Diathermy treatment given with Inter-stim

[Big Red]

I am putting out a warning to those with a inter-stim. I went to Physical therapy this morning and didn't think that diathermy was a good thing but the Physical Therapist said it was OK if I turned off my inter-stim. Now I come home and go talk to Med Tronics and they state that it shouldn't be done. If you are having any type of Physical Therapy done bring the caution from the med-tronic web site. I am going to burt it in my purse so that I am sure to have it.

[Sarojini]

Yes, that warning is plastered all over the Medtronic website and the Patient Guide you should have been given a copy of... in addition it is in the instruction manual for the iCon remote. So, you should have plenty of copies to take in.

I hope you can get her to stop. I don't believe it is a good idea even with the stim off!!! Good luck

[dancemomof2]

OMG No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tigger_gal]

OMG that is so not a good thing. That was the first thing they told me before the trial, right along with no mri's. I highly suggest you get an appointment with your uro or med rep right away, I don't even think you ehould turn it on untill you have it checked.

[tigger_gal]

me again lol..

I think it would be a great idea that you take this information to the PT and have them post it. ALL PT's should know this is a huge NO NO.

[ICLori]

Eek! I have a Bion in and they warned me again and again, no diathermy! They said it would heat up the device inside of me and cause damage to the nerves/tissues there. Plus who knows what it does to the device to be heated up like that? Would the device still work afterwards? I don't know.

Strangely enough, I can have an MRI because the Bion contains extremely little metal (it's a ceramic capsule) but I still can't have diathermy, ever.

Blessings,
Lori

[tigger_gal]

thats pretty much what I was told, it can scorch the wires and the unit, which would do damage to the surrounding tissues.

[Big Red]

I talked to medtronics and they had me turn it on while they were on the phone. She told me that everything should be OK but if I started feeling something abnormal or if the area seemed to be abdormal to get hold of the doc. and the rep. But they also warned me not to do it again. I have already copied papers to share with my PT. A little education for all of us.

Thanks you all your concern.

[tigger_gal]

"should be ok"??? I think you need to call your doctor and ask for an x-ray, ultra sound, what ever it takes to ensure those wires are not damaged. It really is not worth the risk, of a should be answer. you need a positive no nothing is damaged.. this is like calling the doctor and telling him I swallowed bug poisoning and him telling me I should be ok.. Please just go and have it checked out.

[Big Red]

I called my doctor that I always see. He was out of the office. I got a call back by his nurse and was told to call the doctor that installed the inter-stim. He wants me to come on and have it looked at. X-Ray I would asssume. I asked a guestion of can I have it done at my normal uro which is 30 min. away so I don't have to go to Los Angelas which is 1 1/2 hours away. She said she would get back to me but so far has not. I didn't even take a nap so I wouldn't miss the call or talk to her in my sleep. I don't think there is any problems but would like to know that. If nothing else it has been 5 years since it has been checked.

[tigger_gal]

I don't think there should be a problem to get xrays there and have them send him to them. I know what you mean about a long time between visits. I had my stim re programmed a few months back and wish to god I never did it. I since then feel and hit the corner of the cupboard..