Well, Mel, I just wrote a long reply pontificating about all my knowledge about TENS, but it somehow got erased. You are so lucky. The short version is: TENS can cause a burn under the electrode if improperly used. Since Alan has a history of poor wound healing on his feet, don't use this unless you get a referral to a physical therapist who can evaluate him and instruct in the proper use. I am worried about his feet, due to his history of skin problems and the fact that he might not be able to feel the TENS burning him. A new wound could be devastating for him.

Thank you my dear. I never ever thought of this.
Tomorrow we see the new podiatrist at Methodist and we will ask him what he thinks of TENS UNITs in general.

What a good point. Never would have thought, that because he is completely numb, that he might get a burn.

But, just to be clear about his wounds healing, or not healing, HE HEALS PERFECTLY FINE. The reason for his foot ulcer is that he has a bone impingement on the bottom of his foot. He has no diabetes so when he heals, HE HEALS PERFECT.

So we have to find out tomorrow if this new guy will consider shaving down the bone, so when his foot ulcer ultimately heals, and he can walk again, that there will be no more bone impingement.

At least we are crossing fingers and toes.

Will update when we come back tomorrow.

And thanks so much for giving me the info about possibly burning his feet. Never would have seen that one coming.

Melody

Machines like TENS are very simple to operate and can really help some types of pain, but seeing Alan can't feel anything in his feet, Dakota brings up a good point, if it got accidentally turned up to the highest setting and left running for who knows how long and Alan couldn't feel anything, this would be a real worry.

I have used my machine up on very high settings when my hip was giving me grief, i never got any burns or anything but there is big differance, i could feel it and i knew when to turn it down, i think playing safe as you are is wise.

I have a Rebuilder, which doesn't seem to benefit me on the other settings. I've been considering using the TENS settings to see whether I can get some muscles going that were deserted by motor function a long time ago, but don't know where to place the pads.

Guess I better get a book?

Would love more information on the unit that is related to accupuncture. What's it called?

rose

Rose, a TENS unit isn't designed to stimulate motor fibers, although it sometimes will a little bit if turned up high and placed just right. There are other units designed to stimulate motor nerves to get muscles going. Since you are getting a return of nerve function, I think a physical therapist could help you if you have insurance coverage for this. A therapist could evaluate you and set you up with an FES unit (Functional Electrical Stimulation) -- those are designed to stimulate motor function.

Well, we just came home from the podiatrist. Alan is now wearing a boot. It's called a CAM WALKER. The doctor also gave us a little tube of regranex. Since I know how expensive this stuff is, we are treating it like gold.

The doctor showed me exactly what to do with Alan every single morning before he puts the boot on. Since I've been dressing this particular foot ulcer for over a year, I think I can do this.

Just came back from drug store where I got more bandages, gauze rolls, etc.

Oh, this boot has a pump on it. The doctor says "Don't use the pump, Alan has neuropathy, and he can't tell if it's too tight", or something to that effect. So we are not using the pump.

Also, I was so engrossed in this new doctor (he took 3 new x-rays of Alan's foot), that I forgot to ask him about the tens unit. Alan goes back next Tuesday. He doesn't think he will need anything shaved. He just said "this thing has to heal completely, so we have to deal with that first". He was very professional. He had an attending resident working under him and you should have seen their faces after they asked Alan "When did you first know you had neuropathy?" I said "oh, let me tell you what happened during that first visit. I explained: "The doctor, diagnosed Alan with neuropathy, then looked at Alan and asked "Alan, have you ever had sex with a vietnamese woman?"

These two guys started to laugh as I told them the story. I continued....The doctor then looked at Alan and said "you think I'm kidding, but I'm not, Alan have you ever had sex with a vietnamese woman? and Alan said something to the effect "are you out of your mind, what kind of question is that to ask in front of my wife?" and the doctor said "I need to know if you ever went to Vietnam because during the Vietnam war, the soldiers had sex with the local women and 20 plus years later, they came down with neuropathy due to syphilis". Well, after assuring his doctor that he never had syphilis, well, it's been 15 years of trying to find out why he has neuropathy.

These two doctors (today), thought that was the most fascinating story they ever heard. It was a very good visit and we are hopeful. As soon as I said CIDP and IVIG, they both went 'OH,,OKAY!!!" It was nice to speak to professionals who knew what CIDP and IVIG is.


So, no more off loading shoe. That was $150 out the window.

Now he is wearing this boot contraption.

Will update.
Melody

Thanks, Dakota.

rose

Hi all
Just would like to add my thoughts on the Tens
I did have an older type one which was a waste of time,
but went to a pain specialist,
and now have a new Tens NeuroTrac Tens, not the Sports model
Now these pads are placed each side of the spine and they interfere with the signals coming from ones feet.
the pads are far bigger on the newer model .
Its gives a nice feel about it
I wear it for up to 8 hours per day, and the controls fit into ones shirt pocket
The cost was $ 195.00 New Zealand $$$,
Hope this helps, have had this beast of a problem for 9 years
am currently on Nuerontin 3300 mgs, Lamotrigine 3/50mgs
and Amitriptyline 50mg at night time ,
Have had no side effects from all of them ,
I still have good days and bad days
Cheers from New Zealand ( Aotearoa ) meaning the land of the long white cloud , Hows that

Hi there New Zealand:

Alan hasn't even had a chance to try this TENS thing yet because he's wearing a cast (shoe boot thing).

I asked him yesterday, "are you ever going to try this?" and he said "oh, absolutely, when this thing comes off".

So we shall wait.

Oh, and I almost killed him (maybe I'm wrong, but someone tell me, okay). He goes out yesterday and buys a pair of FUTURO compression socks.

Size large because on the back of this box it indicates if you are a certain shoe size then you should get this size sock.

So he comes home and we take one of the socks out and these are tight socks. Now remember, he's all bandaged up where the foot ulcer is. I said "now why on earth would you buy compression socks, you were never told you had to do this, your circulation is just fine"? and he goes: "well, the shoe boot rubs me (we knew this might happen and they give you pads for this, but I guess the pads weren't enough).

So just imagine me this morning, after I put the bandage on the foot ulcer (which is healing nicely due to the regranex), at least this appears to be the case......so I"m trying to get this sock thing over the bandage, well, forget it, with my arthtic hands, it's a no go. So he takes it and even though the thing is tight, he got it over his foot, up his calf (it reaches just to the tip of his knee. Then he puts the shoe boot on.

I just looked at him and I said 'these socks aren't too tight, they don't hurt you? and he goes "are you kidding, they feel great, they are compressing all the blood and it's going into my feet and I feel fine". He says he's very comfortable. It's not squeezing the life out of him.

Now my friend Bernard wears these compression stockings (he's a diabetic, has a bad foot ulcer, wears the same shoe boot, etc.).

So I guess this stocking can't do him any harm, right? He does say it has stopped the rubbing on his legs and shin (from the shoe boot).

Let me know okay??

Thanks,
Melody

Melody, why don't you have him by the next size larger. Then you will have less concerns about it affecting his circulation and it will still stop the rubbing? (I know, more $$$$$.....)