A quick update here - I got the "go ahead" here from the ECT specialist and will be scheduled for at least 12 treatments, depending on how they go. Just want to make sure that we hit the outer edge of the number of treatments that the various studies Mike found had indicated it would take to have an impact from a pain management perspective.

Am scheduled for a series of labs tomorrow, with 1st ECT treatment to take place on Monday - or Wednesday at the latest. Will be having treatments on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of each week until we finish.

Wow! That's wonderful news!

Now, if you'll excuse me, a few questions:

(1) Specifically what procedure are you have done? Have you been told what anesthetic will be used?

(2) Did you get ECT approved solely on a chronic pain diagnosis?

(3) If "yes" to the second question, were you able to get insurance coverage for it, and if so, what hurdles if any did you or your doctors have to go through in order to get approval? (and)

(4) Again, if "yes" to the second question, were there any issues in getting the procedure approved through the health care institution where it's being done?

Please understand that I am very happy for you and wish you all the luck in the world.

Mike

And the answers to your questions:

(1) This will be a series of at least 12 RUL ECT treatments. This is based on the outer edge of what was reported in your articles and others where pain relief was achieved independently of depression. Average number of sessions seemed to be between 8 and 12.

Anesthetics being used are: Brevatol (short acting sedative that is dissociative) and Succinyl Choline (very short acting neuromuscular paralysis agent)

(2) No - like most RSD patients I can lay claim to both RSD and depression so the ECT treatments will be billed under depression, although the ECT specialist will be actively looking to achieve a positive outcome with both. I would have fought the battle (and I suspect that it would be one) to get it approved under pain mgmt only if that was the case, but didn't have to since I already had both.

Am off to get the prerequisite labs done today and will keep you posted on how it goes along the way if you're interested.

Thanks for the info. And, speaking collectively, we are most interested in your progress and outcome. Please keep us informed.

Mike

Gonna beat ya to the punch here Mike - am now scheduled for first treatment on Monday morning at 9:15. Wonder if I'll get any incremental pain relief along the way?!

Good Luck
This is very exciting
I hope you have an excellent outcome

Peace
GnP

Thanks GnP! Am hoping the same on behalf of ALL of us out here in pain!

I am SO happy for you!!!!! I am in tears I am so happy for you!

On a note for myself, I am so excited to find out what I have to do! I am at my wits end with all of the pain, and having kids that I want to play with. I finally see hope! THANK YOU!!!!

Hi folks,

Am back after the first treatment today and just checking in to let you guys know how it went. And I'm fine, although I wouldn't characterize my first experience as a good one. Had nothing to do with the ECT, but was a real screw-up as far as anesthesia was concerned. Like I mentioned earlier, they give you two drugs - one is a fast acting sedative, and one is a fast acting paralysis agent. Unfortunately they didn't give me enough of the sedative this time, which meant that I woke up while the paralysis agent was still active. What that meant to me was that I had a VERY SCARY episode in which I thought I was suffocating to death and could not breathe and was desperately trying to tell someone about it. Once we got past that it was fine, but I have to be honest about the fact that it was very frightening!

Other than that I'm just very sleepy and have a few sore muscles - no biggie.

Am most definitely going to talk to them about the anesthesia problem on Wednesday and they are going to have to assure me that they will not let that happen again.