This article on fibromyalgia pain relief devices was originally published on NationalPainReport.com. It is being republished here with permission from the editor. This post contains affiliate links.
Pharmaceuticals haven’t been very effective in relieving my chronic pain from fibromyalgia and Lyme disease, so I am constantly on the hunt for non-drug therapies to help myself and my fellow fibro warriors.
A few months ago, I shared my experience with the Quell wearable pain relief device, and I still use it pretty much every day with good results.
Yeah, I know the idea of using some sort of device to zap away your pain might sound too good to be true – I was a huge skeptic myself before I started using one of these gadgets myself – but I’ve learned from personal experience that pain relief devices can be extremely useful tools in managing fibromyalgia. So, I thought it might be helpful to take a look at some of the devices currently on the market and how they might help in the battle with chronic pain. Below are a few of the more popular options available for purchase online.
AVACEN 100
What is it?
The FDA-cleared AVACEN 100 uses the AVACEN Treatment Method, an entirely new concept in pain treatment by noninvasively and safely infusing heat into the circulatory system to create muscular relaxation while increasing microcirculation throughout the body. Unlike other medical devices providing local pain relief, the AVACEN 100’s unique mechanism of action provides temporary relief of minor muscle and joint pain and stiffness; the temporary relief of joint pain associated with arthritis; muscle spasms; minor strains and sprains; and muscular relaxation. It is a drug-free and safe alternative for relief of muscle and joint pain.
How can it help fibromyalgia?
CE approval for the treatment of fibromyalgia in the 28 European Union countries was based on AVACEN’s very promising 22-person fibromyalgia study, in which all patients reported positive results. The AVACEN study was conducted under a cooperative research development agreement with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at the University of California San Diego Center for Pain Medicine, Perlman Medical Center and the VA Medical Center, San Diego.
The Society for Neuroscience 2013 Annual Meeting abstract program disclosed that the 28-day AVACEN follow-up study produced a statistically significant reduction of more than 40 percent in the widespread pain index and a reduction in average tender point counts from approximately 15 to 9 (11 is used for clinical assessment).
Where to purchase? Price?
The AVACEN 100 can be purchased at AVACEN.com for $2,595. Financing is available through PayPal Credit and TimePay.com. The device comes with a two-year warranty.
Return policy?
AVACEN Medical offers a 100% money-back, 30-day guarantee if you follow a clinically proven effective protocol of a twice daily 15-minute treatment.
Home ultrasound
What is it?
Home ultrasound is simply therapeutic ultrasound therapy that can be administered in the home. The real strength of ultrasound is the ability to reduce inflammation, which is an enemy to healing. By helping to reduce inflammation, it allows the body to heal naturally.
During ultrasound therapy, a handheld transducer will generate high frequency sound waves that penetrate deeply into the tissues with the aid of an ultrasound gel. Most home ultrasound therapy machines will be handheld and have a rounded crystal probe head. After applying ultrasound gel, the ultrasound head should be moved in small circular motions during treatment. The handheld ultrasound transducer emits ultrasonic waves that travel through the body causing micro-vibrations in the tissues of the body. These vibrations heat tissues, such as tendons, ligaments and muscles, promoting blood flow at the injury site. This increased blood flow is the main aim of ultrasound therapy because it allows large amounts of nutrients and oxygen to reach affected cell tissues
The most common frequencies of ultrasound machines are 1 Mhz, 3 Mhz and 5 Mhz. The 1 Mhz machines will actually penetrate deeper into the body, up to 1.66 inches and is most often used for therapeutic purposes. Both the 3 Mhz and 5 Mhz machines do not penetrate very deeply into the body and are more limited in their treatment scope. Some of the more common uses of ultrasound include joint and arthritis pain, plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, bursitis of the shoulder, knee, achilles, elbow or hip, tendonitis of the shoulder, knee, achilles, wrist, forearm and biceps, tennis/golfer’s elbow, carpal tunnel/tarsal tunnel syndrome and strains/sprains/pulled muscles.
How can it help fibromyalgia?
Ultrasound users with fibromyalgia report mixed results. Some people have an improvement in symptoms, and others do not. (As we all know, what works for one of us doesn’t necessarily work for all of us.)
Where to purchase? Price?
Home ultrasound machines can be purchased at EZUltrasound.com ranging in price from $99.99 to $139.99. There is a five-year warranty on machines.
Return policy?
There is a 60-day money-back guarantee as long as the machine has not been damaged. The unit must arrive at EZUltrasound at least two to three days before the 60-day period is up for processing.
Oska Pulse
What is it?
