United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

pics of myotrac use

http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b162/marieke2005/?

scroll through them to get to the camp pics..

how is everyone getting this machine? I know where the link is but has anyone gotten insurance to pay or are you just paying for it out of pocket? What do i do if Drake's doctor won't write a script?

The company's I spoke with said no insurance didn't cover biofeed back machines. Call your insurance co and see maybe you'll get lucky. If you plan on buying the machine you don't need a script thats only to rent one. Do you plan on using one channel or two??? Frankie uses the pathways dual channel this tells you when you are over compensating it gives you feed back on more then one muscle at a time. Some people that bought the myotrac now want two channels so figure out what you want before you get one they run about $785 for a dual channel and $90 for 3 month supply of pads. If you rent it the cost is $85 per month plus the cost of pads if you decide to buy it after renting the money spent on renting the 1st 3 months is 100% applied to the purchase. We decide to rent for 3 months then decide if we will buy it after we see if there is any change, we got ours last month. Here is the number of the company we used 1-800-382-5879 the mans name is Earl the machine is call the pathways TR20 it is so easy to use Frankie does it by himself.

Dustin's dr wrote a script for PT and the therapist ordered it. No, our insurance wouldn't pay. He did say that they did not ask for a script when he ordered it from the company. If you would like more info e-mail me and I can give you the company, #, ect of the one we have. It was $357.00 for a single channel, It is the Pathways TR10 EMG Trainer.
Sue

My insurance would not pay for it. I am adult/bpi and for some reason no one seems to get the reason I would like to gain more movement/function...

We purchased it and I've been using it on my own. It would be best if you get a PT to work with you because it will make the work easier. Once our brains find the muscle and we can use it... Then the work really begins because they are weak.

Co contractions seems to be a big problem.
When I move my arm all of my muscles fire and my deltoids really are difficult to shut off. I can now shut them off once in a while now that I have practiced.
But life would be so much easier and better and my progress much quicker if I had professional help... ok that was a bit of a vent... but being adult/obpi = second class care/if any for our arms...

Kath robpi/adult

whom do i contact to obtaining both a myotract & an e-stim to help my son?

Myotrac you can just get online, no order needed. E-stim the doctor or therapist needs to give you an order.
Good luck!
Amy

Mylnn
Its best to talk to your child's therapist find out what biofeed back machine she is familar with since she would be the one showing you how to use it. Also the same with the estim there are so many machines some are used at night while the child sleeps but the key to both machines are the placement of the pads and if you don't know where the muscles are its a waste of time and with the estim you can hurt your child if you don't know the right settings. Also with the mod quad being done everything has been moved around and its harder to find muscles and to make sure your working the ones that need to be worked.
Mare

I second the recommendation for a therapist trained with biofeedback and estim, if you can find one. If you can't, try to find someone with an open mind who at least knows where all the placements for the electrodes should be (either estim or biofeedback) OR knows their shoulder/upper body muscles really, really well.

If your child has had secondary surgery and especially muscle/tendon transfers, I would also suggest you get a copy of the surgical report to show the therapist so he/she can better understand exactly what was done in order to figure out if the electrode positions should be different.

Kate

bumping for a new user