PM and Accupunture with micro currents

Hi,

I had my PM surgery 4 years ago and things are fine overall. Recently I developed pain in my fore arm and wrist area and tried different options.Now I am trying Accupunture.My doctor wants to use micro currents to stimuate the needles and says its most effective and he knows that I have a PM implanted. I asked my Cardiologist and he says they can interfere with PM and advises against any electrical stimulation. When I told my Accupuncturist about this he said he treated many patients with PM's and its safe to use electric currents. I just want to know if anyone faced this situtation before and the outcome.

 

Thanks

Sri

3 Comments

what's safe

by Tracey_E - 2018-12-12 11:17:55

I would trust your cardiologist more than an accupuncturist, and I would question someone that claims to have had that many paced patients that needed currents. That sounds like a bit of an exaggeration which would make me suspicious of their overall knowledge and concerned about the blase attitude. I was in gait therapy after a broken foot and the therapist called both my cardiologist and St Judes to clarify what was safe for me. He'd had other paced patients and been told different things were safe so he wanted to be sure what was safe for me before doing anything. He was told muscle stim is safe on extremities, but not the torso. So, it may be ok, but think twice before doing something your cardiologist said could be unsafe for you. 

 

A different take

by Gotrhythm - 2018-12-13 16:04:18

Far be it from me to argue with either Robin or Tracey, but if my acupucturist suggested microcurrent therapy to be used on an extremity, I would do it without qualm.

Why? Because I have had a nerve conduction study on my entre left arm, and have used a TENS unit on my left forearm, neither of which affected my pacemaker in the smallest degree. The electricity of micro current is far, far less. 

Based on my experience, I have no reason to believe that the micro current would affect anything except the tissues in direct contact with the probe. 

Just my opinion.

 

Apologies

by Gotrhythm - 2018-12-14 15:12:14

The opening line of my post above carried a tone of disrespect which was totally unintentional. I apologize.

I always find Tracey and Robin's posts useful and well thought out. Their knowledge of all things pacemaker is certainly superior to mine.

 

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