Hi Everyone.

Have any of you used a STS Machine for RSD? It's supposed to be a new form of alternative therapy. It's sortof like a tens machine, but it's not invasive. It's small jolts of electrical current through 8 small sized probes - aimed to "restart" the sympathetic nervous system. It's a series of therapy sessions - 1 hour x1 or x2 per day. Anybody heard of this?

Hi there,

No, I hadn't heard of it, so I looked it up. I think it looks pretty interesting.

Didn't find anything too informative but its inventor, Dr. Donald Rhodes, has a clinic website in Corpus Christi, Texas - quite a good website, well written and not pushy at all.

I think their approach looks really sensible, everything is geared to improve the circulation and get more blood into the affected areas. I personally think that's crucial.
Here's the appropriate web page:
http://www.paindefeat.com/wiki/PDFT/...PainTreatments

Here's a "my story" from a 16 year old who's had RSD for 8 years:
http://www.zaprsd.com/aboutme.htm?PH...bfed10eac019ba

If there was one of these machines here in Hong Kong (but maybe there is, I'll check it out) I'd definitely give this a go.

Thanks for letting us know about it - have you tried it, or are you going too? Most machines I have a problem with when used directly on my hand (too much vibration, movement I can't control etc), but somehow - just guessing - this doesn't look like it'd be like that.

Let us know what it's like, please
all the best.

I like the looks of that program too. But I have a serious question about it, the same question I have about a TENS unit.

I was sent, by a very gracious lady here in our forums, a tens unit free of charge! But now that it is here, I am afraid to try it. I have used one in the past, it was a great help. But I got online to check out placements for the electrodes, and found several warnings regarding people with epilepsy (like me) having seizures from using a tens!! I didn't have epilepsy when I last used a tens unit, so I was totally unaware of the risks. So, apparently, was my dr.... she tried to get approval of a tens from my ins. co. (But she knew I would never agree to go to PT 3x a week).

Anyone here familiar with this problem? I'd appreciate some advice or comments. I DO plan on trying this tens unit out... I have just had a bad streak recently, and want to wait for a more stable time in which to do it. I will certainly be able to try it by the end of the week, I will post again and let you all know how it goes.

Hi,

I think a Tens is very different; I tried it at the PT clinic and couldn't bear it, maybe it was just me or wasn't set properly, but I had to stop it immediately, horrid buzzing jolting sensations. Most of these things aren't too good for anyone with skin sensitivity problems, though I could be wrong, I think some RSDers get on OK with a Tens....

But I don't think this STS machine is at all the same thing...

Oops, forgot - I googled ["TENS unit" epilepsy] and it seems to to say use caution!!

And, speaking of circulation, I've been prescribed Hirudoid cream and have now been using it for 5 weeks. It's normally used to heal scar tissue by increasing circulation, and I think it's a help. I'm going to get them to give me a stronger version next time.

all the best!

Morning Everyone,

I've tried the STS machine. It wasn't the thing for me to do. First off they place the electrode patches where you have RSD...couldn't handle anything touching those areas. Secondly they weren't honest in telling me who should and shouldn't try this therapy. Anyone who has metal in their bodies shouldn't use the STS. I had at the time a SCS and they knew it but went ahead and told me it was safe to use as long as the SCS was shut off. That wasn't true...if you have metal in your body, it can heat up and burn the tissues and /or organs that are close to the metal. I experienced that and it wasn't pleasant ( I complained from the beginning that it felt like my insides were on fire...by the 3rd treatment it was unbearable, so I stopped treatment. Found out that they hadn't done any research at the time, to see what happened to people with metal in there bodies).

So if you give it a try PLEASE research and ask lots of questions!!! They were more interested in getting people to try the STS than they were in our health and welfare.

cjay

Hey Cjay!

Aaaaiiiiyahhh!! (as they say here) nope, don't think I'll bother with that any more, you've put me off it for life, very effectively. Burnt insides, ye gods
Thanks so much for letting us know, isn't sharing info a truly wonderful thing?!

all the best

HI Everyone.

Thank you for your comments.

When these things are new, I absolutely agree that it's almost being a guinnea pig.

What I know about this unit is:

1. There are 8 electrodes that are put on your body. I also asked the question if it was going to be put on the area where my RSD is. The gentleman said no, it could be put in other areas.

2. The shock is such of a 9 volt battery - I'm told.

3. The man that was mentioned from Texas also had RSD. So, he developed this treatment for himself, initially.

4. If a patient has many medical issues, this may be too much of a risk. I, personally, don't have any other issues, or metal in my body. Thank you for mentioning your experience. That's how we can learn more and possibly prevent additional pain in others.

5. I know that it's not widely used. I was told that clinics, doctors, etc make more money on the nerve blocks, surgeries, etc. (Not sure if that's accurate)

6. The ideal treatment is 1 hour twice a day.

I'll let you know what I find out - I haven't made an appt yet. It does sound encouraging if nothing else has helped.

Positive thoughts for a pain free day!

my experience.

1. I had STS treatment.

2. It caused a MAJOR spread. Within 45 minutes pain level went from a 3 to a 10!!! (the person running this machine on me said they had never seen this happen but my body turned bright red and was swelling. they said that usually it gives some relief or none)

A. Machine was running correctly
B. Power levels were well within the perimeters
C. Pads have to be placed in a certain pre-established, pre-determined pattern as set forth by the manufacturer for the particular disease/ailment of the patient.
D. They run it on your legs for a set amount of time, then move the pads to your arms for a set amount of time.

3. My pain and spread have NEVER went back down and has since spread BODY WIDE!

4. This is a costly treatment... I was told it cost $1100.00 per treatment and they had me scheduled for 2 treatments per day for a month and then I would have to purchase my own machine for home treatments.

5. I had no other medical problems!!!

6. I must also say that this DID NOT HURT WHILE the machine was running on that particular part of my body. The flair started once the pads were removed...No, the pads themselves did not hurt as the RSD was not in the area where the pads had been placed.

I'm not telling anyone not to try this... just know the risks!!!

abbie

I wonder if it is like the Interferential stimulation machines?
the power signals interfere with each other so less chance of tingle/zap, stinging. These work deeper into the muscles/tissue too.

When my chiro got his INF stim he asked if they could use me as a guinea pig LOL - the tech/trainer for the stim company was there to train him.
The tech had him start at a fairly high setting instead of starting low and working up to my tolerance level. But they listened to me and turned it down fast.
A few times later I let him turn it so it was really flexing my muscles- it didn't hurt but I ended up with triggerpoints afterward-so lesson learned.
One time it flexed my shoulder muscles so much I thought it was gonna pop out of the socket.
So now we just keep it to low levels so it feels like a wonderful full back massage.
But in my case it's for the TOS and myofascial pain- so I don't know how it would apply to cases of RSD.

any time they turn any of those electric stimulator's up too high you will feel zapping , shock or stinging.

If you do it and you feel it is too high of a setting- demand they turn it down- just because those settings are the norm doesn't mean everyone can tolerate it.

I have a cheap muscle stim {EMS} for home use and it pretty much only works on the surface of the muscles compared to the INF stim my chiro uses.

hello, what exactly are trigger points and how did this cause them? thanks, jenny ( i am curious because i'm thinking about seeing chiropractor but not sure if i should? kind of scared) thanks, jenny