Thursday, May 18, 2017

Oska® Pulse – PEMF for Chronic Pain and Cellular Healing




"I have been given this product as part of a product review through the Chronic Illness Bloggers network. Although the product was a gift, all opinions in this review remain my own and I was in no way influenced by the company."




After reading the testimonies of others about how well Oska® Pulse was working for them,  I was excited when my device arrived.

I had already gotten some background information and this is what I found. Peer reviewed studies show pulsed electro-magnetic field (PEMF) therapy works for a plethora of conditions. And, since I used to write for Sharecare, I was glad to see Dr. Oz  say, “PEMF therapy is FDA-approved to fuse bones and has been cleared in certain devices to reduce swelling and joint pain.”  

How does it work?

The Oska Pulse is a PEMF devise that acts by massaging inflammatory cells causing them to dissipate. It doesn't move and there isn't an electrical current like that of a TENS unit. 

Features

An important feature of the device is that it turns off in 30 minutes after it completes four cycles of different pulse electromagnetic frequencies. You don't have to think about it. When it turns off, it will make three short beeps. You can’t feel it so if you don't hear the beeps, you know its off when the pulsing light it emits during operation is off too. If you find the light distracting, you can put it in a sock. Skin-to-skin contact is not necessary for it to work. 

The shape and size is perfect. It fits nicely in the palm of your hand or cradled on the neck, or if you prefer to set it next to you, put it on the flat side. It works in an eight inch radius of the device, period. 


It comes with instructions on how to use it and illustrations of how to use the strap so you can wear it.

The device has a rechargeable battery, so all you have to do is charge it like you would your cell phone. 



My experience

After three weeks, I noticed for the first time in a long time, I didn't wake up in pain from rolling onto my left shoulder. But, there is more.

I have experienced restless leg syndrome for many years. I even had a sleep study that confirmed significant periodic limb movement (PLM). And while my sleep study results was proof for my husband that I wasn’t purposefully kicking him during the night in retaliation for his snoring and it was a confirmation that I have a contributing factor to non-restorative sleep, this information did not solve my problem. And, neither did the medications to specifically treat PLM; I did not tolerate the side effects. But, that was about to change.

About one month in, I “awakened” with the PEMF device still sitting (unattached) on my left shoulder where I had left it the night before. I hadn't moved one inch! No covers in disarray, no complaints from the spouse. I had not changed a thing in my routine or in my medical treatment. The only thing different was Oska Pulse!

Compliance

The most important thing is using it enough. It won’t work if it stays in the nifty box it came in.

Reduction in inflammation and pain might be immediate. But, if a problem has been long standing, your body may take longer to respond. Many things can contribute to the way our body reacts. As an example, we have different reasons for experiencing chronic pain, or we may have another health problem that contributes to how our body heals

It's important to know that you might feel worse at first. This is because the Oska Pulse PEMF device works to release cellular toxins that have accumulated around inflamed areas, so don’t give up. Do as the instructions say and drink plenty of water, just like you would after a massage. 

The literature says the majority of people see significant improvement in 3 - 4 weeks and difficult cases respond in about 4 - 6 weeks. I am still on my healing journey, but there is a noticeable difference in my shoulder pain and joint range of motion. My periodic limb movement has greatly improved, an effect that was totally unexpected.  I consider myself a more difficult case because I have significant arthritis throughout my body. Knowing this and already seeing improvement, I expect it to get even better with time. 


I give my friend, Oska Pulse, five stars. 


In healing,,Celeste

"Adversity is only an obstacle if we fail to see opportunity."

~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

Celeste Cooper, RN
Author—Patient—Freelance Writer at Health Central & ProHealth Advocate

Celeste’s Website: http://CelesteCooper.com

Learn more about Celeste’s books at her website or find links here on Celeste's  blog. Subscribe to posts by using the information in the upper right hand corner or use the share buttons to share with others.

All blogs and comments are based on the author's opinions and are not meant to replace medical advice.  


Monday, May 8, 2017

Casting Light on the Shadow of Fibromyalgia: Finding the cause


Radiating the Shadow of Light


As suggested in my article for ProHealth, there is a problem with research on fibromyalgia. It is all over the place. The reason for this is partly due to how research is funded—sad, but true.


