So much good news, I don't know where to start!!!!!!

Great news Joydee!!!! I know what a struggle it has been to get all of the schedules straight for your trip to see Dr. Fugedy.

More news! Mike asked me to let everyone know that he has been MIA due to being without a computer but wanted me to let everyone know that he has recently begun tDCS and after only ten days the edema which has plagued his ankles for years is gone!!!!!!!! He is thrilled beyond words. I am just as excited given what he has been through over the years. Mike is another example of Old and Cold CRPS responding to tDCS. He is taking a temporary break while he irons out some equipment issues but expects to be up and running again with tDCS treatments very soon. His success reminds me of my first experience with tDCS and the decrease in swelling I have by the fifth day. I remember thinking that just that symptom relief alone was enough.
(Yes Catra, you bet I have become greedy)

My good news is nothing short of amazing also. I was recently bitten by a tick right on one of my surgical incisions. The bite became angry and infected BUT CAUSED NO FLARE!

On Wednesday I took a severe fall into a closing elevator door which got me squarely on my bad shoulder. I have a nasty bruise, BUT IT CAUSED NO FALRE. I have had no flares whatsoever for almost five weeks. It used to be that the slightest air movement, even the AC coming on would send me into orbit for a day or two. A minor injury like a paper cut could sack me for two days.

There is no question that the inflammatory CRPS response which used to be cranked up by anything is becoming harder to awaken due to tDCS.

In the past the longest I went without a flare was several days. Major flares occurred with the slightest provocation.

I am still taking anti inflam meds and I am on a regular routine of anything that addresses brain reorganization.

I no longer wear my night guard since teeth clenching is a thing of the past. I sure wish I had known about tDCS before the teeth clenching cracked a tooth necessitating a root canal which ignited a new area of CRPS.

By the way. For those of you who avoid anything invasive if you get a tick bite and are worried about having to take anibiotics with a followup blood draw to check for tick bourn illnesses I have a solution. I mailed the little sucker off to a lab and had it tested. Lucky for me the test was negative, no drugs or blood draws!

If I can only lick the balance problems. Although my balance has improved I am still at risk for serious injury. When I fell into the elevator door I even had my service dog with me. I have less falls or near misses when she is with me.

I don't go out much because of falling issues. I am currently researching tDCS and falls to see what I come up with. I am also looking at research pertaining to transcranial magnetic stimulation to see if I can apply anything contained in that research to tDCS.

CRPSJAMES is also doing research in the same area. Is anyone else researching tDCS and balance. Please share if you find anything promising.

We are learning the positive effects of tDCS on treatment resistant CRPS and Old and Cold CRPS. How thrilled I would be to see someone who is newly diagnosed try the treatment and go into remission.

If you have tried tDCS and are newly diagnosed please share to help others.

I am so overjoyed that I have found a treatment that has been scientifically proven to be safe and effective, has no side effects, cannot be effected by tolerance levels, is cheap, address the root cause of CRPS, not just covers up the pain, is painless, addresses not only the pain but dozens of other symptoms and sensations associated with CRPS and is inching me toward remission. If anyone had asked me two years ago where I though I would be now I realistically would have answered that I would probably be in a wheelchair and or addicted to narcotics as well as experiencing spread of the condition or full body CRPS.

I don't know what the future brings but I can only hope I will never take narcotics or pain medications again.

Better days are ahead for all of us!

Hi Ballerina. I'm fairly new to this site and new to crps. I got the official diagnosis this past Nov. Catra121 suggested that I quickly try tdcs and/or ketamine infusions.

I have an appt. to see one of my drs. on Friday and I'm going to try to get a prescription for the unit. I don't know if a diagnosis of this past Nov. qualifies me as a new crps person. I read through all the posts over the last few days (brain fog delayed me from reading it in one day- very frustrating recent development) and truly appreciate all the time and effort you and others have put into describing the procedure.

Since I have met my full deductible for the year (met it in Jan.) I'd like to get my insurance to pay for the unit. I am going to ask for a script for treatment of depression- thanks to whoever suggested this. I'm going to post under ketamine infusions my difficulty with trying to find a dr. to do ketamine for me.

