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Anyone tried Accelera SR 100 device? Or Walkasins?
Neuropathy | Last Active: Mar 13 9:32pm | Replies (16)Comment receiving replies
Thank you for your reply, Tricia! I don't mind long posts at all. And it's great to see one from someone who worked in the field of OT and rehabilitation. As many people as there are who are suffering from PN, and of those the people with balance issues as a result, I was just surprised to stumble across information on the Accelera. Have you ever actually seen the device?
In my case, pain from lumbar stenosis came on suddenly in Sept of 2021. I tried PT, meds, and injections for about a year before having a 4-level laminectomy in Nov of 2022. The horrific pain was gone right away, but that's when I noticed the numbness and tingling in my feet. A skin biopsy showed that I have the beginnings of small fiber neuropathy. An EMG revealed there is still some foraminal compression in my lower back, and I feel that is contributing to the nerve issues in my feet.... and thus the balance issues and wobbly gait.
So I suppose that I may be one of "those that are in the process of losing peripheral sensation because it might be easier to train the nervous system when it is assisting an existing signal, and more difficult once all sensation (signals) are lost."
As for insurance, I know of no local doctor or PT who would even be interested in the Accelera. So IF I were to try it, I would have to pay out of pocket. If I knew it would help me, I would buy two of the devices, one for each ankle/leg.
On another subject, are you familiar with red light therapy devices? And if so, what are your thoughts? From what I can tell, there are "medical quality machines/devices" that may be more helpful and efficient than some of the less expensive devices that are sold online.
If I may ask, Tricia, what treatments are you using to try and help your neuropathy? Supplements? Shoes? Devices? Meds? I'm taking R-ALA, Benfotiamine and my podiatrist prescribed MetanX for me. Gabapentin and Lyrica each did nothing for me... and made me feel loopy and helped me gain weight. Fortunately, I don't have a lot of pain issues.... just primarily the numbness, tingling, and sometimes burning.
Thank you so much for sharing anything based on your experience as an OT.
Best wishes!
Mike
Replies to "Thank you for your reply, Tricia! I don't mind long posts at all. And it's great..."
Have you considered getting a second opinion? I have heard that Duke University hospital is one of the best in the nation for orthopedic surgery. A second opinion there is not cheap, $1500, but can be done remotely.
https://www.dukehealth.org/remote-second-opinions
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Well. Ha. Just lost about three paragraphs of an answer to you! Switching back and forth between open sites to do research. Cleared up a few open links - including what I’d just written. I’ll recreate it tomorrow.
A few things -
Have you looked at a peripheral nerve chart and dermatomes? One will show what muscle function is associated with the nerve, for instance if your laminectomy was at the S2 nerve level it would involve plantar foot flexion (pushing foot down - toe pointing down) and foot eversion (foot roll to the outside, pressure is on a flatten arch and big toe side). The chart shows what movement and body part each nerve activates.
https://www.orthobullets.com/spine/2002/lower-extremity-spine-and-neuro-exam
The dermatomes shows the connection between the nerves and the area of skin sensation. S2 affects a strip all the way down the back of the leg, under the heel, and a small area into the arch.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermatome_%28anatomy%29
The dermatomes may show where the sensory damage is in small fiber neuropathy. The forminal compression may affect the nerve function as seen on the chart that indicates muscle movement. You might be able to back track - go fromwhere your pain is, or where your foot wobbles, and follow that up into the spinal nerve level.
Will post more tomorrow and try to answer your questions in chunks.
Full disclosure - I worked in the pediatric OT area in the K12 schools. I am happy to help explain, find research, access OT resources I might have, and give an educated opinion. But I was not a rehab therapist, although I was trained in rehab, brain anatomy and physiology, and neurology. My last 12 years of work was in the OT assistive technology area. I retired in 2019, but keep my license up to date.