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NESS L300 Foot Drop System
Someone posted a couple weeks ago about this device that uses electrical stimulation to combat foot drop caused by problems with the central nervous system (as in MS). It was on the Today Show (http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/28872531#28872531) or you can get more info at the company's web site at http://www.bioness.com.
There's a place near here that sells the device so I figured I had nothing to lose by checking it out (well, except the evaluation fee). I have good insurance so I think there's a decent chance that they will cover it.
I'm not sure foot drop is my major problem, but I think I do have some foot drop (for example, I trip on things like rugs or uneven pavement sometimes because I'm not lifting my foot enough).
My appointment was this afternoon. The guy who did the evaluation was very nice and said the benefits of the device include muscle strengthening, increased blood and oxygen flow, reduced energy cost, and something else about muscles, but I can't read what I wrote down anymore (it looks like muscle composition, but I'm not sure that makes sense.) He also said you can get what he called "muscle reeducation," which I think is maybe a kind of neuroplasticity, where your walking can be improved even when you're not wearing the device. It also has a training mode where it does a kind of physical therapy stimulation while you're just sitting there watching TV or whatever.
Anyway, he watched me walk and then fitted me with the device on each leg (unfortunately for my budget, I would need two). There are a couple electrodes that attach to your leg and then a band that wraps around your leg. He had to adjust the location of the electrodes so they would stimulate the right nerve. When he stimulated the nerve in the right place, I got a little buzzing shock and my foot rose up of its own accord. It was a weird experience.
It also has a little sensor that goes in the heel of your shoe. When you turn the device on (it has a remote control), the sensor can tell when your heel moves off the ground and that is what cues the electrodes to shock you and make the front of your foot lift up.
After he got the things installed, he had me walk around a little inside and then outside on the grass and on a ramp. I could definitely tell a difference. He said I was walking faster, lifting my feet higher (more clearance), not slapping my feet down so hard, and walking more heel to toe then I had been. I felt more stable and more in control. He also thought it would give me extra oomph when I get tired and have even more trouble walking.
I also have this thing where my toes point inward when I walk (sometimes I hit my other foot and semi-trip myself) and he thought this might also stimulate the sides of the ankles enough to help some with that, but it didn't seem to so maybe that's a different signal.
However, one probable positive side effect is that, because the cue for the shock is taking the pressure off your heels, it might help my train myself not to lean forward all the time. My physical therapist was always on me about my center of balance being too far forward.
I filled out the paperwork and have my fingers crossed that insurance company will come through.
I wonder if they're working on any other kind of applications for this kind of technology. The guy I saw today said that Bioness was working on some things, but won't say what they are. It would seem like there would be a lot of potential. Even for situations where they couldn't increase function that much, surely it would be helpful to preserve muscle strength. I think I saw in a movie about Christopher Reeve where he was getting electrical stimulation while his muscles were being exercised. Anybody know if there are things like this for MS? Maybe they could reduce spasticity with this kind of technology because that's also a problem of missing signals?
sho (who is kind of excited)
There's a place near here that sells the device so I figured I had nothing to lose by checking it out (well, except the evaluation fee). I have good insurance so I think there's a decent chance that they will cover it.
I'm not sure foot drop is my major problem, but I think I do have some foot drop (for example, I trip on things like rugs or uneven pavement sometimes because I'm not lifting my foot enough).
My appointment was this afternoon. The guy who did the evaluation was very nice and said the benefits of the device include muscle strengthening, increased blood and oxygen flow, reduced energy cost, and something else about muscles, but I can't read what I wrote down anymore (it looks like muscle composition, but I'm not sure that makes sense.) He also said you can get what he called "muscle reeducation," which I think is maybe a kind of neuroplasticity, where your walking can be improved even when you're not wearing the device. It also has a training mode where it does a kind of physical therapy stimulation while you're just sitting there watching TV or whatever.
Anyway, he watched me walk and then fitted me with the device on each leg (unfortunately for my budget, I would need two). There are a couple electrodes that attach to your leg and then a band that wraps around your leg. He had to adjust the location of the electrodes so they would stimulate the right nerve. When he stimulated the nerve in the right place, I got a little buzzing shock and my foot rose up of its own accord. It was a weird experience.
It also has a little sensor that goes in the heel of your shoe. When you turn the device on (it has a remote control), the sensor can tell when your heel moves off the ground and that is what cues the electrodes to shock you and make the front of your foot lift up.
After he got the things installed, he had me walk around a little inside and then outside on the grass and on a ramp. I could definitely tell a difference. He said I was walking faster, lifting my feet higher (more clearance), not slapping my feet down so hard, and walking more heel to toe then I had been. I felt more stable and more in control. He also thought it would give me extra oomph when I get tired and have even more trouble walking.
