I'm a 'trainee' practitioner and actively treating a wide range on sports injuries and wear and tear in elderley joints. I have been asked if I can hep someone who has severe 'phantom' pain in an amputated arm. The phantom arm is not responding to the usual pain killers. Can the interx be used to treat the remaining arm and dermatomes linked to the amputated limb?
yes, sure, the InterX is a pain management device and is used to work on nociceptive and neuropathic pain. Phantom pains occur when nerves that would normally innervate the missing limb cause pain. In my experience it did make a huge difference for the patient as they are typically heavily drugged because of the extreme pain.
In the pilot study on complex chronic pain reduction in the US, one of the participants had phantom pain 8 weeks post surgery and he reduced his medication (hydrocodon) from 16 a day to 2 a day by using the InterX once a day.
Another approach is to use a mirror while exercising and watch the good limb. Medical scientists found it to be effective in pain control.
I have a printing version of the protocol that i will email you, but in general, you would need palpating the major nerve, find most tender and treat those few points (typically they have higher AR values) on Acute presets, because you would need to sedate the severed nerve, also you would need to treat both paraspinal points - the spinal roots and treat the whole missing arm on the opposite limb. Usially good to treat some acupuncture points such as PC6 and Trigeminal points. Hope it helps!
I work with a few amputees. I have found the device to work better on lower extremities than upper. This goes for mirror therapy also. I have a good success rate with mirror therapy. If the pain in neuropathic in nature and at a single point I tend to use the chronic setting and at 60. As the sensitivity begins to decrease I begin to focus more on AR and closer to the point of pain. Depending on results of a twice a week protocol. I begin to stay on chronic and to 240. If they continue to have improvement I then go to acute at 180 over the period of 2-3 weeks. In other words as the patient has positive results I increase the settings. I really like the idea below of treating the paraspinal points. I tend to use those for sciatica and other neuropathic pain.
thank you J Torres, great to hear we all have positive results and helping alleviating such excruciating pain. I forgot to mention, it is also useful to treat reflex zones, such as hands and feet, you will be always finding Active Sites as sticky areas, plus 6 trigeminal points on the face with 15 - 60pPS
I have worked with over 700 amputees in my specialty. I have always found upper extremity phantom pain to be both more severe and persistent. It also one of the more difficult amputations to treat. I tend to target the cervical spine and the limb itself. I use the settings chronic 15 or 60 to start. I tend to start my work away from the painful area and gently working my way to the more painful area. Depending on what they are feeling, I try to follow the nerve track to that area. I also recommend teaching them mirror therapy. Hope this helps.
700 is an impressive number! I am glad you fund it helpful, I just did a training course in Australia where therapists were asking for the protocol. they can learn from your experience
The number is high because I work at a military amputee care center. I tend to use the more art than science piece to my therapy. I tend to follow as described above depending on how the patient presents. Would live to join you on your next trip there!
The number is high because I work at a military amputee care center. I tend to use the more art than science piece to my therapy. I tend to follow as described above depending on how the patient presents. Would live to join you on your next trip there!
Hi , i will be running training courses in OZ in February. i don't think the organisers have a plan to invite anybody else to that event, however, i am planning on organising a non-profit conference next year and it would be great for you to come and speak to share the experience. however, i am not in a position to pay the fees and expenses. Dr Frost
