Flux Health Forum

Thumb Pain

Pain and Inflammation
#8

Interesting: you might be less sensitive to our device because I have removed all of the extra useless potentially-harmful electromagnetic energy (99.8% reduction of total energy compared to typical PEMF devices). So, you might have been sensitive to the extra PEMF energy in typical crude devices.

For your pain, if you already have some reduction (temporary) that is a pretty good indication. Use it for as long as possible every day, at least 4 to 6 hours per day. It will become permanent faster the longer you use it every day.

I would expect longer and longer durations of pain relief for the next week or so, followed by a day within the next ~ 2 weeks where there is no return of pain. Continue to use the device for at least a week or two after the pain seems to have gone away entirely to allow the tissue to fully recover, and then you have about an 80% chance that the recovery is permanent.

1 Like
#9

This is the same person I just couldn’t get into my old account.

Anyway I’ve unfortunately seem to have plateaued? The device helps get rid of the pain but as long as I don’t use my hand very much so it is progress but not as much as I need. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to upgrade to one of the other devices? I was thinking of the C5 because I think the problem might be multiple spots on my arm it just hurts most at my thumb.

#10

The C5 would be a good choice if you want to use it for several (up to 4) different areas at the same time.

#11

Is there also I need like different coil placements you would recommend?

#12

Stacked coils, bumpy-side to bumpy side, placed directly over the point of greatest pain, is a good place to start.

#13

Thank you! I’ll do that while I save up for the c5

Also if it helps this is where the pain is:

image
image797×735 92 KB

#14

Also, in general, for fingers and toes, our ICES coils seem to be a logical fit by putting them on like a big rubber ring. But wearing them like that does not usually seem to work well. It’s better if you apply the coils over and under fingers and toes, sort of like a sandwich (bumpy sides out). That coil configuration generally has much better effects.

#15

That’s what I’ve been doing, but, unfortunately, while it has helped it doesn’t seem to be enough? Do you think getting a C-5 would be the solution? Not terribly many coil configurations that can be done on the spot unfortunately

#16

A C5 will definitely be helpful if you think it involves more different locations on your hand and arm. But more power at a single point (on your thumb) may not be as useful. We discussed the time required in the thread above, but in your case you might just need longer duration each day (or night) with daily use for a month or more. Sometimes I find that necessary for myself for hands and feet. Not usually, but from time-to-time.

Another thing to consider is that some people respond better to less power, so you might adopt the strategy of turning the intensity down a notch and extending your exposure time.

Some injuries and some people just take longer.

#17

It’s frankly hard to tell if I would benefit more from focusing more on multiple locations or just my thumb? I know the problem extends from my neck to my arms to my hands but I also notice a difference when I treat the thumb itself.

I will definitely start wearing it when I sleep.

Do you guys have any payment plans for the devices?

#18

All injuries seem to be different, and many seem to involve multiple underlying issues, so it is sometimes difficult to sort out what is best to do. The strategy that seems to work well is to try different coil placement strategies, keep a record of what you did and the response, then experiment a bit every few days to see what works well. When it does start to help noticeably better, the feeling is usually quite obvious, and then you might want to continue on with the strategy that seemed to give the most noticeable help.

This data logging app strategy might help:

Payment plans: I do not get involved in sales, payment or shipping, so you would have to contact FluxHealth sales b y the “contact us” email they give on the webstore page.

#19

I’ll do that thank you again for answering all my questions!

#20

I went ahead and bought the M1! It’s only been a few days so can’t say anything yet but I’ll keep you updated. Unfortunately, it does seem to give me a mild headache when I use it so I’m hoping that fades with me becoming accustomed to it. Is there any particular setting you would recommend for such a small and specific pain?

#21

I am assuming this is because you are using it on your head… using ICES-PEMF elsewhere on the body generally does not cause headaches.

Generally speaking, based on the clinical observations of people’s responses when Dr. Pawluk and I were studying the effects of ICES-PEMF when used on the head of people after they were diagnosed with chronic mTBI, we found that for the first few days some people had mild headache pain. This tended to dissipate after a few days of regular use.

If toughing it out like that (as suggested by Dr. Pawluk) would not work for you, then consider doing the following:

1- Reduce the frequency of the pulses you are using (above about 15 pps can be irritating)
2- Reduce intensity (generally start with a low setting and build up)
3- Reduce the time and or frequency of use.

