopenic. The hip and forearm are normal for my age…so how about the 3 back surgeries that took bone out of the lumbar area- wouldn’t you think that would show a bone loss. I had bilateral laminectomies at two levels. Microdiscectomies at three. 

It just seems logical that there would be less bone…Less is more in this case.

Quinine?? Nocturnal Muscle Cramps and More

Hi Everyone

I saw a neurologist while I was in Mexico (in Queretaro). He’s fabulous. One of the many things that came out of the meeting was his suggestion to try quinine for my cramping.

I have Small Fibre Polyneuropathy which means that the small muscles fibres are always firing. That can be pretty bad and tiring. I also have Periodic Limb Movement Disorder which was diagnosed here at the UBC Sleep Disorders Clinic. All involve hyperexcitable muscles.

Anyway, I tried the quinine (325 mg) available by prescription in Canada and the US. I tried it in Mexico where it is available over the counter. Anyway, the spasms stopped. Maybe not all of the them but the ones that were in my legs and feet, arms and hands stopped. Just like that. It’s been about a month now and I can’t believe it.

Update on Bone Scan

Hi Everyone

I know it’s been ages since I’ve posted. I’ve had a lot of trouble with pain management and everything seems to go okay for a time, then it’s definitely not okay…

I had a repeat bone scan and found out that have lost 10% bone mass. That is in spite of having been on Fosamax. Geez. So the Fosamax is not working.

Doing some blood work to check out what’s going on. There are rarely any answers. My hip and wrist are okay but my back is definitely not.

And the last MRI found anterior wedging at T5/6. That’s bad but thank heaven it was minor. However it means no more head off the mat and start to take some serious precautions. Wedging can lead to vertebral fractures…don’t want that.

So life is kind of like that. One of my best friends has lung cancer metastisized in the bone. That sucks. Besides that, it means I’m still doing okay. You gotta keep it relative.

Take care.
Darlene

Walking, Reformer and Yoga Going Well

Click on the link to see the video: http://www.viddler.com/darmorrow/videos/40/

Things are going well. Did a 15 minute walk, 45 minutes of the Yoga for Scoliosis DVD and also worked on the Reformer. All on different days.

Going on the elliptical now for 30 minutes. Feeling pretty good.