Peripheral nerve stimulators
This is a long shot, but I’m looking for people who have used implanted peripheral nerve stimulators (PNS) to control nerve pain. They block the pain signal to the brain. Stimrouter and Stimwave are major brands. These are NOT the same thing as spinal cord stimulators, of which there are many brands. I’m about to have a Stimwave implanted to block intractable pelvic and leg nerve pain.
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.
@sprinrosa64, Thanks @jesfactsmon, I couldn't have said it better. The disappointment with these stimulators has to be hard to tolerate. Sure makes me sad to read about it so frequently. Personally, I lean toward a human being who has studied for years, knows every bone and all of the connective tissues that your body contains, knows what should be there just by a touch, and is able to treat that cyst on the meniscus after finding it by feeling it.
I remember my orthopedic surgeon when I visited him 3 years after the surgery to talk about this kind of pain. He jumped up....walked me down to imaging where they took some pictures and together we went over the evidence. When he said goodbye that day, he gave me a gentle hug and said, "I'm sorry Chris, it is the fascia. The TKR machinery is fine."
Just so we are all on the same page...I am going to invite @jenniferhunter to drop by with a message about surgery and MFR.
May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
Chris
My pain seems to much more nerve than muscle not sure if MFR is useful on nerves
@jesfactsmon Hank thanks for threading this altogether. I know this sounds conspiracy-theory like but something seems “off”. Why does the trial work in the office? Is something happening there that cannot be replicated into actual production?
Praying
Thanks best words I have heard
@sprinrosa64 Before undergoing any invasive medical procedure it's important to collaborate with your provider, do your research, and weigh the pros and cons. Only then can you make a well-informed decision. I think that it is important to note that pain in complex and specific to the individual. Many people find nerve stimulator implants successful in treating their pain and we presumably have less traffic with successful procedures, as these individuals are no longer seeking answers.
May I ask what your provider has said about, "stimwave PNS electrical stimulation implants"?
Mainly that nothing is guaranteed, the trial will give us the answer as to what we do next. He has had excellent results in the past but everyone is different. Thru my research i have found concerns about the implants moving
@sprinrosa64 Chris gave some great advice about fascial work and our myofacial release discussion. I have done this MFR work for several years and it is very beneficial. Any surgery will create scar tissue that you see at the incision site, and fascial scar tissue that you don't see internally along the surgeon's path. That tightens as it heals and adds to whatever pattern of tightness you already have in your body. Our habits play into this because if we don't use good posture and move our bodies, we get locked into a position and then can't move because the fascia adheres to itself. It is a webby film that converts between a solid and semi liquid as it stretches and rearranges itself. When it's locked, it's solid and dehydrated so it doesn't pass the fluids and electric signals through the body. When you get it moving and re-hydrated again, the body alignment improves and pain can be reduced or eliminated.
It would be worth your time to try this. If you just go to an electric stimulation implant, you'll still have the tight dehydrated fascia that doesn't want to transmit those electric signals. Nerve pain happens when something compresses it like tight fascia or a muscle. The spaces are very small where nerves pass. Bones also have outer coverings of connective tissue that the fascia connects too that likely connect to the scar on the skin surface. I have this too because of a compound ankle fracture that had 2 surgeries and I had an external cage screwed into my shin bone at the beginning which was later replaced by the internal plates. I do have tight scars where the cage was attached and I try to stretch that by pushing on my skin to stretch it with a little pressure.
Check out the MFR discussion. There is a provider search on the MFR website.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
This is where I get confused, I went thru scar tissue therapy year and half ago and after 3-4 sessions I was told there was no scar tissue to speak of and that I was dealing with nerve condition My range of motion is excellent and the pain is below the knee away from the incision
Good afternoon @sprinrosa64, I want to respond to your statement about the purpose of MFR and how it may impact muscle as well as nerves. Here is a youtube video that shows you exactly what fascia is and how it operates in the body.
"reminder: MFR will not get rid of neuropathy. MFR will not treat neuropathy. However, MFR can Help manage and mitigate symptoms."
The deal is that fascia is a connective tissue....any nerves with signals from the brain must be transferred by connective tissue to the part of the body that you want to work for you. Unfortunately, for one or even more of a number of reasons our nerves have decided to die quite long before us. They take a very long time to rebuild. When the nerves can't do what they are supposed to do...they bring back pain signals to our brain and that is what we feel....pain and numbness.
Let me know if this helps you. Your questions and wonderments are completely legitimate. We cannot diagnose or prescribe. What we can do is listen.
So.....keep it up....I am right here.
Chrs