I’ve been using a magnetic pillow recently and my Triggy seems better. Maybe just a coincidence because it does come and go. Trouble is I’m off to see a specialist next week in Brisbane and what do I say when I tell her (it is a her) it’s gone. Seems nobody has heard of Pain Shield. I saw it on the net; Company called NanoVibronix based in Israel. It’s abour $900 and I’d like to know if it’s a scam.
Dear Geoffrey,
I have heard the name of this website before, however I have yet to discover any legitimate reviews of this product, except customer reviews as listed directly on the seller’s website, and again - I personally would not class that as a legitimate or official review. I cannot tell you what to do, though in my case - I would certainly in my position be totally UN-likely to hand over $900 for a product I couldn’t prove would work. If no one has heard of it - then that immediately raises alarm bells.
As for what to tell your doctor if your pain has gone - tell her exactly that. TN always goes into remission, well almost always - as if in certain cases the TN is progressive then eventually there will no longer be any remissions at all, but for all the other cases the TN will go away for a time. I too have heard of magnetics and have tried this myself, but rather than the use of a pillow I’ve purchased magnets that stick directly on to trigger points on my face 
I am so glad the pillow works for you. In regards to any major purchase however, just keep at least one thing in mind Geoffrey - and that is even if a treatment works for one person - that TN treatment may NOT work for the next 5. TN is a very difficult disorder to treat and this is why our doctors often must try different kinds of meds or combinations of meds. So for some people acupuncture, or reiki work for examples - as in your case you say the magnets in the pillow may be helping you also.
Last year I had that same scenario (the pain disappearing prior to my appointment) I had an appointment with my neurologist AND a Chronic pain specialist and so I turned up to say I have been pain free for 3 weeks. Ironically, the pain attacks started again that very same night after my appointments! I would have laughed quite deeply at that, had laughing not actually hurt me so much.
If your magnetic pillow has helped your TN reduce or go into remission then I am sincerely very happy for you!
Best wishes to you for many pain free days!
Kerry
I’ve no idea if this works, it’s a new one on me really, although I’ve heard of various magnet therapies being used, and I saw a really space aged looking one recently ( like Geordie wore in star treck) but on looking I can’t find it.
Upon looking for the article, what I did see that made me laugh more than I have in a LONG LONG time was an article about TN being treated by banana peels applied to the forehead!!!
Hysterical!
But if the magnets work for you, keep on going with it, anything that works is a blessing.
Much love
Gracie
x x x
Dear Geoffrey,
I have heard the name of this website before, however I have yet to discover any legitimate reviews of this product, except customer reviews as listed directly on the seller's website, and again - I personally would not class that as a legitimate or official review. I cannot tell you what to do, though in my case - I would certainly in my position be totally UN-likely to hand over $900 for a product I couldn't prove would work. If no one has heard of it - then that immediately raises alarm bells.
As for what to tell your doctor if your pain has gone - tell her exactly that. TN always goes into remission, well almost always - as if in certain cases the TN is progressive then eventually there will no longer be any remissions at all, but for all the other cases the TN will go away for a time. I too have heard of magnetics and have tried this myself, but rather than the use of a pillow I've purchased magnets that stick directly on to trigger points on my face :-) I am so glad the pillow works for you. In regards to any major purchase however, just keep at least one thing in mind Geoffrey - and that is even if a treatment works for one person - that TN treatment may NOT work for the next 5. TN is a very difficult disorder to treat and this is why our doctors often must try different kinds of meds or combinations of meds. So for some people acupuncture, or reiki work for examples - as in your case you say the magnets in the pillow may be helping you also.
Last year I had that same scenario (the pain disappearing prior to my appointment) I had an appointment with my neurologist AND a Chronic pain specialist and so I turned up to say I have been pain free for 3 weeks. Ironically, the pain attacks started again that very same night after my appointments! I would have laughed quite deeply at that, had laughing not actually hurt me so much.
If your magnetic pillow has helped your TN reduce or go into remission then I am sincerely very happy for you!
Best wishes to you for many pain free days!
Kerry
Hi Kerry,
Thanks for taking the time to reply. I’m still virtually pain free at the moment so now directing my worries to the stockmarket which is on a down today. That’s Australia. I’ve thought about acupuncture and also botox when it comes back in force.
Cheers,
Geoff
Hi Geoff,
You’re welcome. I am so glad you are virtually pain free still at this time! I am also in Australia, about a one hours drive south from Brisbane and just west of Mt Tamborine in a lovely town called Canungra. I agree with you on one thing, and that is most alternative therapies are worth a try, as you never know - they may help, and I do believe there are several members of this site using Botox therapy also, so I shall keep my fingers crossed for you that they help you. I had a lot of life changing (financially as well) events in the past few years, so that’s even ruled out acupunture for me unless it’s part of a doctors office and could be bulk billed here.
