Trudy, I have a device similar to the one shown on the Today show. The one on the show is by Bioness. The one I am using is called a WalkAide. It is a different company and looks a bit different. My device if I had to purchase it would cost me $4500. However, I am in a 3 year Clinical Trial that is being run here in Alberta Canada. I only had to pay $500.
For me it helps lift my toes and is strengthening my ankle. I have been using it since May of 2008. There is no way I could climb mountains etc but I can now walk much better and somewhat faster. I still use my cane when I am out and about even with this device. However, I am not as afraid of tripping anymore. The biggest thing I find is that my leg is definitely not as tired when I am walking. The clinic I go to now has only 9 people using it. There are actually 2 of us with TM using it. The others either have MS or have had a stroke. When I was first tested to see if I was a candidate they had to be able to find the peripheral nerve in the leg to see if there was still 'communication' between it and my lower leg. If that nerve connection is not there then you are not a good candidate. When I was tested last spring I was only the 3rd (at that time) out of 13 people they had tried the testing with. So not everyone can use it. In the beginning it felt like I was being stabbed by a darning needle every time the electrode stimulated my leg. I wondered what I had gotten myself into. However, after a couple of weeks we finally found the right spot and now it just feels like a sort of 'river of sensation' (the only way I can explain it) down my leg from the point of stimulation to the ankle. It does not hurt. The settings go from zero to 8. The best setting for me is at 4. Each person is different. I know that there are clinical trials for this device called the WalkAide in certain States in the USA. In Canada, Alberta is the only province at present who is trialing this device. I feel very fortunate to be part of the trial and very happy that I was able to use it. I no longer have that pain in my hip from 'hip-hiking' that required me to have cortizone shots every 6 months or so for the pain. I'm not sure if my ankle will be strengthened or 'trained' in 3 years but it would be lovely it that happens. Heather in Calgary ----- Original Message ----- From: Trudy Ogilvie To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 11:06 AM Subject: [TMIC] Today Show Please take a look and tell me what you think?? Click on the woman with the MS story to tell...... http://today.msnbc.msn.com/
