Pain management is an important part of inpatient, outpatient, and at-home medical care. Traditional pain relief involves the use of pharmaceutical agents. However, many of these agents are associated with a risk of side effects, particularly with long-term use. As such, the recent introduction of drug-free wearable pain-relieving devices has the potential to revolutionize at-home chronic pain relief.
Quell by NeuroMetrix
Quell is a drug-free, wearable pain relief system that is worn around the upper calf. It is designed to help users manage chronic pain. It can be worn both during the day when active and when asleep, and is approved for 24/7 use. When a user feels pain the press a button on the device, which activates the device. When active, the device stimulates dense clusters of sensory nerve fibers in the upper calf. In turn, this initiates specific inhibitory pain signaling pathways and systems in the brainstem to block the body’s pain signals and relieve pain. The device uses an accelerometer to monitor movement and adjust the intensity of the stimulation. It also comes with an app that allows users to customize the intensity of the pain relief delivered by the device. It is FDA-approved in the United States and is available for purchase over-the-counter.
SENSUS Pain Management System by Neurometrix
The SENSUS system is comprised of a device and a sensor. It is worn around the upper calf and is used to help users manage chronic pain in their lower legs and feet. When a user experiences pain, they press the button on the device to begin a one-hour session of stimulation therapy; most users start to experience pain relief in around fifteen minutes, and the relief can persist for up to one hour fifteen minutes. It can be used as often as needed. The device also has a continuous mode, which automatically begins stimulations every other hour. It works by stimulating the nerves in the leg that carry non-painful normal sensations to the brain, which alters the levels of chemicals in the brain and thereby decreases pain.