Drug Research

Several drugs have been suggested for treating fibromyalgia  but are they helping?


The FDA *Voice of the Patient (October 2014) said:

“According to the polling, nearly all in-person and web participants reported taking or having taken a prescription medication to treat their fibromyalgia symptoms. Prescription drug therapies were described as having widely varying degrees of effectiveness, and many participants noted limited benefits or decreased benefit over time. Additionally, even if effective, many participants described that they could not sustain treatment because they were unable to tolerate their side effects.”

*A polling of FDA approved Lyrica®, Cymbalta®, Savella® and other commonly prescribed medications.

 

Also in 2014, The Cochran Library database said while it seems helpful in those who tolerate it, the number who benefit from Pregabalin (Lyrica) is very small. Only one person in ten will have any benefits. (Pregabalin for pain in fibromyalgia in adults, accessed April 29, 2017) That is underwhelming evidence compared to the reported clinical trials on which the FDA based their approval.

Getting Unstuck

In our books I write about the importance of critical thinking and problem solving, i.e. determining what we think we want or need then go about finding ways to achieve it. But, when we change the goal, or even our interpretation of the goal, so changes the way we get there. Simply masking our symptoms so we can learn to live with it isn’t a lofty goal to me. Instead, we should be looking at the cause, the necessary step to finding a cure. That said, I support any medication, treatment, or therapy you and your doctor work together to find, but we can’t get stuck in thinking that’s all there is. We need to know how to treat fibromyalgia as a disease and manage it as we do diabetes, thyroid disease, etc.

The Biology of Body Matter

I began reviewing research, commentaries, and reports on fibromyalgia in 2001 when I first started writing our book, Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-Body Connection, 2010. And, I have seen evidence in small studies and large that fibromyalgia is biological.

As years pass by, we see a recurring theme regarding the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis involvement in fibromyalgia. And as we advance, we learn more about how this might work. You see, the HPA axis is constantly recalculating based on stress signals from the mind or body. For instance, if it receives feedback that there is an imbalance in the immune system this intricate system activates to restore order. 

Immune Cells

Behm FG, et al. found specific immune cells in FM using a specific method. That is what led to the FM/a® blood test. This finding doesn't necessarily negate previous studies on the HPA response in fibromyalgia. Instead, this and other “Peer-reviewed Medical Publications” (below), support immune system involvement in fibromyalgia, which could be upsetting the body's ability to achieve balance. When we treat the root cause in any disease, it makes the job of the HPA much easier.

Newsworthy Hope for the Future

Dynamic, well-respected scientists and medical research institutions will be collecting data from those of us who have tested positive with the FM/a® blood test. 
“We seek a potential set of explanations for why FM patients have their immunological abnormalities and that is why we have contracted with the genomic facilities at two major university medical centers(University of Illinois and UCLA) so we utilize their immense expertise and databases.” (Dr. Bruce Gillis, personal correspondence)

It’s important that you know this will “Take Time”. This is the first step to help scientists find treatment that is specific to the cause of fibromyalgia.

“Things Take Time (TTT).
Get this engraved on your watch crystal or the back of your cell phone.
The Grand Canyon started as a run-off problem.”
~Jeff Miller, PhD (My co-author)



Participation 

The FM/a® test “Campaign 250” is devoted to answering the basic three questions: Do I have it? What caused it? How do I treat it? If you would like to be one of the 250,0000 participates in this important research, you first need to have the FM/a® test. Start the process at http://fmtest.com/ and contact them if you can’t find answers to any of your questions. They are a wonderful bunch of folks. And, you can read my blog, FM/a® Blood Test – “How To” and My Results, which clearly explains my experience

In hope and healing,,Celeste

Related reading:



Following are downloadable peer-reviewed medical publications: (accessed, 2017)









"Adversity is only an obstacle if we fail to see opportunity."

~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

Celeste Cooper, RN
Author—Patient—Freelance Writer at Health Central & ProHealth Advocate

Celeste’s Website: http://CelesteCooper.com

Learn more about Celeste’s books at her website or find links here on Celeste's  blog. Subscribe to posts by using the information in the upper right hand corner or use the share buttons to share with others.


All blogs and comments are based on the author's opinions and are not meant to replace medical advice.  

Celeste's Website

Celeste's Website
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