Welcome to the Pain Healers' community E-news forum. Produced and written by dedicated professionals and health educators who share their expert findings and insights on relevant topics in pain therapeutics, diagnostics and lifestyle upgrades. We welcome special guest contributors from all modalities of healing - from practitioners, product innovators and researchers. Also, gain valuable insight from success stories of real people and their experience with WHAT WORKED for them!
Sunday, March 19, 2023
A BEFORE & AFTER REVIEW: POST SURGICAL RECOVERY WITH NEUROSTIMULATION
The following is a 10-week user test drive of a PEMF device conducted by Health Tech Reporter. The volunteer entered this review as an independent, unbiased participant. All reports, transcripts, videos and statements submitted are not under any influence (commercially or otherwise) by the producers or the manufacturer(s) of any device(s) used in any way.
USER REVIEW OF PEMF- By: Maria Errera
I had knee replacement surgery in mid-2021 on my left knee.
I understood that everyone’s recovery is different but mine seems to be more
difficult than others based on other who had it done - even with all my PT and
exercises. Meanwhile, my right knee has still bone and
bone and is headed for the same procedure soon. (there's no
cartilage between).
I’ve been having a
hard time with recovery before I started this PEMF treatment with BOTH knees. The sensitivity, the pain, the tension of the knee, the
tightness of the knee, the pressure… it was just so much that even physical
therapy and exercising going to the gym. It's a slow process as compared to
this one. Since I went back to work seven days a week, I haven't had the time
to go to the gym nor use the treadmill or whatever exercises I have. Getting in
and out of the car is agonizing at times. Kneeling in church is not there yet. The
tension has kept me from consistent sleep which I’m sure affected my state of
mind and social interactions. This and the pain meds that the doctor keeps
sending me just make me a zombie at work! And when I go upstairs, 13 flights of
stair or 13 steps, the pressure and tension kept me going one step at a time on
both knees, holding on to the rails with both hands to hoist my entire body
with ridiculous effort.
In January of this year, I was introduced to this PEMF as
part of a trial study and I was happy to try something new.On the first day, I was given a double
treatment on my knee off 20 minutes at a setting of 10.I also was given other devices to use (in Day
One only) like the AVACEN® w/c is a microcirculation device from the hand and
this BrainTap®, a meditation device which brought me to a very relaxing state
while I was getting my knees worked on.I had never heard of any of this before, but I was willing to explore
what’s out there to get back to living again.
After this set of sessions, I was convinced that there are
definitely other (more effective) solutions out there than pain meds.
Functionally, I got up off the bed and I wasn’t slow to rise. In fact, I did
not feel that “anchor” that weighted me down, and that head pressure I usually
get when struggling to move my body.The
sensation in the knee was still there but unlike before, it didn’t have that
cement-like harshness that kept me from wanting to move.
Our volunteer PEMF test case used the Nova HD® by Aurawell for a 10-week study
I stood up vertically and my family was
impressed to see me smile (for the first time in months), move around with more
agility and speed. They watched me actually raise one leg at a time with much
less struggle.
A few days and about 6-8 treatments later, I gave the
stairs another shot, this time fully alert to look for what’s different! This time, I found myself gradually holding
onto the banister lightly with one hand just to go upstairs- and not with the
full force of hauling my body with both hands. Midway, I was still holding onto
it, but not with anywhere near the amount of pressure as, as if I'm holding on
for dear life. And as far as when I go up and up the stairs, I'm doing one foot
at a time now, which means my left knee can support my right knee and my whole
body to go up one step at a time.
"HEADACHE HEADACHE GO AWAY!"
By: Maria Errera
When you're in pain, it's insidious! It affects practically everything that makes up your life somehow. It affects your ability to SLEEP consistently, which then reflects on your energy level. That broken sleep can also affect how you interact with those around you, your outlook on life (depression) and even your sense of mental balance. During the Covid-19 surge, many have felt the post-infection reactions of Long Haul symptoms including BRAIN FOG. This and other head-related issues like migraines and recurring headaches from inflammation can also take its toll. Use of alternative therapies like neuromagnetic have shown me how it can play a positive role in addressing, reducing and even eliminating headaches.
EPILOGUE: BACK ON THE FLOOR AT WORK
I maintained a consistent regimen of one 20 minute treatment in the morning and one before bed. I’ve been religious with my PEMF with good reason. In comparison to where I was before (I couldn’t even walk five minutes), I am now walking around at work more and more. It's a 10,000 square feet facility and I’m doing this with NO pain, or resistance especially for around 45 minutes to an hour and a half at a time. I find myself actually forcing myself to sit down because I’m not supposed to push myself too hard
and because I do get tired.
