Interview with Linda Horncastle, UK trained occupational therapist who is
also trained in the use of Alpha Stimulation.
Welcome to the first in a series of interview with fellow occupational therapists. Linda Horncastle was the first to respond to an offer to OT's to be featured on my blog and it has been wonderful to get to know her.
We immediately had more than OT in common with a common interest in the condition M.E. / CFS. It's been a pleasure getting to know Linda. So without any further ado, here is our interview. I do hope that you enjoy the fascinating work that Linda is involved with and kindly shares with you the reader in her answers below.
Shoshanah: Hi Linda, it's so good
to get to know you. Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background
in both OT and alpha stim.
Linda: I
qualified as an OT at Dorset House in Oxford,
UK in 1981. I
first worked in Manchester as a Basic grade in a
6 month rotation post at Withington
Hospital which gave me
loads of experience in Surgical/Orthopaedics, Geriatrics, Burns and a Young
disabled unit. I then specialised in Surgical/Orthopaedics and became very
proficient in splint making and treating those with hip and knee replacement
and amputees. I think if hadn’t moved because of my husband’s job I would have
then specialised in myoelectric limbs for upper limb amputees. After we moved I
worked as a Senior 1 in Surgical /Orthopaedics at Ipswich Hospital
I then left on maternity leave at the end of 1988 with the intention to return
part time.
I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome in
1999 even though my symptoms started in 1989. My symptoms worsened in 2000. I
was so disabled then I thought I would never work as an OT again and that I
was probably facing the rest of my life using an electric wheelchair. I
gained some improvement through dietary changes, pacing and relaxation but not
enough to consider working again. I couldn’t tolerate the medication or the
TENS device. I started my private clinic in 2010, six months after starting to
use the Alpha-Stim.
Shoshanah:
Thank you Linda. Having started in physical rehabilitation, can you tell us a
little more about your experience with fibromyalgia, M.E. and the Alpha-stim
Linda: It
is tough trying to keep going with fatigue. The Alpha-Stim has certainly
reduced my relapses. Dr Myhill (a doctor in the UK who specialises in ME/CFS)
thinks when describing ME/CFS and FM it is continuum with ‘Fatigue’ one end and
‘Pain’ the other, and we’re somewhere along the line. I would have been 1/2 way
along the line.
I find
the ear-clip only device can help people with ME/CFS by increasing the time in
deep sleep, increasing ATP production and reducing the effects of the over
active ‘fight and flight’ response. It can also reduce sensitivities, e.g. I
found it almost impossible to fill up my car with petrol because of the smell,
now it’s less of a problem. Also it’s not so painful trying to hold the pump.
Occasionally
CES sadly hasn’t worked with some people with ME and my theory is that in these
cases the possible viral cause is still in an active state.
Shoshanah: That is fascinating. How
did you learn about micro-current therapy and what training is required to
become a practitioner?
Linda: I
came across the Alpha-Stim by chance. I swim at a warm swimming pool and in the
same group I met a very active retired doctor (Dr Bob Lister). At this stage I
had founded the Chiltern Fibromyalgia (FM) and Chronic Fatigue Group,
(previously known as S. Bucks Fibromyalgia and CFS/ME Support Group). After I
discovered Bob had done research into FM I asked him to became an advisor to
our group and he is now the mentor of my clinic. Because of his research Bob
was approached by the new UK
supplier of the Alpha-Stim wanting to trial the device on people with FM. So in
2009 I was offered the chance to trial a device. It had only been in the UK for a year, (I was annoyed later to find out
it had already been available in the US for 26 years). I knew after 2
weeks the ear-clips were helping. I had a very stressful day in London, which would
normally have triggered a relapse but this time it didn’t. There was no training available in the UK so I taught myself how to use
the device. Then I found lectures online about the Alpha-Stim and took part in
webinars with the inventor Dr Kirsch and had further training online with Dr
Marksberry. From this knowledge and personal experience treating pain all over
my body, I started an informal trial with 18 members of our support group.
After the amazing results of this three-week trial where 15 out of the 18
people found the Alpha-Stim also helped them, I decided to become registered
again and to set up a clinic to help others get the best from the devices. I
now train other Alpha-Stim practitioners in the UK.
I use 2 devices in my clinic:
- The Alpha-Stim AID which is an ear-clip only treatment of gentle microcurrent waves called cranial electrical stimulation (CES). The Alpha-waves promote a feeling of calm and alertness. These can help with mild all-over body pain by improving the inhibitory messages from the brain.
- The Alpha-Stim M, is what I call the 3 in 1 device, with ear-clips (CES) as above and for more specific pain relief the probes and sticky AS-trodes (Microcurrent Electrical Therapy, MET)
The
Alpha-Stim uses micro-currents close to the type and amount of electricity that
naturally occurs in the body. These micro-currents produce residual and
cumulative results that encourage the body’s system to work better. It is
a well researched class lla device and is approved by the FDA for the relief of
anxiety, insomnia, depression and pain management. It has been used in the USA, in the
clinical setting for the past 31 years. There have been 28 randomised studies
done independently of the manufacturer, four of these show impressive results
with Fibromyalgia.