I was going to write a blog about this idea a friend of my Mum’s has, she was just last year diagnosed with TN and she has tried with many herbal remedies, creams etc to ease the pain TN gives us - and she insisted to my Mum that I try Aloe Vera. Eventually I gave in to this and snipped part of a leaf of from my Aloe Vera plant in my garden and split the leaf and rubbed the watery contents of it on my face. I do not know if again like you suggested, the mild relief obtained could be said to be coincidental, or an actual partial relief from the use of the plant! Regardless, since my plant is still small I found a bottle of Aloe Vera (98% purity) in the pharmacy for less than $9 and am now applying this three times a day to my face. So it’s natural, and worth a try in my book!
I shall keep my fingers crossed for you Geoff that you stay pain free for as long as possible!
I also attend the chronic pain clinic through Gold Coast hospital, and my doctor there is once more booking me in for another procedure I get done - which is called Pulsed Radio Frequency (PRF) I once had found some pertinent articles in relation to it, but that was a long time ago - they may if you search on this website - still be floating around in here in cyberspace. Generally, PRF was a procedure done for spinal injuries - however, my specialist has applied the procedure (once each side of my bilateral TN) earlier this year, with total success. However, it does wear off - but also does allow me some variable months of pain free time!
Cheers,
Kerry
As an Electrical Engineer for over twenty-two years (retired, disabled) and a long-time patient with migraines and Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia, I’ve seen these magnetic therapies and devices come and go. It doesn’t take much research to dispel the claims of almost all of these New Age or Alternative Devices. Nine Hundred Dollars? Hell, I would pay ten times that much for something that really worked!
http://www.sillybeliefs.com/magnets.html
I am a bit of a skeptic, but then again, we don’t know what we don’t know. I have found acupuncture to be of some real benefit for my own nerve pain, and I use it (I learned to do it for a few specific points on my own over twenty years ago). And yet one can read on the “Snopes” website (and other sites) how all Acupuncture is pure quackery.
I believe that magnetic forces could one day lead to some very beneficial discoveries in the field of pain, but I don’t think such devices yet exist, unless maybe as a very mild modality of treatment. But meanwhile, I cannot explain SCIENTIFICALLY how acupuncture works, and I use it almost every day.
My verdict: I would keep an open mind about any future such devices, but I am very skeptical that anything exists at the PRESENT TIME in magnetic pain devices and/or therapies. I am curious why it should cost more than a large-screen television! Something funny there. That is my best assessment, but I am WRONG quite often. See if you can get a ninety-day money-back-if-not-completely-satisfied deal in writing!
My mum is currently using a Painshield, on a 1 month trial from some UK supplier - It's early days (3 weeks in), but it has definitely had an impact already.. she was relying on it nearly every day as soon as it got it, but is already having the odd day off where the pain just doesn't come.. Still not a fully fledged independent review, but I can confirm that it's not a 'scam' at least... they seem a genuine company from my dealings.. The 1 month trial did put my mind at rest, and let me test it out without paying through the nose for the opportunity. If it works for her, it will be a god send. I'm newish here, and trying to find out as much as possible on all the treatments available.. I'll feedback more when I've tried it a bit longer -
We ordered it through UK agents of nanovibronix, an English company for sure, easy to deal with. This was the website, does anyone else have any experiences with them? http://www.trigeminalneuralgiatreatment.co.uk
Hello all,
I just saw the website for the PainShield and while the study they present is a very small sample, I am still very curious. Ollehg please keep us updated on your mom’s experience with the device. I am seriously considering trying it myself. Yes it is expensive, but probably the same amount I have spent on doctors, medications, and other “treatments” over the past couple of years!
Hi Stefanie, She's getting on really well at the moment - she's actually stopped using the painshield for the last 2 weeks, and has had no pain at all... which is *8&&*&* fantastic - We're keeping hold of the device incase pain returns, but it's changed our lives - she's so much happier, so.. so are we all :) Got to be worth a try on rental at least.. it's not a big outlay if it can bring you relief. They had a bit more evidence and studies when I contacted them
Hi Stephanie I hope you're understand my english, I speak most frequently in french, but I gonna try to be clear. My father have a Trigeminal Neuraigia. I will like to know if you try the Painshield and if they work for you.
Stefanie Rice said:
Hello all,
I just saw the website for the PainShield and while the study they present is a very small sample, I am still very curious. Ollehg please keep us updated on your mom's experience with the device. I am seriously considering trying it myself. Yes it is expensive, but probably the same amount I have spent on doctors, medications, and other "treatments" over the past couple of years!