When in church, when I do the Eucharist (Eucharistic
prayers), I timed it before this treatment at about three minutes of kneeling
before I couldn’t tolerate it anymore. I would have to get up and sit down. And
as a matter of fact, recently, I noticed it now takes me about more than five
minutes, and I'm still kneeling down. I'm not in pain. I mean, I feel the
pressure, but not that pain that was hard to tolerate. What I have now is
something I can handle and I feel it dissipating over time. Also, when I get out of my car (before), I
have to grapple onto the door and look for support to eject myself from the
seat. I would then stand there for about
a minute or two just to get my bearings straight so I can walk. When I finally get to walking, I’d do this
with a major limp. It’s night and day -
now, when I get out of the car, I still hold onto the door for support, but it
feels more out of habit. I don't have to wait to get my bearing straight and I
can just walk straight- without a limp.
Overall, I found a lot of improvements from using this (PEMF) device
treatment. I did more research on my own about the process, (addressing inflammation by improving microcirculation) and the science sounds right to me. My doctors recognize it to be safe to use, even though they are not outright pushing it- but from experience, I KNOW it works. I have a ways to go to be a
runway model (lol) but the results are definitely sizeable and noticeable! No side effects-- no drugs—and the effect in my life is real and so is the HOPE to keep me going.
Though the 10 weeks are over, I am still using the device much the same way, both for some of my remaining issues and any others that may come up. I am not asking to give it back and I'm sure they'll come for it. But while it's here, my family continues to hear the clacking sound of the magnetic coils upstairs and I am the better for it!
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DISCLAIMER: In pursuit of journalistic integrity and scientific reporting, all reports, clinical findings and testimonials listed reflect our policy of complete IMPARTIALITY, whereby performance reviews of any product/technology - and are managed to be free from any commercial claims. Any/all sourced materials referring to brands are citing credit of source and is not to be misconstrued as branding and marketing.
SPECIAL THANKS: The publishers of IPHA News, Health Tech Reporter and Health & Healing 101 would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Ms. Maria Errera for her generous contribution in producing her progress video depicting her recovery. Additional thanks to Patrick Ziemer of AURAWELL PEMF for supplying this project with her PEMF equipment and her technical guidance about the Pulsed Electromagnetic Field technology. Further thanks to Dr. Robert L. Bard and Alice Chiang of Terason Ultrasound for their clinical support of the Terason T3200 ultrasound - without all efforts and contributions combined this report could not have been made possible.
The Integrative Pain Healers Alliance was originally inspired by every chiropractor or PT visit where patients often get a more comprehensive explanation of how their personal injuries relate to their physiology. We are blessed to have doctors who take the time to educate us on our issues and as educators themselves, pain therapists possess the talent to bring additional healing through the calming power of direct knowledge.
Statistics show that the United States continues to struggle with a significant drug crisis with more than 1,500 deaths per week from opioid-related overdoses, a toll that has spiked across the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, millions more Americans suffer from opioid addiction. Analysts say the problem started with the overprescription of legal pain medications, but note that it has intensified in recent years with an influx of cheap heroin and synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, supplied by foreign-based drug cartels. The crisis has reached such a scale that it has become a drag on the economy and a threat to national security: opioid misuse is costing the country tens of billions of dollars annually, not only in health-care expenses but also in the form of a weakened workforce. [1]
PAIN 101: THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION
Written by: Josh T. Schueller
Pain is everywhere. Billions of dollars are spent each year in the United States alone on pain treatments and remedies. Per the National Center for Health Statistics almost 60% are living with pain. While most sufferers of pain want relief and answers, many medical professionals may be providing inefficient or incorrect pain reliefs counters. The “cookie cutter” approach for pain over the last several decades has left the world in a pain crisis. One of the main reasons why- the current treatment model does not do an adequate job in categorizing pain.
Pain falls under different categories. Most people do not understand that the type of pain you have directly correlates the type of treatment given. Personalized medicine in the treatment of pain holds the key to understanding the types of pain and developing the correct course of action to treat the pain.
Even though no one wants to be in pain, pain is the body’s early warning system that something is wrong. If not for pain, we wouldn’t know to move our hand off a hot stove before doing serious damage. When pain becomes an interference to our normal activities is when we have a problem. Most people will group all pain into one big category but there are actually many different types of pain. By recognizing and knowing the different types of pain clinicians can formulate an appropriate treatment plan that is pain specific to the person’s needs.
Here is a brief description of the types of pain:
ACUTE PAIN is sudden onset (within 3 months) that is normally caused by an injury such as a burn, strain, sprain, fracture, laceration, and surgery. Typically, an abnormal trauma to the body causes the body to respond with pain. Acute pain is described as throbbing, burning, stabbing, tingling, weakness, and numbness. The pain will normally go away after healing has occurred with no lasting restrictions.
CHRONIC PAIN occurs during an event that lasts over 3 months in duration. The original injury may have healed or resolved itself, but the pain persists for months into years. Pain signals remain on high activity levels in the nervous system, despite no acute injury. In instances of chronic pain corresponding emotional effects may occur such as depression, anger, anxiety, and fear.
