Originally Posted by catra121

Well...I've been trying my new protocol for a week now and I have noticed a change. I'm not getting any relief in my ankle (yet) with the new protocol but I am getting relief in my upper body (mostly in my hands and arms) and unlike what was happening with my ankle this relief is more constant instead of the up and downs. This is encouraging and I'm going to continue with this protocol for a while. I have not noticed any changes in my balance or sleeping...but it has been eaiser to do a lot of activities with the reduced allydonia and pain in my hands and arms.

I've increased my efforts at pain reduction and exercise. I've been taking two warm baths a day instead of just one, doing two treatments with the ultrasound (after each bath), and having the TENS unit on almost all the time PLUS lidoderm patches on other areas at the same time. I've been increasing the amount of activity and exercise...still focusing on both my physical therapy exercises and upping my endurance. Since the weather has been very very nice (70s-80s with no rain) I have been taking a 5 minute drive to the forest preserve each morning with my little dog and we walk around the lake (gravel path) for 1.5-2 hours. I have to go in the earlier morning before it's two warm and we usually have the whole place to ourselves. I have to use the walker and by the end of the walk I have to lean on it more...but so far no flare ups and the TENS unit and other stuff has kept the pain at a manageable level. Hasn't gotten above an 8 all week which considering the amount of activity I have been doing is pretty impressive. Not sure if it is the amount of focus I have been putting on pain control or if it's the tDCS that is helping keep the flares at bay or if it is a combination of both....but it feels SO great.

I feel like I have more energy. Some of this is mental...I'm sure...just because I am so thrilled with being able to get out of the house and do some walking with my dog in the local forest preserve, etc. But I also can feel that I am getting stronger and stronger and having less pain in my hands and arms is wonderful too. It's not gone...but it is better. I have even been able to go outside on the less windy days without gloves on (though I keep them with me just in case). On the next less windy day I might try wearing something without sleeves to see if I can handle it. Wind is a real killer for me but it would be nice to not have to be completely covered up every time I leave the house..

So...things are going well. I made a lot of progress on my own before tDCS just with physical therapy...but I really think that the tDCS is only going to help me go farther and I hope that over time I start to see improvements in the pain in my ankle and the balance as well. If those improve then I will be able to ditch the walker and that would be a wonderful thing. Even if I could get to the point where I felt safe enough to not need the walker in the house and just needed it when I went out...that would be nice.

Hope everyone is doing well! Take care!