Frequently Asked Questions - Patients
Electrodes (3)
Electrodes are only designed to last for 30 applications. So replace them if they are all dried out.
Quite often people use lotions or moisturisers on their legs. This can cause the electrode to peel off the leg. Make sure you have clean, dry skin before putting on the electrodes.
After using the electrodes we advise to wet the electrodes a little, before putting them back on the 'ON' side of the plastic and sealing them in the original packaging or an airtight container.
The manufacturer claims that the electrodes are good for about 30 applications. So using the stimulator every day means you should get about 1 months use.
After using the electrodes we advise to wet the electrodes a little, before putting them back on the 'ON' side of the plastic and sealing them in the original packaging or an airtight container.
The manual that comes with your stimulator should have diagrams of electrode positions. Your clinician may have marked your electrode position in the manual or even issued you with photos of where your electrodes go. If you continue to have problems then get in touch with whoever issued you with the equipment as they will be able to help.
Try this link for the manufacturers of he PALS electrodes:
http://www.palsclinicalsupport.com/downloads/AXEL_ElectrodPlacement_Manual_V11.pdf
Technical Questions (1)
Sometimes this is because the battery is not making contact with the silver battery tags inside the stimulator. This can happen if the stimulator is dropped. If you can see that the battery tags have over bent, then send the stimulator back to Odstock Medical for repair. It might also be the battery. Make sure you use a good brand (we use Duracell's). If you are using rechargeable batteries then make sure they are charged frequently.
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For FES to be effective both the nerve and the muscle supplied by the nerve must be undamaged. For this reason FES can be used in conditions such as:
· Stroke
· Multiple sclerosis (MS)
· Spinal cord injury, T12 and above (SCI)
· Parkinson's disease
· Cerebral palsy (CP)
· Head injury (HI)
· Familial or hereditary spastic paraparesis (FSP)
In these conditions paralysis is due to an upper motor neurone lesion. FES can also be used in orthopaedic conditions where muscle weakness is due to disuse or inhibition. If you have other problems as well as a dropped foot we have another device called the Odstock 2 Channel Stimulator (02CHS), which can stimulate a second muscle to assist walking.
NOTE : FES is not suitable for lower motor neurone conditions such as: Peripheral nerve lesions, Polio, Motor neurone disease or Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
Only if you are already under the care of an OML trained clinician.
It is also important to note that if you are treated in Salisbury or in one of the Outreach Clinics, the equipment you are supplied with (regardless if you are self funding or NHS funded) is on loan and once your treatment is stopped, then the equipment is to be returned to OML.
Yes. The costs are the same. We will still require a referral from your GP/Consultant and we will then send you an appointment for you to be seen either in Salisbury or at your local Outreach Clinic.
Providing funding is agreed, you can be seen in some cases within a week. We do not have a wait list.
An outreach clinic is basically run by a fully trained clinician who treats patients on our behalf. These clinics were set up to help patients be seen locally, rather then travel all the way to Salisbury for their treatment. These clinics are not the same as FES services run within some hospitals. This is a direct referral route to these services and they are independent from Salisbury’s clinics. OMLs only contribution is that we provide the equipment ie the Hospital has purchased the equipment from us and they treat their own patients accordingly.
Please click here to see if there is an Outreach Clinic near you. If there is one in your area, then we will, upon receipt of your referral, make arrangements for you to be seen locally – if appropriate. If however you wish to be seen in Salisbury, we are always happy to treat you here!
The first step is to ask your GP to refer you to Prof Ian Swain at Odstock Medical in Salisbury. It may be prudent to download some information on FES in case the GP needs to understand more fully what FES is and how it could help you. The GP will also need to know what the costs are:
All potential patients need to attend an initial assessment appointment. If stimulation is found to be helpful at this appointment, two further appointments are usually made for setting up the device. Thereafter appointments will be at six weekly, three monthly and then at six monthly intervals until treatment stops, which may be after a year or may continue for the unforeseeable future.
The cost of treatment covers the loan of the stimulation devices, consumables and clinician time.
The cost of the initial assessment is £140.
The cost of each further follow up appointment is £300.
There are usually five appointments in the first year - £ 1640 in total, and one or two appointments in subsequent years (£ 300 - £ 600).
The cost of treatment for each patient is subject to inflation rises.
The best way to keep up to date with our developments is via the website. We will publish details of new products when they are available. Odstock Medical patients may also be informed at their clinic appointment or by letter.
Yes of course! Click on the link below to see videos of FES in action.
Electrodes should last around 30 applications. The footswitch usually lasts for at least 1 year. If you have a cork insole then it is likely that the insole will have to be replaced long before the footswitch. So carefully peel off the footswitch and attach it to a new insole. Quite often the footswitch looks quite worn but it actually lasts a very long time.
Look out for the footswitch and electrode leads becoming stiff and off colour as this is an indication that they might need replacing soon.
We use full length cork insoles so that the insole does not slide around in the shoe, so make sure you have the correct size insole. Some people purchase leather insoles from a shoe shop as the cork insoles sometime fold or crease in the shoe over time. Then use some sort of tape to ensure the heel switch remains attached to the insole. Tapes used range from surgical tape from boots to duck tape from B & Q. So to summarise – make sure the insole fits the shoe and ensure the footswitch is well adhered to the insole. For best results and comfort the footswitch is usually attached underneath the insole with the black dot of the fooswitch facing upwards.