The Pain Center of Arizona values innovation, so when a new FDA-approved device comes out, we want our patients to be the first to learn about the possible benefits. You may have heard of a TENS unit, a device our patients have been using for years. A TENS unit is a small device that sends electrical stimulation to the nerves to correct any misfiring nerves and stop them from sending pain signals to the brain. A Quell device is similar to this.
A Quell device looks a little bit like the armbands you wear to the gym that hold your iPod or phone. However, this device is worn on your calf. While it doesn’t hold any iPods, it can actually be controlled from your smartphone! Instead of coming in to appointments to have your electrical impulse levels adjusted by a physician, you can control the level you need.
So how does it work? The band is equipped with an electrode, or a conductor that sends electricity into the body. By stimulating the nerves in the calf, signals can be sent to the spine and then the brain, so it works for pain in all areas of the body.
After strong evidence that it can help people suffering from chronic pain, it received FDA-approval and is available at The Pain Center of Arizona. The device offers a nighttime mode and can be worn 24 hours per day, but some people may find it uncomfortable to sleep with or that they are unable to wear tight-fitting pants while using the device. The nighttime mode can be programmed to go off every other hour to avoid disturbing sleep patterns.
While we believe Quell can be available to patients at a lower cost than some of our implantable electrical devices, the electrodes do need to be replaced about every two weeks, although the battery can be charged and work for up to 30 hours. Our physicians do not see Quell as a permanent fix for chronic pain. Pain relief stops when the device comes off, so we recommend pursuing other treatments options at the same time.
If you suffer from chronic pain due to any condition or injury, find hope at The Pain Center of Arizona! Our dedicated team of board certified pain management physicians will work with you to treat your pain, increase your functionality and quality of life, and get you back into life! We have locations across Arizona, including the Phoenix metropolitan, Northern and Southern areas! We take multiple insurance plans; click here to see if we take yours! To make an appointment and take the first step toward getting back into life, call us today at 1-888-PAINCENTER. We hope to see you soon!
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.
