I saw my PM doc today and he was amazed with my progress. He indicated that he would not have expected this kind of result from Ketamine infusions. He has decided to offer tDCS to his other CRPS patients in addition to those with Fibromyalgia and migraines-conditions that are treatment resistant like CRPS, and are frequently accompanied by clinical depression.

I suggested the treatment to a coworker of my husband who has CRPS and is also treated by my PM doc. She went to Beth Israel for a week long series of tDCS prior to trying Ketamine infusions. Since she had the same kind of response to tDCS that I did she has decided not to have Ketamine infusions. She is now off narcotics, which she has taken for 6 years.

My PM doc has blocked out an hour of his schedule next week to observe my treatment.

To say that I am overjoyed at my improvement is an understatement! I am thrilled that other folks in my neck of the woods will have a chance at what I have experienced.

For those who cannot afford Ketamine or who are concerned about the side effects, tDCS is quite safe, affordable and can produce results as good as or better than Ketamine.

Best to all!!!!

It think its great you are able to help others. This may be something I will try and if it works I will be bugging you more.

Godbless

Greg

Dear Ballerina...

Can you post the link where you purchased the unit, please.. Also do the leads come with the unit?? Or.. Call me..thanks



Thanks, Kathy

The unit I use is the Activa Dose II. I just came across a site that offers it for only $225.00 Item # w64153. The company is 3B Scientific www.a3bs.com, 888-326-6335.

They also have the lead wires for only $6.95, Item # w53111.

Sponge electrodes can be purchased from Amrex, www.amrexusa.com, 800-221-9069, Item # 2-A103.

I suggest you do a search to see if you can get the device even cheaper. Just google "Iontophoresis device." The prices seem to be dropping. Also some sites require a script. Even the ones that request a script- if you order online you can many times by by pass it.

Hope this helps!

I had a set back by overdoing it and I got slammed. Most of the more miserable symptoms returned and I was once again stuck in one room most of the day with a space heater. I was surprised because I did nothing weight bearing, and nothing at all strenuous. Long story short, I won't do that again.

Apparently tDCS behaves similarly to Ketamine in that if one bumps themselves or overdoes it the effects of the treatment can go south. Fortunately, unlike Ketamine, I didn't shell out $15,00 for the treatment and now do not have to worry about how to afford a booster treatment.

I got back on track with my twice a day tDCS treatments for twenty minutes each and I am making steady progress.

I am up to about two hours wearing clothing on my upper body. This is great because there was a time when I could wear nothing but a tube top pulled very low.

When my husband asked me what I would like for Christmas I replied, "back up electrodes for my tDCS device."

Hope my experience is of help to others!

Ballerina,
I don't mean to sound ignorant but what is tDCS?

You absolutely do not sound ignorant! tDCS is only offered in three locations in the U.S. (four if you count my kitchen, Ha! Ha!)

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation treats many forms of neuropathic pain by passing a weak direct electrical current through the brain. Please see my earlier posts in this thread for a description.

For a more in depth review of neuromodulation treatments please see below.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...3/?tool=pubmed

Hope this helps!

Sorry to hear that you had a setback. It doesn't matter what treatment you are going through (be it physical therapy, ketamine, tDCS, etc) setbacks can happen if you push yourself too hard. And it's so hard not to when you've been down and out for so long. I know for me I have slowly and steadily been making progress with my physical therapy (the TENS unit being a big help for my ankle pain...allowing me to do a little bit of weight bearing)...but I keep telling myself that I have to take it easy and slow. It's frustrating because the more stuff I can do, the more I want to do....but I know if I do too much too soon then I will be down for several days and it will be a big setback.

Good luck...I hope you can get back to where you were before. I've been following this thread with a lot of interest and once I can get myself back to work (which it looks like will happen in January) then I can start saving money and maybe give this a try. The TENS unit helps with my ankle but not with the pain in my entire upper body. Wearing clothes hurts...ALOT...but it sounds like yours is even worse. It took me months to build up enough of a tolerance to wear normal tops again...which is good because with the cold weather I think I would be sunk without something to protect me from the cold...but they still hurt and it would be nice to have some relief from that.

I'll keep you in my prayers...really hope you have even more success the second go around.

Discussed this with my doctor today and she's on board for trying out tDCS...yay! She wrote a script for the equipment so hopefully I will be starting treatment soon. I'm very excited...sure I will be asking loads of questions as I get started with it.

WOW CATRA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I an thrilled for you. I am so hopeful that you find the relief that you deserve. If I can help I am here, also feel free to PM me.

Is your doctor familiar with tDCS or did you have to bring her around? Did you get cleared to return to work?