I just got back from an occupational/physical therapy session. I partially severed the tendons in my left forefinger, and am working now to regain flexibility and range of movement–specifically, I’m having trouble bending the tip of my finger, which the doctors and OTs agree indicates that the tendon controlling that motion has likely adhered to its surroundings following the repair surgery.
Last session, we started a new treatment: the OT hooked an electrode of some sort to the injury site, and a return electrode to my shoulder. Then she applied a mild current, and I had the faint sensation of itching/tingling at the electode sites.
The main electrode resembled a gauze pad, and she mumbled something about it containing sodium chloride. (It may have been damp, but I wasn’t able to tell very well.) Now, I’m not sure if the sodium chloride (i.e., salt) was there as a conductor for the electricity, or if the process had something to do with moving sodium ions through the injured tissue. The end result, she told me, was to try to loosen some of the adhesions that were keeping my tendon from sliding freely.
What exactly did she do to me, and is this a real treatment, or just some crazy pseudoscience?
Sounds like iontophoresis. This can be used on its own, or you can use the electric current to push steroids through the skin (thus avoiding injections into the hand/ wrist/jointspace/whatever). Dd it take about 20-40 minutes? Run on a 9v battery?
There’s significant literature on its effectiveness. Is your health insurance company Aetna? If so, STOP the treatments at once, they will not cover it (all other carriers will cover this treatment, including Medicaid, no I’m not bitter)