From these lower-energy-exposure initial starting points, you can slowly build up intensity and exposure time based upon your individual response and tolerance.

#22

I’m actually not using it on my head haha, still on my thumb but I’m just weirdly sensitive. Regardless it’s not really that big of an issue. But do you have any recommendations for which setting to use on the M9 for the thumb?

#23

That is unusual… I have never heard of that before. I thought you might have switched to trying it out on your head.

OK, my basic advice (above) still stands, actually. Adverse sensitivity takes a few days or weeks to overcome, and it is often best to ease into using the system if you are especially sensitive.

For the thumb I would (usually) recommend that you begin with the Omni-8 protocol. But in your case it might help to start with protocols that do not include the 100 Hz bursts in Omni-8. Therefore, I might suggest:
–Schumann 4
–Alpha Wave (yes, this works great on my orthopedic injuries)

#24

Yeah it’s pretty odd but it’s a pretty easy symptom to deal with thankfully. PEMF also gives me fatigue for some reason? Which makes it difficult to leave on 24/7 unfortunately

And then once I become more accustom to the intensity would you recommend going to omni 8?

#25

This is an interesting topic, so thanks for bringing it up. Here is a summary of my relevant experience on this topic:

A few people have reported fatigue after using ICES-PEMF. This seems to be similar in some ways to a Herxheimer reaction, but probably different mechanisms of course. But similar in the sense that the treatment can cause release of toxins that can cause an initial, transient, negative response. In the case of PEMF, it may be that reduced inflammation initially causes the release into the system of something that had not been clearing properly (imagine, for example, clearance of a swollen lymph node as it suddenly begins to flow normally again, just as a mental image). Once the initial clearance has happened, the negative reaction seems to be reduced.

Some people have reported to me that they find ICES-PEMF to be extremely relaxing (as opposed to causing fatigue). Typically this is the case for people with postural problems from severe chronic lower back pain. The swelling can reduce so significantly, and the pain and postural tensions/imbalances can disappear rapidly, so much so that some people tend to fall asleep in the middle of the day. For at least one person this was enough of a problem that he decided not to use ICES-PEMF while driving, probably a wise choice.

A third phenomenon relates to nerve/brain entrainment. Even peripheral nerves can be entrained by the externally-applied pulses. For some people this can have unpredictable effects.

It may just be that you are wired up, so to speak, that peripheral nerve inputs have an out-sized influence on your CNS. That may be the case. I experience that myself to a lesser degree, but I can definitely sense it, even when using ICES-PEMF on my feet.

So, with all that in mind, starting low and slow is probably a good strategy for you, as well as experimenting with the pulse protocols and taking notes, to see if you can detect some sort of pattern that would give you a hint as to what the role of pulse pattern and frequency is in your individual response. In my case, I find Omni-8 to be slightly more effective for reducing pain, but also slightly more fatiguing. The differences for me are very slight, but I sometimes notice them.

#26

When I first started using ICES PEMF, I have also found going slow or even taking a day or two break and going at it again with ICES-PEMF allowed my body to ultimately adjust to having coils on 12+ or even 20+ hours per day. With regards to headaches, now if I have a herxheimer reaction to a new supplement I am taking that is working on shifting my gut, I can put the coils on my temples on Alpha 15 and it will stop the headache in its tracks within 30 minutes. Pretty awesome. Before having ICES PEMF at my disposal to stop headaches, those types of headaches would lead to migraines requiring me to be in a cold dark room and go to sleep. I feel very empowered with ICES PEMF on so many levels.

1 Like
Regarding chronic headache/Migraine and ICES pemf
#27

Hello Handy,
In my professional opinion you would most benefit from a proper assessment and diagnosis first. There are several sites from neck to shoulder to elbow to forearm which can entrap nerves and cause similar pain patterns. The degree of compression you are experiencing from C4-6 is a start - this can be a red herring or very useful information depending on your history and age.
Once you know what you’re really dealing with, ICES may be a primary or secondary therapy. It sounds like you’ve plateaued treating the thumb alone with ICES and you likely have other sites to try. There’s a long list of potential nonsurgical treatments depending on the cause(s) of your particular pain: manipulation, traction, targeted stretches, manual therapy, acupuncture, infrared, ProloGel, perineural injection therapy, prolotherapy/PRP, etc.