who uses interferential stimulators?

[jeanmary]

Does anyone out there have any history of using an interferential stimulator? If so what models do you use or might you recommend? Valium and the use of this stimulator has been highly recommended by Dr. Daniel Brookoff and I would love to hear from anyone using this mode of treatment.
I look forward to hearing from any and all.
Thanks,
Jean

[catlover2]

Empi makes a nice unit. You will need to check with your insurance company to see if they will cover the device. Here is a link to Empi's website

http://www.empi.com/products/infinityplus.cfm

[ABliske]

I use an interfential unit. I don't use it often, but it has helped with severe pain at times. I'm not sure what the company is that makes it. I'll check. My physical therapist tried to get my insurance to cover it. I was denied and paid $500 + for it!!! I found a letter later that was send to me submit more info for the insurance request. I was dumb for not opening it sooner, but Blue Cross sends me docs litterally like every 2 days.
I don't know if it was worth it. that is a lot of $ for me. I will hopefully have it forever though and I know it will come in handy.

[jeanmary]

thanks for the info

I believe my pain is caused by PFD and that I do not have IC. I have had the distentions, nerve blocks, most meds used by many. I currently take Lyrica, Ultram and have just started vaginal valium and oral valium. This was highly recommended by Dr. Brookoff at the Houston Pelvic Pain Conference. Other than urethral pain and general vulvar neuropathy those are my only symptoms. No frequency, no bladder burning just nerve pain and deep aching. I am hopeful this stimulator will do the trick along with seeing a PT for pelvic pain. Wish me luck and thank you both for the info!
Jean

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Jeanmary,

If you PFD, which I do and have been down that road with the best of the best. Dr. Moldwin's protocal also used two daily baths 20 min each in warm water not hot with Aveeno bath powder. (I used to buy the generic because they are a bit price for twice a day.) It does take a lot of time, but may be worth the relief you get.

You still may get some more response to this message. I heard Dr. B was using a particular unit he is treating patients with and hopes it will help them. Please let us know what unit you go with and the name of it. This is interesting. The tens unit was a nightmare to me and caused additional pain. Wonder if anyone at the ICA has tried the unit? I wish you the best and can relate to the PFD problems.

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[ABliske]

wHAT are the nerve blocks? I do not have bad PDF. Bladder pain and vaginal pain are my main problems. How's the vaginal valium helping. I use lidocaine every now and then. It helps some, but them are times I really want something stronger.

[jeanmary]

I believe the valium suppositories are helping. I am sometimes using 2 at a time with a strength of 10 mgs each,( I mostly do this at night.) The nerve blocks I referred to were actually pudendal blocks pretty much like an epidural. They hoped that would somehow change the neuropothy going on or at least block some of the pain impulses for a while. They lasted about 8 hours.
I am only taking 2 mgs of valium orally twice a day and hope that is just for a short time. I worry about addiction or building tolerance levels. The lyrica has been great for fibromyalgia pain and has stopped alot of the electrical shock type pain I had all over my vulva. I use EMLA cream only on the non mucosal tissue(pubic hair area) for numbing and it lasts about 6 to eight hours.
It is my opinion if we can relax the pelvic floor long enough to break the cycle of nerve hypersensitivity maybe, just maybe the pain would stop.
We can hope can't we? It is what keeps me going. I have been dealing with this since 1999. It seems like a lifetime.
HOpe this helps someone.
Jean

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Jeanmary,
You might want to continue all your meds/creams and keep doing the pudendal blocks even though they only last eight hours. Some docs use lidocaine, but others use marcaine, which lasts longer. If they aren't using the marcaine you might get them to change. I had about every type of block, but the pudendal were the only ones that helped me. At first it was using the pudendal nerve non-guided type the 6-8 hours of relief. I probably did a dozen plus, and somewhere in there my pelvic floor began to function better and not be "stuck" as the PTs would say. At that time just the relief of 8 hours or so was a God send! I was so thankful because nothing was working. I went to doing them more frequently when the PT wasn't helping and found that a block followed by PT didn't make any difference. It is the proper way to do the block, then go to PT and that usually does work for everyone, but we each have to study our own cases. I also tried the guided imagery type with CAT scan once. It helped like the non-guided imagery type, but not any better or any longer. If I lived in an area where docs were doing them it would be great.

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