Oska Pulse is a small, portable, hands-free device that safely optimizes Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapeutic technology, a longtime therapy used by medical practitioners to help people live a more active, pain-free and drug-free lifestyle. Oska Pulse is a smart, safe, easy-to-use, wearable health technology product designed to help reduce muscle stiffness, temporarily relieve minor pain and increase mobility for people who suffer from chronic pain. Oska Pulse provides pain relief by promoting the body’s natural recovery processes. People of any age with pain due to injury, surgery or trauma can benefit.
How can it help fibromyalgia?
It’s recommended that you use the device four to six times a day for half an hour. The Oska Pulse is very easy to use. You simply wrap it over the area you want to target, push the button, ensure it beeps and lights up, and the device does the rest. You can wear the Oska Pulse over your clothing and still feel the effects of it. Oska Pulse is a non-invasive alternative to opioids and other prescription drugs
Where to purchase? Price?
You can purchase Oska Pulse at OskaWellness.com. The cost is $399.
Return policy?
There is a 90-day money-back guarantee.
What is it?
Quell is a wearable pain relief device that is 100 percent drug free and delivers widespread relief from chronic pain. Quell is designed to be worn one to two inches below the knee and works by stimulating the cluster of sensory nerve fibers located there close to the surface of the skin. Because the stimulation triggers your body’s natural pain blockers to provide widespread pain relief, you do not have to have the device on the area of the body where you are experiencing pain in order to experience pain relief. Quell is FDA cleared for 24/7 wear, so you can experience pain relief day and night. The product consists of a device, a sports band and an electrode.
How can it help fibromyalgia?
Quell is a great fit for widespread pain conditions because the device is powerful enough to trigger a widespread pain relief response versus a local pain relief response. Many people with fibromyalgia report good results with Quell.
Where to purchase? Price?
Quell is available for purchase at QuellRelief.com and at select retailers and healthcare provider offices. A Quell Starter Kit is $249, and a one-month supply of two replacement electrodes is $29.95. There is a two-year warranty on all Quell devices.
Return policy?
There is a 60-day money-back guarantee.
TENS
What is it?
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is the use of electric current produced by a device to stimulate the nerves for therapeutic purposes. TENS, by definition, covers a complete range of transcutaneously applied currents used for nerve excitation although the term is often used with a more restrictive intent to describe the kind of pulses produced by portable stimulators used to treat pain.
TENS can provide pain relief from arthritis, tendonitis, headaches, migraines, nerve disorders, plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, golf elbow, post-labor pain, neuropathy, carpal tunnel, calf injury, back and neck pain, sciatica and fibromyalgia.
How can it help fibromyalgia?
A 2013 University of Iowa study found TENS to be beneficial for reducing fibromyalgia pain and fatigue.
Where to purchase? Price?
TechCare TENS units are available for purchase on Amazon. Prices range from $25 to $100.
Return policy?
There is a 30-day money-back guarantee and limited lifetime warranty.
TQ Solo
What is it?
The TQ Solo™ is a cordless, ultra-portable device that generates different forms of light (both laser and medical grade LEDs), which stimulate the body’s own repair processes when applied to an injured area. When our cells are exposed to varying colors of light (such as red, blue or infrared), it triggers the production of ATP, or cellular energy, that in turn can be used to repair the damaged cell. The TQ Solo™ has both red and infrared light to create a phototherapeutic effect, resulting in a reduction of pain, improvement of function or resolution of an injury.
Lasers, like the TQ Solo, are used in medical facilities around the world to treat acute pain, tendinitis, muscle strains, joint sprains, arthritis or bursitis. Research studies are ongoing to show how light may improve memory, heart disease and even autism.
While many lasers generate heat, the laser in the Solo has been “super pulsed.” This prevents the laser from heating up the tissue, so it will not harm the tissue like a surgical laser would. Users may feel a very mild warmth to the skin or no sensation at all.
How can it help fibromyalgia?
The TQ Solo can help to reduce the tender points associated with fibromyalgia by relaxing the muscle fibers. This reduces overall pain, but more importantly, the laser has been shown to protect muscles from injury when used before activity. Therefore, the daily morning use of the laser will actually help reduce the severity of fibromyalgia symptoms over time and even help to minimize pain after daily activities.
Where to purchase? Price?
The TQ Solo can be purchased at MultiRadiance.com. Multi Radiance Medical’s at-home lasers range in price from $1,995 to $2,495. There is a two-year warranty.
Return policy?
Products can be returned within 90 days of purchase.
Now it’s your turn…Have you tried any of the pain relief devices mentioned above? Are there others you would add to the list? Please share in the comments so we can all learn from one another!
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