Originally Posted by catra121

I will try to do as you suggest and be really aggressive with the other therapies, etc, that I do to help bring the pain levels down. I've been just doing them as I did before but maybe if I focus on doing them more then that will make the effects last longer. I've also been trying to spend some time getting out of the house to continue to work on building up my endurance for "when" I am able to return to work (whenever that may be).

I'm not really clear on what the best option would be for trying to target a specific area other than you want the anode on the opposite side. I've tried to read through some of the articles but honestly my reading comprehension has gotten pretty rough since the RSD got so bad last year. I used to love to read and I just can't seem to focus enough. I read a few lines...then have to reread them because my mind wanders or I can't remember what I just read. It's very frustrating and reading up on tDCS beyond what has been posted here has been rough going and frustrating to say the least. At any rate...I would be willing and happy to try any other placements if anyone can give me more specific direction on how to target a specific area.

I have RSD in my left ankle and also everywhere between my waist and neck (inlcuding both arms and hands). Thankfully I started doing therapy and desensitization in those areas before they had a chance to get as bad/far along as my ankle. I also didn't make the mistakes that I did with the ankle (or that my doctors made with my ankle) like immobilizing and using ice. So even though I still have the constant burning pain, allydonia, and swelling in my upper body...the bone crushing make you want to cry flares and freezing only happen every few days as compared to the constantness of the pain in my ankle. Lord...how warped is that to think the awful pain in my upper body isn't "that bad" when it would probably make most people want to curl up and die. I'm affected on both sides equally up there with my back, neck, and hands being the worst generally outside of those awful flares that can attack anything in that region (or several at once). I try to stay positive and not think too hard about these things...but when you write it out like that you really realize what a warped sense of "normal" you get when you live with this. And I know I've lived with it not nearly as long as many.

I do keep a notebook though of what times I do treatment and the effects, etc. I've been doing the treatments at 10am and 5pm every day...mostly because of my boyfriend's work schedule so I can do them when he is not home and I can be completely relaxed and not have any distractions. I could try moving the second one up. Haven't noticed my sleep being any worse than before though...just not better.

I won't give up and will keep trying. Some relief is better than none afterall but I hope that I can find something that works a little bit better for me. So far this has been one of the few things that actually helps with the PAIN though. Physical therapy has been great for the function and all...but other than the TENS I haven't had anything that could make a significant impact on the actual pain in a very long time...especially since I went off of all my meds for the pain last year. I don't really want to have to go back on them because I am worried about the long term effects (and that seratonin syndrome was nasty business...don't want to deal with anything like THAT again). So I really think tDCS will be my best option once I find a protocol that works best for me.