Current from incontinence treatement by electrostimulation

Caution

by Lavender - 2022-09-16 08:53:12

I would be cautious about doing that. Before my pacemaker, the chiropractor used a TENS on me with no issues. Also before my pacemaker, a physical therapist used a machine on me for therapy that infused medication for a torn tendon in my ankle. It was Iontophoresis. I had a bad reaction to it with swelling where it was applied as well as a skin rash on the places the pads touched me. 
 

As per online:"Iontophoresis stimulators produce approximately 1-4 mA of current, which may interact with cardiac pacemakers. If you decide to proceed with the iontophoresis procedure, be alert for symptoms like those you may have experienced before the pacemaker was implanted (dizziness, light-headedness, and such)."

Here's an article to copy and paste about electrical stimulation:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6453072/

You could ask the person who will administer this therapy if they safely use it on pacemaker patients.

pt

by Tracey_E - 2022-09-16 10:27:59

My cardiologist said extremeties but not the torso. 

Have the therapist call the manufacturer. I broke my foot years ago and I forget what it was the pt wanted to use but it was questionable. He called the cardiologist first, who wasn't sure. When he called the manufacturer they said it was safe for me. But that was on my foot, they are more conservative when it's the torso. 

Electro stim/TENS

by AgentX86 - 2022-09-17 00:29:21

I've been told in no uncertain terms that TENS units are not to be used and particlarly on the torso.  Not even the body fat measuring scales are safe.  It doesn't take much current though the body to confuse a pacemaker. The heart's electrical signals are very small (one to four millivolts, typically).

I'd want a more informed decision from my cardiologist.  "Maybe" doesn't cut it.

I can sympathise

by Gemita - 2022-09-18 05:45:02

Over active bladder or incontinence problems are more than difficult to cope with and we may well be driven to go to any length to try to find a fix.  I had tibial nerve stimulation treatment for overactive bladder prior to my pacemaker but this was stopped after my pacemaker was implanted.

Of course the cause and type of the bladder problem should be sought and if other treatments might help, these should be tried as well.  Treatments like medication, Botulinum toxin injections (Botox), bladder strengthening exercises and other therapies, lifestyle changes and perhaps even surgery in the case say of it being caused by an enlarged prostate.  The neurological centre I attended here in the UK offered sacral neuromodulation too.  I would ask to be referred to a main centre for patients with difficult bladder symptoms for advice and treatment.

I have seen claims of a cure with a bladder pacemaker, but I know little about this and even less about whether it could be implanted with your current heart device?  I do know for example that a member here in 2021 actually had a permanent nerve stimulation device implanted for pain management and this seems to be getting along well with her heart device, so yes I would explore treatment options further to try to relieve your urgency and  incontinence.  I wish you fast relief from your symptoms