Just to update this convo.. mum is no longer using the painshield every day and she is notiacably improved and no longer taking Tegretol. We still have it here incase she is set off again, but it has really given her most aspects of her life back and she is much less depressed.. which has given the whole family relief. So glad to have her back to herself and not scared of things all the time. Thank god for technology is all I can say, and I hope you guys can find relief with whatever works for you.
If this device worked, our doctors, and the TNA, and everyone else trying to help sufferers would be prescribing or suggesting we use it. Also, there are no studies to back it up. And $1k is pretty pricey for a device that has no scientific back-up. However, if you're using it and you believe it works, by all means, continue. But don't forget about the placebo effect though, which is pretty powerful in itself. Best of luck to you all.
What works for some does not work for others. TN is a very perplexing condition and successful treatments are just as perplexing!
Ollehg, I am so happy for your mom. The sweet relief from the pain of TN is such a gift. The condition is so debilitating that our lives are turned upside down and unfortunately our families take that ride with us. I know that when I am in pain and suffering if someone told me that standing on my head in the corner would bring some relief, you can bet that I would be on my head in the corner! Studies or no studies.
Thanks again for following up and letting us know your mom’s experience with the device. I am currently in remission, but I will definitely put the PainShield on the list of things to try when my TN returns.
Praying for sweet relief for you all.
Here is a link to an NIH (US) clinical trial.
Possibly the device is the same as what you are using. But perhaps it is not, since "magnetic pillow" doesn't sound much like a "surface acoustical wave ultrasound" device. But they both use the name "Pain Shield".
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01447108?term=trigeminal+neuralgia&rank=1
I found this via the TNA web site. Hopefully the trial will provide some indication if the device works or not.
Nice find.. would be good to get some detailed study feedback from it.. rather than just some ad-hoc testimonials from us few that have been brave enough to test it out. Be interesting to see what they conclude. Thanks for the link
In looking through the NanoVibronix web site http://www.nanovibronix.com/
the company and device appear to be legitimate. They received FDA approval to market the device in 2008, but as I understand it, that does not necessarily mean that the device is effective. Probably the clinical trial is to gather evidence of its effectiveness. It is difficult to tell if the study will meet its estimated completion date of this December.
There are a number of testimonials at the website from both patients and medical professionals, although many are not specifically related to TN. As we know, there is a substantial difference between testimonials and scientific evidence.
I certainly hope that Red will check this out and give us his opinion - I think he is the most TN knowledgeable person around.
$900 seems to be a significant gamble. I wonder if these devices are covered by Medicare - probably not. I also wonder what their return / refund policy is :)
Bill
Hi Bill .. good research :)
Well.. I have had no dealings with nanovibronix, other than being referred to their UK distributer (www.trigeminalneuralgiatreatment.co.uk). They contacted me and offered me the purchase, or a rental option.. and then when we decided to buy it at end of rental period, they deducted the cost of the rent off the purchase price. Seemed pretty genuine from our dealings. Anyway, the results of this clinical study will be fascinating. No mentions of refunds on their site. To me (from my very limited knowledge) it seems like a sort of tens machine, but adapted for use on the face. With the rental they sent us wraps, patches, instructions etc on how to properly use it. Mum slept with it on most nights at first, but using it less & less. Maybe co-incidence.. who knows!
Guys, over the years I've looked into several ultrasound devices like Pain Shield, magnetic devices, low level laser illumination and TENS. I don't want to rain on anybody's parade, but I just don't see the science. Bill has the principles well in hand when he says that testimonials aren't scientific evidence. They aren't -- and they're too easily bought if placebo effect isn't already enough to sell a product more sincerely.
When FDA makes a product finding, it has two parts: if a device is found unlikely to actively hurt you, it is certified safe. Only after the device is demonstrated in controlled, randomized, double-blind trials can it be evaluated for efficacy. And until that latter demo is done, Medicare won't assign an insurance billing code and you're on your own for payment.
In my view, a fee of $900 dollars for treatment with a device that probably costs less than a quarter of that to manufacture is not only "steep" -- it's fraudulent. You might as well believe in fairy dust, or go out and buy yourself a heat lamp.
Regards, Red
Red, thanks.
I note that the clinical trial is a single blind study with only 15 participants, so that makes me suspicious that they are not really serious.
I also noted that Nanovibronix Inc. is located in Long Island, NY, and the fact that there is no trial here in the US (where there are many more TN patients) is also suspicious.
Personally, I'll wait for more data.