I also have this thing where my toes point inward when I walk (sometimes I hit my other foot and semi-trip myself) and he thought this might also stimulate the sides of the ankles enough to help some with that, but it didn't seem to so maybe that's a different signal.
However, one probable positive side effect is that, because the cue for the shock is taking the pressure off your heels, it might help my train myself not to lean forward all the time. My physical therapist was always on me about my center of balance being too far forward.
I filled out the paperwork and have my fingers crossed that insurance company will come through.
I wonder if they're working on any other kind of applications for this kind of technology. The guy I saw today said that Bioness was working on some things, but won't say what they are. It would seem like there would be a lot of potential. Even for situations where they couldn't increase function that much, surely it would be helpful to preserve muscle strength. I think I saw in a movie about Christopher Reeve where he was getting electrical stimulation while his muscles were being exercised. Anybody know if there are things like this for MS? Maybe they could reduce spasticity with this kind of technology because that's also a problem of missing signals?
sho (who is kind of excited)
At our hospital we continue to see people for physcial therapy and use the device during their treatment. Is there something like that offered? That way you can use it 2-3 times a month at PT and not have to rent it?
Hey guys,
I have a lot of experience with Bioness as a practitioner. It's very rarely approved by insurance, which is common when something is new. They are hoping that will change as more people keep using it. The thing they are working on if a system that help with hip flexion also. I did not get the impression that this is a secret so I'm surprised he was reluctant to say.
The machine that Christopher Reeve used was a bicycle motion that uses electrodes on the upper legs and does alternating stimulation to get the movement and it's called ERGYS. I have only had patients on there that had complete sensory loss (spinal cord injuries) because the level of stimulation is very high and gets into a range that most people would not be able to tolerate. I have been told by a rep that people have used it that can feel the stimulation and they are just fine - but haven't seen it myself.
Walkaide is the competitor of Bioness, and their system is similar, but I'm not familiar with it.
I have a lot of experience with Bioness as a practitioner. It's very rarely approved by insurance, which is common when something is new. They are hoping that will change as more people keep using it. The thing they are working on if a system that help with hip flexion also. I did not get the impression that this is a secret so I'm surprised he was reluctant to say.
The machine that Christopher Reeve used was a bicycle motion that uses electrodes on the upper legs and does alternating stimulation to get the movement and it's called ERGYS. I have only had patients on there that had complete sensory loss (spinal cord injuries) because the level of stimulation is very high and gets into a range that most people would not be able to tolerate. I have been told by a rep that people have used it that can feel the stimulation and they are just fine - but haven't seen it myself.
Walkaide is the competitor of Bioness, and their system is similar, but I'm not familiar with it.
Well, after a long, dragged-out process, my insurance declined to cover this device as "not medically necessary" according to their preauthorization medical consultants. I called the insurance company and they said they would reconsider if I could provide more evidence, but I am not sure where I would get this evidence. And I think it might be pretty hard to prove "medically necessary" since I can still walk (albeit rather oddly and not so far), but it certainly seemed like it could be helpful in the brief period that I tried it.
Anyway, I think I'm going to try to rent the device for a month and see just how much it helps me and then decide whether it's worth investing anymore energy and money into this. My cousin (who has MS) said her neuro told her that he hadn't heard of anyone with MS getting this approved by their insurance, although it has been approved for other things.
Lu: I think it is pretty much like the WalkAide at least in principle, but I'm not absolutely sure.
sho
Anyway, I think I'm going to try to rent the device for a month and see just how much it helps me and then decide whether it's worth investing anymore energy and money into this. My cousin (who has MS) said her neuro told her that he hadn't heard of anyone with MS getting this approved by their insurance, although it has been approved for other things.
Lu: I think it is pretty much like the WalkAide at least in principle, but I'm not absolutely sure.
sho
I'm wondering if this is radically differently than the WalkAide system? I have their literature and CD here, but honestly haven't watched it yet. I found it through one of the pop-up ads on this medhelp website. It looks like it works somewhat the same.
I would love to hear about anyone's experiences with this and how it was handled by insurance.
Lulu, aka Gimpy! :-)
I would love to hear about anyone's experiences with this and how it was handled by insurance.
Lulu, aka Gimpy! :-)
Thanks for the good wishes. No, I'm not committed to anything yet, but I filled out the paperwork to find out if my insurance will cover it. You can also rent the devices for $500/month which would go toward the purchase price if you bought one, but they weren't sure if the insurance would cover a rental.
Anyway, I don't have to decide anything until the Bioness people call me.
sho
Anyway, I don't have to decide anything until the Bioness people call me.
sho
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