Shoshanah: It sounds like you are
doing wonderful work. I am interested in your combination of OT with Alpha
Stim. Do you have any confusion in promoting your work since you use OT
combined with another modality?
Linda: Yes,
if I had already had a well established clinic or been able to join a local
clinic with good referrals from doctors it wouldn’t have been such a struggle.
My accountant said he’d never seen anyone set up a business as I did after
being unable to work for 20 years.
I know
it’s unusual for OT’s to use this type of device but due to the holistic
benefits this device can achieve, I feel we are the ideal profession to get the
best from it. I personally don’t see it any different from OTs who specialise
in splint making, mindfulness practices and some I know do NLP and acupuncture.
If we don’t take this device seriously other professions will take over this
market such as Acupunctures and Massage therapists. I don’t think many
Physiotherapists would be willing to take on the psychological benefits this
device can treat which is so important when treating people with chronic
conditions. Such as lifting mood, reducing the stress of living with a chronic
condition, improved concentration, better sleep patterns and reducing the
effects of central sensitisation.
Shoshanah: The area of pain and
pain management is a problem and need to a large percentage of the population.
I noticed that you have included patients post MVA (motor vehicle accident).
Can the micro-current therapy assist those experiencing pain from nerve damage
which is often more severe than from e.g. incorrect lifting.
Linda: The Alpha-Stim can be used successfully to treat a variety of pain related conditions. Such as: FM, CFS, arthritis and back pain. It can also be used with certain conditions with nerve damage such as brain injury, Parkinson's disease and MS where it can be used to reduce anxiety and spasm. There are some case histories for these on the US website. I’ve had success with a young man with a brain injury from a skiing accident where it has reduced his agitation, also a man with dystonia where he felt his body was more relaxed. Both of these cases just used the ear-clips, CES.
I
treated a practitioner during a training session who had reduced sensation in
her arm due to surgery on her elbow, she had increased sensation after a few
minutes of treatment with the probes, MET.
More
care needs to be taken with conditions like trigeminal neuralgia where the
cases I’ve treated responded well to the ear-clips but they found the probes
too strong.
If a
person has severe electrical type neuralgia then I am very cautious and will
first see if they can tolerate the ear-clips. Only after 4 - 6 weeks of daily
CES to try to reduce the severity of their symptoms might I consider trying the
probe treatment, MET.
Shoshanah: For those not aware of
the role of OT with pain management, can you share a few words about this?
Linda: OTs
can play a vital part in pain management. There are so many aspects that should
be looked at to help a person in chronic pain reduce their symptoms. See my
‘Diamond Approach’ summary.
OTs can
help with adaptations, relaxation, sleep management, pacing (done extremely
slowly in those with CFS!!), some dietary suggestions and other life style
changes. Such as; in the work situation by the use of activity diaries and
learning how to protect oneself from the pressures of the work environment. A
new area I’m currently looking at is ‘personality types’ and being aware how
that can impact lifestyles and the perception of pain. I’m learning how one can
protect oneself from, as Dr. Judith Orloff describes, ‘Energy vampires’. The
Alpha-Stim can help these techniques.
Shoshanah: Are there any
contra-indications for using micro-current therapy e.g. the TENS can not be
used with those suffering from epilepsy. Is this the same for micro-current
therapy?
Yes,
officially it is OK with those with epilepsy and I have used it with a couple
of people with mild epilepsy without a problem but I certainly wouldn’t with
anyone with active seizures.
It is
also not advised for people with pacemakers or who are pregnant. You shouldn’t
use the ear-clips CES whilst driving, but you can use the AS-trodes on the
shoulders which I do to reduce pain in my shoulders when driving long
distances. I also find used near the neck the AS-trodes can produce a calming
effect which was good when I’ve had to drive across London.
The Alpha-Stim can make medication more efficacious, therefore it can be used when trying to reduce medication. For example, one client reduced his morphine by half within 2 weeks of using the Alpha-Stim and another was able to stop taking her antidepressants. Dr Kirsch the inventor of the Alpha-Stim suggests: possibly reducing medication typically by one-third to one-half within the first few weeks of starting Alpha-Stim.
Shoshanah: It has been a pleasure
to get to know Linda and the work that she is involved in. For more information
about the services offered by Linda, her support groups or how to book a session,
do visit her
Webpage:www.microtherapyclinic.com
Twitter: MicrOTherapy clinic @LindaTherapy
Twitter: MicrOTherapy clinic @LindaTherapy
If you are an occupational therapist and interested in being interviewed for this blog, please do be in touch.
I hope you have enjoyed learning about OT in the UK and OT combined with Alpha Stim. If you have any questions, please do post in the comments below.
Have a wonderful day
Shoshanah Shear
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