The Promise:
Pain relief without medication. The Quell is an FDA-approved wearable device that Velcros around the upper calf and uses electrical stimulation to purportedly offer pain relief without the innate dangers or risks of addiction that come with drugs.
The science of the device is fairly complex, but the basic theory is that stimulating specific nerves can activate a natural pain-relief process. “At a molecular level, the pain centers within the brain release endogenous opioids, called enkephalins, that bind to receptors in the spinal cord leading to a reduction of pain signal transmission and therefore pain relief,” says Shai Gozani, CEO of NeuroMetrix.
The device uses Bluetooth to sync with a companion mobile app that allows users to dial its intensity up and down, depending on their current pain relief needs. A Quell starter kit costs $250, and includes a one-month supply of electrodes. Replacement electrodes are $90 for a three-month supply.
The Test:
As somebody who lives a blessedly pain-free life, I realized I was the wrong person to test this product. Instead, I sought out a friend, we’ll call her Pearl, who has suffered from chronic muscular pain since 2006. “I’ve tried a lot of things,” Pearl told me. “Physical therapy, acupuncture, dental appliances, heat, cold, massage, Pilates, yoga, weeks of mindfulness meditation therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, Feldenkrais and similar techniques, changing to a backpack, foam rolling and self massage, regular cardio, stretching, rolfing, a standing desk, switching to a different mouse, hot baths, memory foam pillows, and Advil.” She says she’s seen 10 specialists over the past 10 years, who told her the problem was likely caused by repetitive strain from excessive computer use and sitting at work (in other words: something a lot of us can relate to).
Some more background: Her specific diagnosis is “myofascial pain syndrome with some neuralgia and joint remodeling”. She does not have rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia (which could be involved in similar cases), and has declined pain medication and muscle relaxers as a treatment.
Pearl’s problem isn’t so much that the pain itself is unbearable (she rates it at a three to six on a 10 scale), but that its pervasive nature serves as a constant distraction from work and makes it very difficult for her to sleep. It also impacts her life in little ways, such as the process of deciding what bag she can carry with minimal strain, or picking times to ride the subway to have a better chance of grabbing a seat. As she puts it: “It’s a background irritant, but it’s always there.”
To test the Quell, I gave it to Pearl with instructions to use it as she felt fit to help with her pain and related sleep problems. The plan was then to check in with her periodically, and get her full review and test notes after a month. During that time, she ended up using it almost every day, typically at night while sleeping, for an average of four or five 60-minute sessions per 24 hours.
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