Chronic Pain Support Group
Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...
"Quell"
(First, I am not in any way financially connected with this device, just wanted to pass on our experience.)
A few months ago, if I remember correctly, someone on DS posted a link to a not yet released pain relieving device called Quell. At the time, the Quell website was FYI only, with a place to enter your email if a person was interested in updates.
Well, I signed up and later they solicited pre-release offers to sell for $199. At the time did not really know any additional information.
The Quell is now on the market for general sale, ours arrived about two weeks ago. Quell is similar to a TENS unit, but works in several ways that are considerably different. (See the white paper at the bottom of the second link below.)
The Quell, and its prescription cousin; SENSUS (third link), are the only two wearable TENS-like devices that are FDA cleared for 24x7 use. According to the white paper, 24x7 FDA approval was only possible because both devices automatically cycle on/off every 60 minutes. (The writer says that standard TENS provide only about 60 minutes of relief and that extending that time as been proven to be not effective.) If you are only slightly interested in this device, I highly recommend reading the white paper, which is very helpful in understanding how TENS units work, and naturally, how the Quell/SENSUS are different.
When you first go to the Quell website, the first thing you will see is that the device is strapped around the leg, just below the knee. When I showed my pain doctor this picture, the first thing she said was "is this only used for the knee?" No, as explained in the white paper, placing the device is this specific area (on either leg) can provide total body pain relief. This one thing should indicate to anyone familiar with standard TENS units that something different is going on here.
As mentioned earlier, these devices (unlike standard TENS) are designed to be worn 24x7 if pain relief is needed while in bed. The devices automatically sense (somehow) if a person is in bed and will automatically reduce their output so the user will not be disturbed by the electrical sensations while sleeping. Neat!
The "Quell" is available to anyone via their website. The SENSUS is a prescription only device that has been available for some time apparently as they mention several thousand existing users. So what is the difference? Packaging. Both devices have identical electrical specifications, only the packaging is different. The Quell is much better looking for one. I have no idea what the price of the prescription version is, the Quell is now $249.
I purchased this device for my wife in hopes that it would help with her back pain, and pain from an autoimmune disease she has called "CDIP." (If you have never heard of CDIP, do not feel alone most doctors have not either. Just Google CIDP, and the first hits will give you all the information.) She has been a prescription (and OTC) user of TENS for several years, but rarely uses the Rx version because of the cabling and finding a the correct place to put the pads.
Since we received our Quell she has used it several days and has found it to be considerably better than either her Rx TENS or the OTC version we bought a few months ago. She wears it all day and night. So far, a big thumbs-up from her.
Enough from me. If you are at all interested in trying a new chronic pain relief method, I recommend that you read all you can at the sites below, but especially the white paper.
https://www.quellrelief.com/
https://www.quellrelief.com/quell-user
https://www.quellrelief.com/
(First, I am not in any way financially connected with this device, just wanted to pass on our experience.)
A few months ago, if I remember correctly, someone on DS posted a link to a not yet released pain relieving device called Quell. At the time, the Quell website was FYI only, with a place to enter your email if a person was interested in updates.
Well, I signed up and later they solicited pre-release offers to sell for $199. At the time did not really know any additional information.
The Quell is now on the market for general sale, ours arrived about two weeks ago. Quell is similar to a TENS unit, but works in several ways that are considerably different. (See the white paper at the bottom of the second link below.)
The Quell, and its prescription cousin; SENSUS (third link), are the only two wearable TENS-like devices that are FDA cleared for 24x7 use. According to the white paper, 24x7 FDA approval was only possible because both devices automatically cycle on/off every 60 minutes. (The writer says that standard TENS provide only about 60 minutes of relief and that extending that time as been proven to be not effective.) If you are only slightly interested in this device, I highly recommend reading the white paper, which is very helpful in understanding how TENS units work, and naturally, how the Quell/SENSUS are different.
When you first go to the Quell website, the first thing you will see is that the device is strapped around the leg, just below the knee. When I showed my pain doctor this picture, the first thing she said was "is this only used for the knee?" No, as explained in the white paper, placing the device is this specific area (on either leg) can provide total body pain relief. This one thing should indicate to anyone familiar with standard TENS units that something different is going on here.
As mentioned earlier, these devices (unlike standard TENS) are designed to be worn 24x7 if pain relief is needed while in bed. The devices automatically sense (somehow) if a person is in bed and will automatically reduce their output so the user will not be disturbed by the electrical sensations while sleeping. Neat!
