I’ve had RSD for 17 years and just this past year in finding an AMAZING pain specialist who won the NIH Director’s Award in scientific/medical innovation I’ve learned about so many new options.
PEMF devices are great for reducing inflammation, increasing circulation and mobility, and treating muscle, nerve, and bone pain. The Oska Pulse is one that can be worn underneath or over clothing throughout the day, and while it’s small, the electromagnetic pulses cover a beachball sized area. They also make PEMF mats that are great for sleeping, but as even the lower end devices are expensive, I’d recommend the Oska.
There’s also a new implant available, a PNS (peripheral nerve stimulation) implant that’s about the width of a human hair and can be implanted to target the specific nerve necessary unlike SCS. It works like a pacemaker sending small electrical impulses to the targeted nerve, it actually changes the way your brain perceives pain by interrupting the signals sent from the affected nerve.
I️’m scheduled to get the SPRINT PNS system implanted late April, it’s a 60 day implant and while it won’t take your pain away, 74% of patients in the trial phase reported a 50% reduction in pain within those 60 days, and in eight studies nearly as many reported significantly less pain in the months after the implant had been removed. In those who didn’t notice as much of a decrease in pain, they did notice an improved quality of life (for example if currently your pain is at a seven laying in bed, your pain may stay at a seven, but you’re able to do more of the things you used to enjoy without your pain increasing. I️ know someone personally who was able to start running again.
There are also other permanent PNS implants the size of a quarter that can be used if the pain returns.
It’s been recommended to me to use that in conjunction with biofeedback, which I’ve done in the past and it does help quite a bit.
What’s amazing about these noninvasive treatments is that you can do them all at once, get the implant, use the Oska, and do biofeedback. Quite literally retrain your brain.