Nerve pain, also known as neurogenic pain, can range from mild to quite debilitating, particularly when it is persistent. It occurs when the nervous system is damaged, resulting in burning, tingling, or shooting sensations throughout the body. These sensations can be challenging to treat, leaving many people with nerve pain frustrated and disheartened.
At McKenzie Sports Physical Therapy, we are always on the lookout for cutting-edge treatments that will provide our patients with relief. We are delighted to announce that in January, we will begin offering Stimpod, from Algiamed, as a revolutionary new tool to help those with stubborn neurogenic pain find relief.
What is Neurogenic Pain, and Who Can Stimpod Help?
“Neuropathy” is an umbrella term for conditions that involve nerve damage or malfunction. Neurogenic pain is notoriously difficult to treat because it originates from the nerve itself.
The Stimpod is designed to target and treat neurogenic pain and has shown promising results for people dealing with conditions such as:
- Diabetic Neuropathy
- Neuropathy following chemotherapy
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Migraines
- Fibromyalgia
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
- Bell’s Palsy
- Post-surgical nerve pain
- Anxiety
The treatment can be particularly beneficial for people who have tried other conservative treatments without success.
How Does the Stimpod Work?
The Stimpod uses Transcutaneous Pulsed Radiofrequency (tPRF) technology, which is similar to Radiofrequency (RF) nerve ablation, but far gentler.
Traditional RF ablation uses heat to burn or create a lesion on the nerve, stopping the malfunctioning nerve signal. The Stimpod works differently. A handheld device is used to deliver gentle electrical pulses to the affected area. Exposing the nerve mitochondria to RF energy essentially resets the system, recharging and replenishing the mitochondria, which restores normal nerve function, reducing pain. Essentially, Stimpod rebuilds damaged nerves faster than resting and waiting alone.
Getting Stimpod Nerve Therapy in Philadelphia, PA
To achieve the best results, we recommend most patients receive Stimpod treatment twice a week for eight weeks. A treatment only takes around fifteen minutes, is pain-free, with no associated side effects, so you can get on with your day afterwards.
We will offer treatment in two ways to meet the unique needs of our patients.
In-Clinic Treatment: Come in for your scheduled physical therapy treatment and add your Stimpod treatment to your appointment. Or you can just come in for the Stimpod treatment.
At Home Treatment: If coming into our clinic isn’t convenient for you, you can rent the machine and take it home for your eight-week therapy.
There is no difference in the efficacy of the treatment whether you receive it at our clinic or at home (we promise it is very easy to use!). It is simply a matter of deciding what is most convenient for you.
At this time, we are the only medical office in Philadelphia to offer Stimpod
How Effective is Stimpod?
Clinicians who have used Stimpod have reported great results, particularly for patients with difficult-to-treat neuropathic pain. These patients reported a significant reduction in their pain after just a few sessions.
One peer-reviewed study on Stimpod showed promising results in treating foot drop, a condition that creates difficulty in lifting the front part of the foot and is often caused by nerve damage. The patient in the study experienced rapid and more effective recovery without side effects. There are many more examples like this we can share with you.
Next Steps
If you are interested in being among the first to try Stimpod at our Philadelphia, PA clinic, we invite you to call our office to schedule an appointment for January. Stimpod is not covered by insurance and will be an additional cost to any physical therapy treatment you receive.