1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

bronchiectasis and pulmonary vest usage causing back problems?

Posted by estero09 @estero09, Jan 28, 2023

Have had bronchiectasis for 7 years. Started using Philips pulmonic vest twice a day one year ago.
Have a history of spinal stenosis and ankylosing spondylitis.
Back problems have exacerbated over the past few months.
Was wondering if all this shaking is putting too much strain on my narrowing spinal canal.
Does anyone else have experienced this? Cannot find my condition under contraindications, Thank you. Yvonne

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raney | @raney | Jan 29, 2023

I personally think it could be. I also have back problems (Thoracic and Lumbar). I called the contact person with Smart Vest. I bought my best durring the height of Covid and my instructions were done by zoom and the person had my program set TOO HIGH! It was jarring me to the point of feeling my head shaking, A respiratory therapist/technician came to the house when I called and reset the program to about 1/2 the intensity that the other lady had set it.

Now it is not bothering my back, but I only use it for 15 minutes at the time. It increases through 3 different speeds and intensities during every 5 minutes. The highest intensity is lower than the lowest one that the 1st tech had set it on. I would suggest having a trained person with that vest to work with you and your fragile back before giving it up completely,

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1 reply
estero09 | @estero09 | Jan 29, 2023
In reply to @raney "I personally think it could be. I also have back problems (Thoracic and Lumbar). I called..." + (show)
@raney

I personally think it could be. I also have back problems (Thoracic and Lumbar). I called the contact person with Smart Vest. I bought my best durring the height of Covid and my instructions were done by zoom and the person had my program set TOO HIGH! It was jarring me to the point of feeling my head shaking, A respiratory therapist/technician came to the house when I called and reset the program to about 1/2 the intensity that the other lady had set it.

Now it is not bothering my back, but I only use it for 15 minutes at the time. It increases through 3 different speeds and intensities during every 5 minutes. The highest intensity is lower than the lowest one that the 1st tech had set it on. I would suggest having a trained person with that vest to work with you and your fragile back before giving it up completely,

Jump to this post

Thank you very much. I appreciate your time. Yvonne

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raney | @raney | Jan 29, 2023

But check with your Ortho doctor to see if it is safe for you to use.

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1 reply
estero09 | @estero09 | Jan 29, 2023
In reply to @raney "But check with your Ortho doctor to see if it is safe for you to use." + (show)
@raney

But check with your Ortho doctor to see if it is safe for you to use.

Jump to this post

Right now I am seeing a physiatrist/pain MD. Having an MRI this week to see what is going on.
Will discuss with new MD. Thank you for your input. I have a super slender physique and maybe this vest is just
too much. Using it at a setting pulmonologist suggested. Yvonne

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raney | @raney | Jan 30, 2023

Hoping you get answers and the pain is relieved...

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busybeans | @busybeans | Jan 30, 2023

Because of spinal stenosis and scoliosis (due to NTM), my NJH physician would not prescribe the vest. I'd hoped it would help with my non-productive airway clearance but he said it would create more problems for my back condition than it would help my lungs...

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2 replies
migizii | @migizii | Jan 31, 2023

In reply to @estero09… I do not experience back pain from the smart vest while nebulizing, but do need to turn the intensity down in the summer when I am wearing much fewer clothes (vs heavy sweater in the winter). I am a small person with lumbar issues and DDD. I usually set my machine between 40-50% throughout the year. I have used it for the past 4 years. Good luck in your journey.

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1 reply
estero09 | @estero09 | Feb 1, 2023
In reply to @busybeans "Because of spinal stenosis and scoliosis (due to NTM), my NJH physician would not prescribe the..." + (show)
@busybeans

Because of spinal stenosis and scoliosis (due to NTM), my NJH physician would not prescribe the vest. I'd hoped it would help with my non-productive airway clearance but he said it would create more problems for my back condition than it would help my lungs...

Jump to this post

Thank you for your response.

REPLY
estero09 | @estero09 | Feb 1, 2023
In reply to @migizii "In reply to @estero09… I do not experience back pain from the smart vest while nebulizing,..." + (show)
@migizii

In reply to @estero09… I do not experience back pain from the smart vest while nebulizing, but do need to turn the intensity down in the summer when I am wearing much fewer clothes (vs heavy sweater in the winter). I am a small person with lumbar issues and DDD. I usually set my machine between 40-50% throughout the year. I have used it for the past 4 years. Good luck in your journey.

Jump to this post

Thank you for your input.
I hope to update all when I know more.
Yvonne

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1 reply
ckscoville | @ckscoville | Feb 2, 2023

I haven't experienced back problems with my SmartVest, but I definitely experienced another side effect. I have a pacemaker, and the vest kept "maxing out" my pacemaker. Shortly after I started a session with the vest, my heart rate jumped up to 130 beats/minute with some chest pain. The pacer clinic and my cardiologist said that the motion of the vest makes the pacemaker think that I'm running a sprint full-speed, so it accordingly raises my heart rate to the maximum. They tried adjusting my pacemaker to eliminate this side-effect, to no avail. Ultimately they simply agreed that I should stop using the vest. My wife now does manual percussion therapy on me when I need it.

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