Many of us experience physical pain from time to time, but symptoms usually resolve within days, weeks, or months. Unfortunately, for some people long-lasting pain makes it difficult to work, play with their children, or enjoy life. More than 1 in 5 U.S. adults battle issues associated with chronic pain, and nearly 20 million people classify their symptoms as high impact. Some of these adults may find relief through Micro-Vas, an effective nonsurgical treatment offered by the compassionate team at Northeast Spine and Sports Medicine.
What Is Micro-Vas Therapy?
Micro-Vas treatment is an ionic impulse therapy that delivers electrical stimulation throughout your body. Pads placed on the skin send muscle-stimulating signals deep into the treatment area, not just the surface of your body. Reverse polarity creates an alternating directional pulse that stimulates neuromuscular contractions. This encourages healthy blood flow and tissue oxygenation that trigger your body's natural healing process.
During Micro-Vas treatments, your muscles and nerves react to electrical currents generated by the system. Micro-Vas stimulates arterial, lymphatic, and venous circulation simultaneously. Blood flow improves immediately, which helps your body form collagen and distributes nutrients via your capillaries. Simply put, Micro-Vas therapy helps your body heal when you're in pain or recovering from an injury.
Who Can Benefit From Micro-Vas Treatment?
We use Micro-Vas stimulation to treat many patients with neuropathy. This includes peripheral neuropathy, which affects up to 60% of people with diabetes. Currently, there's no cure for any type of nerve pain, but treatment can reduce or eliminate most symptoms. It can also address tingling and burning sensations related to these conditions.
Micro-Vas therapy benefits patients with diabetes-related nerve pain and other common forms of neuropathy. It also helps individuals with the following health conditions:
- Radiculopathy
- Myofascial pain
- Tarsal tunnel syndrome
- Peroneal tendonitis
- Achilles tendonitis
- Metatarsalgia
- Morton's neuroma
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Gout
Patients may also experience relief from muscle cramps or pain stemming from joint implants, amputations, fractured bones, or loose body joints. We've also found that individuals with a history of cold feet, headaches, or slow-healing wounds show improvement after Micro-Vas treatments.
When Was Micro-Vas Therapy Developed?
Micro-Vas therapy has been around since the late 1980s. It was originally used to treat hypothermia in Navy Seals who experienced the negative effects of extreme temperatures. Over time, Micro-Vas therapy evolved into a popular treatment for neuropathy and other painful conditions, especially those that affect the extremities.
Who Can Perform Micro-Vas Sessions?
Micro-Vas therapy must be performed by an experienced health care provider, such as a doctor or nurse practitioner. Many of the medical professionals at Northeast Spine and Sports Medicine have experience administering Micro-Vas treatments, and our physicians have multiple areas of expertise.
How Long Does Micro-Vas Treatment Take?
Micro-Vas is a quick, noninvasive procedure, and you may see results after just one visit. Treatments typically take 20 to 40 minutes and many patients say that they don't feel any discomfort. However, you may notice a mild tingling sensation.
Treatment frequency depends on the severity of symptoms and how your body responds to therapy. Some patients find that visiting us twice a week for four consecutive weeks helps to eliminate pain, swelling, and cramps. After the first month, one of our doctors will evaluate your progress to determine whether you need additional treatments.
What Happens During a Micro-Vas Appointment?
When you schedule Micro-Vas therapy at one of our New Jersey locations, we perform a thorough physical exam before your initial treatment. During this time, we may ask questions about your lifestyle, daily habits, and activity level. We may also check your tendon reflexes, muscle strength, and muscle tone to see how your body reacts to different sensations.
If you take any medications or supplements, please let us know. To ensure a continuity of care, you should also notify us if you're currently receiving pain management services from any other medical providers.
After we've determined that you're a good candidate for Micro-Vas, we'll have you relax in a comfortable chair and a member of our health care team will connect the Micro-Vas equipment to your body. The system consists of flexible electrodes attached to electrical cords. These cords send gentle pulses through the parts of your body that need treatment most.
As the currents run through the area, your blood flow increases. You may notice a slight tingling sensation during this time although some patients feel nothing at all. Your lymphatic system also experiences benefits which help to reduce swelling and inflammation while boosting your body's natural healing process.
When your session ends, you can drive yourself home unless you experience side effects. Although it's unlikely, let us know if you feel any discomfort or become lightheaded during the procedure.
When Do Patients See Results From Micro-Vas Sessions?
Some patients experience results after just one Micro-Vas treatment, while others require a few visits before their pain decreases. The majority of our patients start to feel better after their fourth treatment with Micro-Vas.
Your results may depend on several factors, including:
- The condition(s) being treated
- The severity of your symptoms
- The frequency of your visits
- Whether you receive other pain management treatments concurrently
Some conditions do well with Micro-Vas but require secondary treatments for an optimal recovery. For example, someone with sciatica may also benefit from physical therapy or chiropractic care. We can coordinate services with your other medical providers to optimize your healing process.
Is Micro-Vas Therapy Safe?
Micro-Vas therapy is a nonsurgical, drug-free treatment that's safe for patients with neuropathy, arthritis, and similar conditions. However, some patients should avoid Micro-Vas treatments, including those who have:
- Experienced a stroke recently
- A cardiac pacemaker
- A cardiac defibrillator implant
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Melanoma or a history of skin cancer
- Bleeding or clotting disorders
Patients who are pregnant should also avoid Micro-Vas unless an OB/GYN approves the procedure.
Does Insurance Cover Micro-Vas Treatment?
Some insurance companies cover Micro-Vas. However, a handful of providers classify it as an experimental treatment despite evidence indicating that many patients experience pain relief. We can review your insurance benefits prior to your first visit. If your provider doesn't cover Micro-Vas, our front desk can help you establish a flexible payment plan so that you can access this effective treatment.
Other Options for Pain Management
For many patients, Micro-Vas provides relief from pain, circulation problems, and inflammation. Others function best when they combine Micro-Vas with complementary treatments, such as chiropractic care, acupuncture therapy, MLS laser therapy, or physical therapy. All of these services are available at Northeast Spine and Sports Medicine, so you may be able to schedule appointments back to back instead of scheduling different treatments on different days.
Additionally, you aren't limited to therapies provided at our office. If you're seeing other medical providers, please let us know. We can reach out to them and create an integrated treatment plan that appropriately addresses all of your concerns.
Learn More About Micro-Vas Treatment
Sometimes patients aren't sure whether Micro-Vas treatment can benefit them. This nonsurgical treatment improves blood circulation, and stimulates endorphins as well as natural pain-blocking signals within your nervous system. This helps your body feel better quickly, even before swelling and inflammation decrease.
Here are some symptoms that may improve with Micro-Vas therapy:
- Joint pain
- Swelling
- Muscle cramps
- Muscle soreness
- Inflammation
- Pain in the extremities, especially foot pain
- Burning or tingling sensations
- Slow-healing wounds
- Poor blood circulation
Some of these symptoms stem from underlying medical conditions, such as arthritis and diabetes. Others are associated with obesity and lifestyle factors like smoking or drinking. You may also have symptoms from previous injuries that damaged your muscles or tissue. Regardless of what caused your symptoms, we can help you determine how to treat them — even if you decide that Micro-Vas therapy isn't the right choice for you.
If you have questions about Micro-Vas therapy, contact our team via our online form, or call one of our New Jersey offices. We can explain the pros and cons of this popular procedure and schedule a consultation to determine whether it can benefit you. Reach out today to learn how Micro-Vas and other nonsurgical, drug-free treatment options can help you live a pain-free life.