NOCICEPTIVE PAIN is sensation caused by tissue damage. This pain is described as sharp, aching, and throbbing. This can be caused by an external injury such as a athletic event injury or stubbing your toe that typically results in bruises, sprain, swelling and redness. The brain responds to the information received from the nociceptors to initiate healing process
NEUROPATHIC PAIN occurs when there is damage to the neurological system. Pain messages are sent to brain via the Central Nervous System from many times an infection or injury. People have described this pain as burning, shooting, or numbness. Pain associated with diabetic neuropathy and multiple sclerosis are neuropathic in origin.
PSYCHOGENIC PAIN is caused by psychological factors. This can occur from a non-physical origin. Psychogenic pain can be caused by embarrassment, shame, bereavement or in response to emotional or mental trauma. Treatment for this type of pain can be challenging for many clinicians.
CENTRAL PAIN SYNDROME occurs when damage is to the brain, spinal cord, and/or brainstem. Possible causes of this pain can occur with stroke, MS, tumors, seizures SCI or Parkinson’s. disease. Pain is moderate to severe, burning aching with sharp stabbing.
COMPLEX REGIONAL PAIN SYNDROME is a rare and not much research has been performed. This tpe of pain usually affects the arm or leg and occurs after injury, stroke, or heart attack. Common symptoms is hypersensitivity, swelling, pain, skin changes, spasms and atrophy. Many times, reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) occurs.
VISCERAL PAIN is caused by injury or damage to your internal organs. Pain is in your trunk or back or abdominal or chest and is referred pain from the organ. Can be described as pressure, aching, cramping, nausea, and vomiting. Examples can be IBS, gall stones, kidney stones, appendicitis, and bowel obstruction. In many instances proper care is delayed because of inability to recognize the origin of pain and can lead to life threatening emergency.
When someone says “I am in pain” the first line of defense is medications. Pharmacological interventions have become as American as apple pie and fireworks on July 4th. Many times, the same medication is given for all types of pain. Pain suffers often experience ineffectiveness of the desired results (no pain), but also develop debilitating side effects. Knowing what type of pain, the suffer has can go along way in developing a personalized treatment approach that can alleviate or abolish the pain and allow a return to normal activates without a financial burden.
RELATED ARTICLES
WHAT IS PLANTAR FASCIITIS?
Approximately 3 million people per year. PF is the inflammation of a thick band of tissue that connects the heels bone (calcaneus) to the toes on the underside of your foot. The most common symptoms is sharp, stabbing pain in the bottom of your foot that is worse in the morning and after long periods of inactivity. When getting out of bed in the morning, the bottom of your foot can feel like someone had pounded a spike through the bottom of your foot. The increase tension and stress of repetitive pounding (such as in running) can cause microtears in the plantar fascia causing inflammation and pain.
WHAT IS KREBS CYCLE? - Otherwise known as citric acid cycle, Krebs Cycle can be synonymous to the process of converting your paycheck into cash and going shopping with it. When you receive a paycheck (glucose) through direct deposit that paycheck is deposited into the bank (mitochondria). Throughout this process there are fees (byproducts) that must be paid in order to receive the money. These fees (NADH, GTP, CO2 etc.) are an essential part of the process. The result is currency. In order to receive the money (ATP) it must go through to the ATM (electron transport System). When you withdraw the money (ATP) you can spend on goods or services (energy production). As money is essential to the survival of the economy the Krebs Cycle is essential to the survival of the organism."
CONTRIBUTORS
JOSH T. SCHUELLER has dedicated his life's work to the support and treatment chronic pain and disorders with non-invasive, safe, effective treatment solutions. He is the current VP of Clinical Operations and Business Development at AxioBionics LLC. and the Clinical Director for Orthopedic Physical Therapy Clinics (Rockford, MI). Today, Josh continues to support patient suffering from disabilities and has expanded his focus to contribute his expertise in treatment programs for Veterans and first responders.
MARILYN ABRAHAMSON, MA, CCC-SLP : As a Brain Health Education Specialist at Ceresti Health, Marilyn offers initiatives that supports education and empowerment of family caregivers. She also writes for and edits the Ceresti’s monthly newsletter and produces all brain health education and brain-health coaching programs for caregivers. Marilyn's prior work is as a NJ Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist since 1987 and is an Amen Clinics Certified Brain Health Coach.
ROBERTA KLINE, MD (Educational Dir. /Women's Diagnostic Group) is a board-certified ObGyn physician, Integrative Personalized Medicine expert, consultant, author, and educator whose mission is to change how we approach health and deliver healthcare. She helped to create the Integrative & Functional Medicine program for a family practice residency, has consulted with Sodexo to implement the first personalized nutrition menu for healthcare facilities, and serves as Education Director for several organizations including the Women’s Diagnostic Health Network, Mommies on a Mission. Learn more at https://robertaklinemd.com/
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EPILOGUE: BACK ON THE FLOOR AT WORK
