[debbiehub]

Well, I made my appt. Going in July- HOpe it works- its $1000 for the week! No pain or side effects

Institute for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation of New York (INBSNY)
Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care
Beth Israel Medical Center, Phillips Ambulatory Care Center
10 Union Square East, New York, NY 10003
212-844-8539

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
(tDCS)

Some patients experience pain that does not respond to convential treatment methods. A new therapy, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, is an option to consider in these cases.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation is a novel, painless approach for the treatment of chronic pain, including: reflex sympathetic dystrophy (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I), causalgia (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type II), post-stroke pain, postherpetic neuralgia, other types of neuropathic pain, migraines, and fibromyalgia.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is tDCS?
tDCS is a new therapy in which an electrical current so low that it cannot be felt is passed through the skull to the brain below. The mechanism of tDCS is not clear but studies have shown that the current affects a variety of brain areas. It has been proposed that the current may reverse the abnormal brain excitability responsible for pain.

Who may benefit from tDCS?
Preliminary data suggest that patients with a variety of pain syndromes, including neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia and migraines, may benefit.

How is tDCS administered?
It is a painless procedure. While you rest in a comfortable chair, two 2x2 inch electrodes are placed on your scalp for 20 minutes. The stimulation will be repeated for five consecutive days.

Is tDCS reimbursed by insurance companies?
No, insurance companies, Medicaid and Medicare do not reimburse for this treatment. You will be charged for the procedure.

Will I have to stop my medications?
No, you can continue with your current medications.

What is the evidence that tDCS works?
There is early evidence that tDCS can help some patients with certain types of neuropathic pain. It has also been utilized successfully to treat a selected group of patients with migraines, fibromyalgia, depression and Parkinson’s disease.

Is this treatment safe?
Many patients have been treated with this procedure and no side effects have been reported to date. There is no long-term experience as of yet.
For appointments:
212-844-8539

Institute for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation of New York (INBSNY)
Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care
Beth Israel Medical Center, Phillips Ambulatory Care Center
10 Union Square East, New York, NY 10003
212-844-8539




Information for the Physician


Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Recent Studies:

Boggio PS, Bermpohl F, Vergara AO, et al. Go-no-go task performance improvement after anodal transcranial DC stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in major depression. J Affect Disord 2007;101(1-3):91-98. Epub 2006 Dec 12.

Poreisz C, Boros K, Antal A, Paulus W. Safety aspects of transcranial direct current stimulation concerning healthy subjects and patients. Brain Res Bulletin 2007, 72:208-214.

Fregni F, Freedman S, Pascual-Leone A. Recent advances in the treatment of chronic pain with non-invasive brain stimulation techniques. Lancet Neurol 2007;6(2):188-191.

Fregni F, Boggio PS, Lima MC, et al. A sham-controlled, phase II trial of transcranial direct current stimulation for the treatment of central pain in traumatic spinal cord injury. Pain 2006;122(1-2):197-209.

Fregni F, Gimenes R, Valle AC, et al. A randomized, sham-controlled, proof of principle study of transcranial direct current stimulation for the treatment of pain in fibromyalgia. Arthritis Rheum 2006;54(12):3988-3998.

Iyer BM, Mattu U, Grafman J, Lomarev M, Sato S, Wasserman EM. Safety and cognitive effects of frontal DC polarization in healthy individuals. Neurology 2005, 64:872-875.



For appointments
212-844-8539

[dreambeliever128]

I hope this works for you and you'll be able to come back and tell us how much it helped you. We all have to try what we feel will help.

It's good that they are coming out with new options for RSD.

Ada

[debbiehub]

Thanks Ada- I am hoping it helps!!

Debbie

[ali12]

Hi Debbie,
"Good luck with the Transcortical Stim, I really hope that it helps you" You will be in my thoughts and please keep us all updated when you can
Thanks and pain free hugs,
Alison

[mollymcn]

[QUOTE=debbiehub;288996]Well, I made my appt. Going in July- HOpe it works- its $1000 for the week! No pain or side effects

Hi Debbie - I accompanied my friend with RSD to receive this treatment as part of Beth israel's clinical trial. The advertisement is not completely accurate. First of all, it does hurt. My friend described sharp electrical prickling stabbing sensations. And for the immediate hour or two afterwards, she was completely bewildered and her brain scrambled. It is essential that you have somebody with you, sitting in the family waiting room. You'll probably want to lie down. You will need to stay in the hospital for a couple of hours afterwards until you can stand up and walk. For my friend, it lessened (but did not eliminate) the RSD pain for about 6 hours each day. At the end of the 6 hours, the pain came roaring back. Nights were sleepless. My friend decided in concert with her doc there that it wasn't worth doing a second week of treatment because the pain relief didn't last; her RSD was too severe.

[debbiehub]

Thanks so much for telling me this. I am now having second thoughts about doing it. I am going to call and speak with them again. Do you think there is any way I can speak with your friend? You can email me at spudsailor@aol.com

Thanks again

Debbie

[Desi]

Hi Debbie, whatever you decide, I want to wish you all the very best dear!~Love, Desi P.S. Is there anyway that they can start an iv with sedatives in it, so you won't even remember it hurt? I know that you most likely had your hopes up, but at least Mollymcn told you what her friend experienced. I am so sorry, Deb! :0(

[Teresa112757]

Debbie, I know hearing what mollymcn described is disappointing and anxiety provoking at the very least. It was for me as my husband has it on his list of things to try after hbot or blocks.

I would recommend that you make an appointment with Dr. Cruciani to get more details. Also at a minimum I would insist that they have a couple of patients contact you directly. There's nothing like talking with patients to get the real scoop. It's invaluable.

Keep us posted please!

Teresa

[Dave Siever]

Just thought the clinicians might be interested in knowing that Mind Alive Inc., makes programmable, current-controlled tdc stimulators for $410.00.

dave

[BigBug]

Along these lines, the clinical trial that Beth Israel in New York is conducting they are usinga device used for Iontophoresis, the IOMed Phoresor II PM850. It can be obtained with a prescirption from chiropractor or MD for as low as $500.00 and the protocols for the tDCS are available in several journal articles available online - these articles go over electrode placement, milliamperes used, and durations as well as the side effects regarding skin issues where the electrodes are placed.

Mollymcn - I believe that your friend "S" whom you posted about in early 2007 who got some limited relief from it had one at her disposal, maybe it wouldbe a possible help.