A few years ago, I discovered the freedom and relief that wearable pain-relief devices can provide for fibromyalgia and psoriatic arthritis. Before then, I avoided solo outings because I couldn’t drive or concentrate with or without taking medication for pain. The horrendous pain I experienced afterward and the days it took to recover when I did go out was not worth the few times I did.
Something had to give. And that is when I began trying different wearable pain-relief devices. I have not tried all of the products listed below, and not all that I have work for me. But I have included them because I know others who have experienced relief from them. I have included my results with the products I have personally tried.
Disclaimer: I am NOT a medical professional and am NOT issuing medical advice. This blog post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission to fund my coffee drinking habit if you use these links to make a purchase. You will not be charged extra, and you’ll keep me supplied in caffeine. It’s a win for everyone, really.
Wearable Pain-Relief Devices that Use Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy
In last year’s post, Four Wearable Pain Devices, I shared only one PEMF device. This year I am sharing two!!! While there are others available, I have tried and tested both of these devices. After extensive (3 years with Oska Pulse and 2 months with ActiPatch) use and outstanding results, I highly recommend both of these devices.
Oska Pulse
This portable PEMF device has totally changed my life in regards to fibromyalgia and psoriatic arthritis. I first began using it a few days a week near the end of November 2016. I was impressed with how it quickly reduced the inflammation in my knee after exercising. In March of 2017, I began running daily treatments on my abdomen. This allowed the device to treat my hips and lower back. Within four months, I noticed a significant decrease in pain in those areas. Since then, I have continued to enjoy life with only a few flares from these two chronic illnesses. It had appeared to have helped with endometriosis pain early in my daily use, but it is no longer helping for that particular condition. However, not dealing with intense pains from the other two while suffering an endometriosis attack is worth every penny spent.
My device will be four years old in November of 2020. As of March 2020, it is still going strong. I ran daily treatments consisting of 5-10 hours for the first two years. In the past year and a half, I have been running less and even skipping days without an increase of fibromyalgia or psoriatic arthritis symptoms.
You can read my original Oska Pulse review here.
The cost: $399 or $344 when purchased through my secret link and discount code. Get my secret code here!
ActiPatch
This PEMF device is much smaller and lighter than the Oska Pulse. It also has a much shorter lifespan. It may last for as little as 30 days or several months, depending on how often you run treatments. Each device has a 720-hour battery. However, it is just as effective at relieving chronic pain!
I have been testing this product for the past two months and have experienced the same quality of relief as I have with my Oska Pulse.
Full disclosure: I was gifted with this device without any expectation of reviewing or promoting it.
To compare, I love how lightweight and small the ActiPatch is. I can wear it under clothing and on my back without even realizing it is there. Whereas the Oska Pulse is too large to sit back with it anywhere besides the crook in my lower back. It is so light that I forget that I even have it on. Another perk is that instead of having to turn it back on after 90 minutes, I just turn on the ActiPatch and let it run until I decide to turn it off.
The only con is that I have to log how often I run treatments so that I can calculate how soon it will need to be replaced. The battery is not rechargeable.
The plus side of the cost difference means that you do not have to invest a large sum of money before finding out if PEMF therapy will help you or not. The downside is that when based on replacing it monthly, and if you choose to continue for at least four years (the life expectancy of the Oska Pulse device), you will spend more than if you purchased the Oska Pulse with my discount.
In all honesty, the initial and long term costs are the only difference between these two outstanding portable PEMF devices.
Tips for using any PEMF therapy device:
- Use regularly: You can’t expect results if you do not run regular treatments. Your chronic pain didn’t appear overnight, nor will it go away after just one treatment. It takes time and patience.
- Stay hydrated: Hydration is key when treating pain with PEMF therapy.
- Focus treatment on the source of your pain. If you do not know where the source is, work with the area you feel pain and go from there.
“Time is not a cure for #chronicpain, but it can be crucial for improvement. It takes time to change, to recover, and to make progress.” ~ A Day Without Pain #painrelief #technology #fibromyalgia #arthritis
Tweet
Wearable Pain-Relief Devices that Disrupt the Pain Cycle
TENS units are wearable devices that use electrical stimulation to disrupt the pain cycle. This treatment won’t interfere with your medications or make you drowsy.
I am unable to use a TENS unit for pain relief because of surgical nerve damage. These units trigger or increase my nerve pain even if it relieves other pain. However, many chronic pain patients swear by them, and that is why I have included them on this list. Everybody is different and will have varying results from one form of treatment to the next.
Quell
This device is an advanced TENS unit. As I stated above, it did not help me but it did help others. I had a few family and friends give it a try, and they all experienced satisfying levels of pain relief. Since testing it, Quell has released a new slimmer and lighter version. Both the original and new versions are available.
Wearable Pain-Relief Device that Uses Neurostimulation
BioWaveGo
This pain relief device goes farther than a TENS unit. Instead of sending a signal across the surface of your skin, BioWaveGo goes deep down into your tissue. Because it targets the nerves deep inside, only 30 minutes of treatment is needed.
Wearable Pain-Relief Devices that Use Heat
The following portable heating pad devices provide warmth and comfort to your neck, back, shoulders, and knees!
Wearable Pain-Relief Devices that Use Cold Laser Therapy
Advanced low-level laser therapy technology stimulates body tissues and causes regeneration and relief from pain. Chiropractors, physiotherapists,
sports and medical professionals utilize this therapy for pain at different levels including chronic back, neck, joint, shoulder pain. It is also known to relieve pain and help heal carpal tunnel syndrome and plantar fasciitis.
Have you tried any of these therapies? If so, share your experience in the comments.
Related Posts:
- 40 Fibromyalgia Flare Fighting Products
- Put a Stop to Fibromyalgia Nerve Pain Before it gets on Your Nerves
I have used a tens unit for seversl years. First the bulky kind with dangling wires. Now the slim no wire unit. I couldn’t function some days without this pain relieving unit for my back. Have referred many of my family and friends to use it. Not one complaint.
So happy to hear that you find some relief with a TENS unit.
Some really interesting ones here. I only know of Oska because of blogs like yours and I’m quite curious. I’d be keen to try heat-based too, and I think with a lot of these things it’s a case of needing to try it yourself to see if/how it benefits you. As you found with Quell, it didn’t work for you but it’s been beneficial for others, so I guess you never know until you try! Great round-up 🙂
Caz xx
I am obsessed with the relief I get from my Oska LOL….. I’m considering trying cold laser for my adhesion pain as it is one of the few types of treatment I haven’t tried for that issue.
Very helpful post! If I ever had the cash, I’d try an Oska — I’ve read multiple bloggers talk about it. TENS units I have to use with caution, otherwise they hurt me, but they can help.
I hear ya, the Oska Pulse is definately an investment. But it is a sturdy device. I will be curious to see how many years I get out of it beyond the estimated 4 years. I would definately recommend PEMF therapy with ActiPatch as an lower cost way of trying it out for a month or two. So far I am quite impressed with the relief it is providing. It’s raining today and I have the ActiPatch on my spine (storms trigger swelling around my spine) and so far so good, the only pain I am experiencing is throughout my abdoment from endometriosis, but not my usual fibro or PsA muscle and joint pain.