The "Quell" is available to anyone via their website. The SENSUS is a prescription only device that has been available for some time apparently as they mention several thousand existing users. So what is the difference? Packaging. Both devices have identical electrical specifications, only the packaging is different. The Quell is much better looking for one. I have no idea what the price of the prescription version is, the Quell is now $249.
I purchased this device for my wife in hopes that it would help with her back pain, and pain from an autoimmune disease she has called "CDIP." (If you have never heard of CDIP, do not feel alone most doctors have not either. Just Google CIDP, and the first hits will give you all the information.) She has been a prescription (and OTC) user of TENS for several years, but rarely uses the Rx version because of the cabling and finding a the correct place to put the pads.
Since we received our Quell she has used it several days and has found it to be considerably better than either her Rx TENS or the OTC version we bought a few months ago. She wears it all day and night. So far, a big thumbs-up from her.
Enough from me. If you are at all interested in trying a new chronic pain relief method, I recommend that you read all you can at the sites below, but especially the white paper.
https://www.quellrelief.com/
https://www.quellrelief.com/quell-user
https://www.quellrelief.com/
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)
Sorry, one more correction. The SENSUS link was wrong in the first post.
Looked at the site. Amazing technology.
Looks easy to use. No little pads and the placement
Is simple. Nice that it is working for your wife.
thanks
hippy
Thank you again for your reply, I really appreciated it!! Hugs
Thanks for sharing this! I've never heard of it but I always like hearing about potent ion new pain relieving products...I will try ANYTHING!!!
I'm going to keep researching and reading more into this because it certainly peaks my interest!
Has anyone tried it yet...or going to try it soon? I'd love to hear about it!!
Since I started this thread several weeks ago, I guess I should write an update on our experience with the Quell.
First, some of the links have changed:
1. Home Page: https://www.quellrelief.com/
2. Comparison of Quell vs. TENS: https://www.quellrelief.com/files/Quell%20Advantage%20Comparison%20Table.pdf
3. Introduction Paper: https://www.quellrelief.com/files/Quell%20HCP%201%20page%20(3).pdf
4. New version of the white paper written by the CEO who is an M.D., Ph.D: https://www.quellrelief.com/files/science-behind-quell.pdf
As noted in the first post I have no financial connection with this company, I am just passing on our experiences with this product to the DS community.
With all of that out-of-the-way, I will say that about two weeks after my wife started using her Quell, she recommended that I buy one for myself. Unfortunately for me, they would no longer give me the same prerelease price that we got for buying my wife's unit weeks in advance of release. I paid the same price that is shown on their website.
We both now use our Quell units, my wife from time-to-time, me, nearly every day. Neither one of us wear them at night, but my wife has a few times. I have no pain issues at night so there is no need for me to use it. My wife was not able to get used to feeling the therapy sensation while trying to sleep. However, in the detailed user manual (only available on their website) they explain how to reduce the therapy levels if its standard nighttime level is too high. Since my wife refuses to read any manual for anything unless it is on Facebook, she does not know that it is possible to change the nighttime Quell's therapy levels.
When first starting with the Quell, the user does a short 1-2 minute calibration procedure. Since the device only has one switch/button and five LED indicators, it obviously calibrates easily. After calibration, the user can increase, or decrease the therapy levels in three steps in either direction. Since its output can be as high as 100 volts (twice as high as a standard TENS unit), it will get your attention if set too high. I know that when my wife used to use her Rx TENS unit, she set it to the maximum and even then did not feel much. I do think she uses the max setting on the Quell; I certainly do not.
As shown on the first page of their website, you place the device just below the knee, regardless of the location of the user's pain. There are two alternate locations permitted if your skin starts to react to the electro pads. The device can be placed on either leg at the same location without recalibration, or 1) directly below the standard location, or 2) above the knee. Therefore, you have six places that you can place the Quell, but recalibration will be required if placed in either of the two alternate locations.
Now, the important stuff; does it work? My wife continues to be satisfied with the results she has gotten. It provides pain relief and since it has no wires, it is easy to have in place at any time.
For me, I am still on the fence. It seems to help, but it is not a pain knockout for me. My pain problems are caused by severe DDD and is very variable. I can be fine in under some conditions (in bed, in a chair, or light activies), but be in heavy pain while doing some specific movements such as walking, standing; shopping is my killer). So far, I have not noticed an improvement in those situations. However, I cannot really say that if my Quell had been off, that I would not have been in worse pain. So, I still use it and have it on right now as I type this post.