Hi all...just finished my seventh day....no results yet. I know it takes time but just hoping to feel something!

Debbie

This is great news and I am really happy to hear it! I'll mark the date on my calendar and send my prayers her way for successful treatments and a good response to tDCS.

Hi,

Allow me to share my reaction to reading your post with the wonderful
news about Mike as well as the good news about yourself. I was so happy
hearing that news I was compelled to run upstairs then out into the sunshine
on my sun deck and perform my happy dance. In fact I did run up stairs
toword the back door which led to the deck in the back yard but I caught
myself thinking whoa, the neighbors can see me dancing on the deck and
might not understand. Instead I had to resort to just feeling so happy and
shaking my head and thinking "Wow."

Joydee

Hi, Catra,

Thank you it really means a lot.

Joydee

Hi Debbie,

Hang in there. I recall a post from CRPS James who shared with
everyone what happened with his friend who had tried TDCS
for two weeks and nothing happened but over the week end he
tried a different protocal and had results. As you say it does
take time and it may also be you might need another protocal
as well but keep trying. We are with you.

Joydee

How exciting-a newbe to try tDCS. I have one suggestion.

Us folks who have had CRPS for so long have lots of time to experiment with different protocols. Your window may be rapidly closing. Please consider a consultation with Dr. James Fugedy in Atlanta so you can be up and running immediately, have all of your questions answered and be able to receive ongoing instruction in the latest protocols. You could loose so much time trying to do your own research or hope that a protocol tried by others will work for you. According to his website, Fugedy also uses tDCS to treat depression. You might be able to get your insurance to cover the visit for depression. This route would not preclude Ketamine treatments. You could get a jump on tDCS with Fugedy while you are trying to find Ketamine treatments.

I myself have not seen Fugedy, but I am seriously considering scheduling an appointment to see it I can utilize the device in a better way. Catra has suggested that I am getting greedy. I am guilty as charged! I want remission.

I am so impressed with how fast you have educated yourself about CRPS and the most effective treatments.

Hope this suggestions helps!

Ballerina and CRPSjames, I hope you both know that I think it is GREAT that you are greedy and meant it in a good way. Upon reading my post I realized it COULD have been taken otherwise. I think we should all be greedy when it comes to our quest for better treatments and remission.

I seem to be back on track with regards to my ankle...I think the extra stess of only using the cane for a weekend just threw me out of whack for a little bit. I'm feeling very good today and looking forward to Monday and Tuesday of next week because that's when my boyfriend and I are going to make our big trip to Home Depot to get flowers for all of our pots and landscape supplies to make a few more flower beds. Now that I can spend more time outside with the nice weather and am up to it physically I am looking forward to spending more and more time out in the yard while I am trying to sort things out with my employer about my return to work.

I also went to my cousin's college graduation yesterday from Loyola University in downtown Chicago. I handled the crowds well and got around quite well with minimal assistance from family. Really only needed help in the form of my dad carrying my walker while I used the cane to walk along the back row of the bleachers (was a BIT too narrow for the walker). But then he set it next to me and that was all that was needed. I'm getting more and more independent and constantly figuring out how to make things work for me. Just because I can't do everything the same way I used to, doesn't mean I should let this RSD hold me back.

tDCS has really given me so much more freedom to do more because it isn't as hard of a struggle as it was before.

I have found a pm in Atlanta who does ketamine infusions and is "in network". Has anyone had any experience with the "Shepard Center"?

Dr. Fugedy is "out of network" for me so I'd have a $6000 deductible (ouch). However, I thought if I'm going to Atlanta to see about ketmaine, perhaps I could stop in and see Dr. Fugedy.

Does anyone have any idea how much it costs to see Dr. Fugedy and go through the tdcs treatments? I read that several people who post on this board are currently down in Atlanta consulting with him.

Additionally, can Ketamine and tdcs therapy be done back to back so I could do both therapies during one stay in Atlanta? (trying to save much needed money). If they can be done close together, which should go first?

I appreciate everyone's kind words and encouragement. I hope to someday be able to help others as you have done for me.