NeuroTalk Support Groups - t.D.C.S. Update Could remission be within my reach and your's too?

NeuroTalk Support Groups (https://www.neurotalk.org/)

- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD and CRPS) (https://www.neurotalk.org/reflex-sympathetic-dystrophy-rsd-and-crps-/)

- - t.D.C.S. Update Could remission be within my reach and your's too? (https://www.neurotalk.org/reflex-sympathetic-dystrophy-rsd-and-crps-/160980-update-remission-reach.html)

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First of all I am not a doctor nor have I never formally studied this , i only interested in neurologi and similar topics and i have some experince with few types of stimulation like tdcs,ces,gvs,cvs,avs.

issue around the CRPS is new for me and will me take a while before I read articles, but i may have some ideas how to help.

did you ever tried L-DLPFC stimulanin and after this C3 (or sensory) protocol ?
According to my current knowledge, it would be much more efficient.
I try to find better protocol which will combine both. This take a while i have must read lots of articles and counting electrodes size, current densities, find map of current popagaition truerh a cortex...

Before testing please consult with the doctor.

Some theory from one article :
Stimulation of the primary motor cortex (M1) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLFPC) may both reduce the perception of pain, but recent studies suggest that they likely do so by different mechanisms. Pain and perception thresholds to electrical stimulation were assessed in 20 healthy volunteers before and during anodal TDCS. Four conditions of stimulation were compared: M1, DLPFC, occipital cortex, and sham. Anodal tDCS of M1 increased both perception and pain thresholds, while stimulation of DLPFC increased pain thresholds only. The results suggested that 1) anodal stimulation of M1 but not DLPFC could induce analgesia by modulating sensory discrimination and 2) stimulation of DLPFC could modulate the perception of pain via a mechanism independent of sensory perception (21). An adjunctive study with 22 healthy volunteers showed that anodal tDCS of the DLPFC (but not M1, occipital, or sham) could decrease the perception of unpleasantness and reduces emotional discomfort/pain while subjects viewed emotionally aversive images demonstrating human pain.

some my experience i expedimentng mainly on L-DLPFC.
Stimulation of those parts of the brain lowering the levels of stress hormones in the body and activation of DLPFC alows to control emotional response and
many other suffs in the brain.From my experinece if i get the stres hormones to the zero the headache and other pain dimish (the cause of pain is still be there bud signal level to brain is lower) my thetory is taht becouse stress block endorphines withs block pain signals.If you unblock the endorphines they are block main part of pain going to the brain.(its oversmilified is very hard for me write in english).There is many posibilities how you can change how many signels go to the cortex -change thalamus settnigs or change how cortex working with signals.
The stress part of the pain can by reduced by tdcs DFLPFC stimulation or by mental technigues effect is very simmilar.

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for pain is very good suplement DLPA - dextrolevo phenylalanine
its safe without a side effects, it rise up the levels of endorphnies and some neurotransmiters in the brain

Quote:

Originally Posted by nick allen (Post 859821)

Thanks for the link Ballerina, it's the most informative I've read so far.:)

Hi Nick,

Very curious to know how your treatments for tinnitus is coming. I know how miserable it can be. I also know how incredible it was to have it gone. Please keep us posted.

Hi Ballerina

Still in the process of gathering equipment & parts. When I've received everything I'll give you a blow-by-blow account of my inevitably good progress. I've met some pretty smart people like yourself that have told me any kind of tinnitus is curable, so that's reassuring. Mine is due to a sudden acoustic trauma/loud sound shock. I am so happy your own tinnitus is gone.I would shed tears of joy if mine went. I used to have a milder form and thought it couldn't possibly get worse, but now it's total agony, a concept I'm sure you can relate to. By the way, what caused your tinnitus (CRPS-related?), how long did you endure it, and what was it like to live with?

Quote:

Originally Posted by nick allen (Post 860061)

Mine was one of the many symptoms of progressive CRPS. The tinnitus lasted for about two years. It began with other autonomic issues. First just annoying, would come and go, but then it was ever present. Sadly, the other symptoms, especially the pain, were even worse.

I hope you are successful with tDCS. Please don't give up if the first protocol does not work.

Hoping there are better days ahead for you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by catra121 (Post 859862)

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.

Dear Catra,

Just read your post. I am sorry about the frustation you are going through
in your journey with TDCS, but hang in there. I am pleased to hear you have
noticed some difference in pain levels. Since my understanding is repeated
treatments have an accumulative effect, perhaps as time passes and you
gain more information your anxiety levels will lessen and increased relief will
be felt. Regardless, you are in my thoughts and in my prayers.

:hug: Joydee

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joydee (Post 860770)

Thanks. This is my hope as well. I'm trying a different protocol and am targeting my upper body this time with the hopes that with time I will see the improvements in my ankle and balance as well. I'm still optimistic about it all though.

Ballerina,

Could you tell me what setting you use for the 'dosage' setting on the
phoresis uint? I imagine you set the current at 2mA?

Thanks and happy to hear you are doing better,
Vic :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by VicF (Post 861359)

Ballerina,

Could you tell me what setting you use for the 'dosage' setting on the
phoresis uint? I imagine you set the current at 2mA?

Thanks and happy to hear you are doing better,
Vic :)

Yes Vic,
2mA is what I use.

Hope tDCS helps you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by VicF (Post 861359)

Ballerina,

Could you tell me what setting you use for the 'dosage' setting on the
phoresis uint? I imagine you set the current at 2mA?

Thanks and happy to hear you are doing better,
Vic :)

The dosage is 40...current is 2mA...treatment lasts 20 minutes.

tDCS-reversing the effects of the Spinal Cord Stimulator

Yesterday I went out the door with my cane for the first time. The first thing I did was to walk through the daffodils blooming by the driveway. Then I walked to the mailbox and back.

A mundane activity that most people take for granted. I have not had that much fun in years.

After having been maimed by a Boston Scientific Spinal Cord Stimulator tDCS has given me a new life. The wheelchair that the Spinal Cord Stimulator relegated me to is now in the shed. I hope the walker will also reside there soon.

It is not often that CRPS worsened by Spinal Cord stimulators responds to anything. I am in awe and feel so thankful for finding this treatment.

I am now in physical therapy only once a week, down from three times a week. The atrophy in my leg is just about gone. I am sleeping like a baby.

I am now on maintenance treatments of twice a week for twenty minutes each.

The best thing is that my energy level is back to the pre-CRPS, Pre spinal cord stimulator level. There is no doubt in my mind that tDCS has interrupted the progression of the disease.

If you are newly diagnosed please consider tDCS to knock out the CRPS. For all of those with CRPS who are considering Spinal Cord Stimulators please read my history first. I have been to hell and back. The only thing worse than CRPS is CRPS made worse by a failed Spinal Cord Stimulator.(And most of them do fail for CRPS patients, within several months to several years)

I try not to look back but some times I can't help but think about how my life would have been different if I had used tDCS early on, prior to the many treatment failures and medications that either did not work or made me worse.

Please consider tDCS. You have nothing to loose.