Some things that I have noticed. Even though calibrated, the actual location of the three electros can provide highly different therapy sensations. Just a small change can make the difference go from "is it on" to "man I just stuck my finger in an AC socket." BTW - - All electrical sensations that I have felt go down from my Quell location to the bottom of my feet when it is on a high level. Never have I felt any bad sensation from the Quell upwards.
Do I recommend it? Well, as you can see at their website, it is kind of expensive and requires a new electro pad every two weeks, which are not cheap. You can do like we did and have our doctor write a prescription for the device and supplies "for life", and then you can deduct the expense from your taxes. (BTW - - This applies to any OTC medication or device.) Or, just try the electrically identical product from the same company called SENUS that is prescription only and see if your insurance will pay for it.
If you have serious chronic pain, I do recommend that you give it a try. They have a 60 return for any reason policy, so it probably is worth a try if you can afford it.
I read where it can take up to 2 weeks or so for people with severe chronic pain (like those of us on this board) to begin to feel results. So far, I haven't noticed a huge decrease in my pain levels but have noticed that my lower back pain is slightly less. And I seem to be in a slightly better mood, although I haven't seen any info published on how the Quell affects severe depression like mine. I suppose if my pain is more under control, it would improve my attitude, so maybe that's how it helps.
I wear the device off an on (mostly on) all day and at night. If you download the app for your phone, your "dashboard" will remind you when to take the Quell off to air it out occasionally. You can also set one of the 3 nighttime settings from your phone. It's so much easier to use than my tens unit with all of its wires and electrodes that don't stick. Trust me, the pads on this thing really stick. But they don't irritate my sensitive skin, even after shaving my legs.
My goal with my Quell is to get to a point where I can reduce my need for opiates (daily migraines and cluster headaches) and get control of my fibro pain and DDD in my neck. I know the device isn't specifically for migraine relief, but I would think that any reduction of pain in my body would help overall with my various conditions.
I'll keep people posted here on my progress. It's not cheap at $249 and I hope eventually they will sell their electrodes on Amazon for less than $30 a month. Sptrout, that's great if you can get your insurance to cover the cost!
I hope other Quell users will post. Maybe wearable pain relief could help some of us. This device had a 60 day guarantee, so nothing ventured nothing gained if I have to send it back.
Take care.
Lynn
It is great to read that someone else is trying Quell. I hope it works out for you.
Apparently I left the impression that my insurance covers Quell and its supplies; it does not. If a person's insurance covered the prescription only version, then that would be a good option. In our cases, all expenses are out of pocket.
My money related comment concerned making the Quell costs "tax deductible" if your doctor is willing to write an "income tax only" prescription. OTC medications and other OTC equipment can be added to your list of medical expenses on your IRS 1040 form if you have a doctor's prescription. Doctors are familiar with this and have written RXs for both the Quells, and last year for a ChiliPad. (The ChiliPad is a great product BTW).
Since Obama raised the medical tax deduction from 71/2% to 10% of AGI, the medical costs deduction is not as good as it used to be. Another one of Obama's lies about ObamaCare not increasing taxes on the middle income. This specific deduction is aimed directly at the middle class. In our case, our medical bills run about $25,000 to $30,000 per year, so it makes a difference to us.
Also, since my earlier post, I have read the new updated white paper that goes deep into how TENS work and how Quell is different. Very interesting read, and not overly technical (although written for doctors).
Yes, the app on the iPhone isn't necessary but it does a nice job of keeping track of therapy sessions and cumulative totals. It's simple enough to understand for my pain addled brain.
I hope it works for you both.
Lynn
Without having tried Quell yet, what I am interested in is the logic behind it -- that the impulses that it emits can basically be absorbed and thus interpreted in a way that can keep some of our pain receptors busy...acknowledging the Quell sensations and occupy part of our "feeling" to at least dull some of the painful information we usually get. I personally believe in this theory (Quell or something else) because for the longest time I have commented on how ANY sensation/touch/feeling that was just different from my normal pain, felt good and relieving just because it wasn't the hurt I feel constantly. Even when I get a massage or manipulation that is uncomfortable or less than pleasant, I love it and yearn for it because I am feeling something different...something that is not what I experience all day everyday. So I look forward to trying Quell to see if any of this pans out...even just a little!!!!!