Just wondered if any one here had every tried or contemplated using isolation / deprivation tank to help with their pn?

I don't have any local centers round here to try one myself , but from what Ive heard about them, they seem like it could possibly be something that could help - at least in terms of possibly reducing stress - through inducing weightlessness.

Any one have experiences they'd be willing to share ?

melon

I did wonder about it briefly at one time, but dismissed it for myself. In my case, other chronic pain issues have proven sensory distraction to work better for me than deprivation. Stress reduction may have some merit, but a deprivation tank seemes a little impractical (unless you're Daredevil ) compared to other methods like meditation. I don't know if there would be any/enough residual effect to warrant the expense/inconvenience.

But if anyone has access and mean$, I wouldn't discourage trying it. For some people, any relief, for even an hour or two, can make a difference.

Doc

If I could meditate like I used to 18 yrs ago then id agree , but this has been one of the most frustrating things about my pn or whatever it is - in the sense I just cant relax at all unless i stay up ( as I do ) just to fatigue myself
so I can get to sleep.

The Tank was actually more an idea for someone who has chronic pressure sores and a disabling connective tissue problem ( not a good combo ) so they could hopefully take some pressure off their joints and perhaps some relief , but the more I looked into it, and saw things like this the more i
started wondering if it might be possible to construct something like that myself to see if it could help.

Maybe it wouldnt given I usually dont get much relief in water ( apart from when the rebuilder worked briefly ) but Im getting a little tired of supplements that dont really dont do much unless my pain gets triggered by something ( so far only lidocaine )

It certainly would be nice to see something new but since 99 Ive seen no signs of it happening.

melon

there was a poster on here years ago that was doing experiments on isolation tanks and had peripheral neuropathy. he hasnt posted here since that i have seen and no conclusion had been reached at the time he was still posting. maybe you could do a search and find something but this board is newer than when he posted and the other board brain talk i dont think has all of the archived posts available.

I tried a flotation tank twice this last summer. I was especially interested since they use magnesium salts to provide the dense solution that makes one float. Magnesium can be absorbed through the skin (varies from person to person, though) so I was hopeful that either that or the relaxation would provide some relief.

The short story, though, is that while the experience provided some relief the first time, I didn't find it anywhere near as relaxing the second time. My sleep apnea woke me up with a start and I couldn't get re-relaxed. Although I have a mild case, I don't think my apnea will let me enjoy that form of relaxation.

Reminds me of an old Calvin and Hobbes cartoon where Hobbs says he was "meditating and meditating... and then I woke up!"

Try it, though, see how it works for you.

I think I know about whom you are thinking... that poster went on to explore high dose B12 which "cured" him as I recall.
He is posting on the net exclusively now about THAT and no mention any further of the tanks. Those posts were lost in the big crash
of '06...and were not backed up and are unavailable still.

I wonder how using something like that might make using supplement / vitamin regimes more effective ?

I suppose , like nearly everything connected with channelopathy of some sort you have such massive range of varied responses its hard to tell .

melon

From what I gathered about the poster that echoes is recalling, his was a chronic pain condition he had all over. He finally tried
rose's B12 therapy, and went on to use huge doses of B12 and now I have seen him with methylfolate... on the net. One person answered him with the suggestion of the MTHFR mutation, which might have been his problem all along. It is difficult to really tell much on the net however, exactly what is going on with him.

If you PM me I'll send you links to him, and you can try to contact him yourself.

I guess I'm not understanding what specifically is keeping you from relaxing/meditating - pain? shocks/jabs? anxiety? Some folks who are taking gabapentin or other meds for PN have the opposite problem - they can't stay awake.

I have some insomnia issues myself. I usually like to resolve them on my own like you (just not fight it until I fall asleep) but there are times when medical assistance is necessary/prudent.

Have you discussed this with your docs, and are they doing anything for you?

Doc

I find a big geology text book very good to help falling asleep.
(or another big wordy book! )

I use 3mg of melatonin, and now I have since Aug been using Theanine. It is very relaxing. I've upped to 300mg recently.

Don't take lipoic acid at night...I find it jives me up quite a bit.
I take this in the morning.