The VA continues to be a leader in the national effort to reduce opioid prescribing, as well as an important champion for the utilization of non-drug treatments in pain management programs. Now it’s sharing results that show these combined efforts are having success in improving well-being for Veterans living with chronic pain.

Like all healthcare programs looking to reduce the use of opioids, the VA model incorporates a variety of tools for helping Veterans manage chronic pain. Those include options that require one-on-one practitioner involvement – such as physical therapy – and some that, with training, can be managed independently by the Veteran – like electrotherapy.

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If you’re a patient living with chronic back pain, you may be researching whether there’s a surgical solution to your problems.

If so, you may have already discovered that one option is an implanted spinal cord stimulator. And while this option may hold promise, it isn’t without risks. Although most are minor, like infection or bruising, some spinal cord stimulator side effects are much more serious.

As you contemplate an SCS implant or other surgical procedures, or are even trying to delay or find an alternative to surgery, you should know there is a prescription-grade option that’s non-invasive and drug free, and provides real pain relief for 87 percent of patients who use it – the RS-4i® Plus.

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In addition to Interferential therapy (INF) to relieve pain, the RS-4i Plus uses NMES to facilitate muscle rehabilitation. But it’s how the RS-4i Plus stimulates muscle that sets it apart from the competition.

The device’s NMES waveform has short, spiky waves that activate highly sensitive fast-twitch muscle fibers, as well as wider, square sections that are ideal for activating the harder-to-engage, slow-twitch fibers. By stimulating a larger number of muscle fibers, the RS-4i Plus can elicit a maximal muscle contraction – resulting in greater therapeutic benefit.

The ability to stimulate more of the slow-twitch “big movers,” like the gluteus muscles and quadriceps, is a distinct advantage for the RS-4i Plus and makes this device a top choice for many physicians helping patients rehabilitate.

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Celebrating the holidays is something many of us happily anticipate all year. But the holidays generally come with added stress, and with the lingering effects of COVID still creating challenges for some, this holiday season is shaping up to be a time when self-care is extra important.

For those who live with chronic pain – and those who are caregivers – taking steps to safeguard your own physical and mental wellbeing is the best gift you can give yourself and those that care about you.

Here are five suggestions for keeping the “me” in merry during the holidays.

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Where do I put these pads, again?

If you’re new to the RS-4i Plus, or using the RS-4i Plus to treat a new body area, it’s a question that likely has crossed your mind. But don’t worry – we have you covered. Here’s how you can get the most out of your treatments with the RS-4i Plus.

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There’s no shortage of treatment options for chronic musculoskeletal pain, including physical therapy, medications, surgery, massage, psychotherapy and more. But there’s often no simple fix and, as opioids have shown, definitely no magic pill. There is, however, one doctor-prescribed treatment that’s proving to be popular for a number of reasons: electrotherapy with the RS-4i Plus.

Here are 6 reasons why you should consider the RS-4i Plus for self-managed pain relief.

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While a device manufacturer may claim to be “high frequency,” it’s a label that doesn’t mean much without scientific context. What’s important is the waveform, and its ability to overcome skin resistance and penetrate to where the actual pain resides. Let’s look at the science behind the RS-4i Plus to get a better sense of how it treats pain – and what makes it different.

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A concern for healthcare providers is identifying non-opioid treatment options that help patients manage chronic pain effectively. The most desirable choices should be fast acting, so patients begin getting pain relief as quickly as possible, and long lasting – optimally 6 hours or more. Of the options, one that may provide some of the longest-lasting, non-invasive relief is Interferential Therapy (INF). This non-invasive treatment goes to work quickly and provides long-term relief. In fact, many patients report pain relief that lasts for extended periods.

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Research from the VA has delivered yet another a reality check for healthcare providers who are considering increased opioid doses for patients with chronic pain. Recent analysis shows that patients who received increasing doses of pain medication did not have meaningful reductions in their pain when compared against patients whose doses remained the same.

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