so after a month of using the quell device i wanted to give an update. i've been using it everyday for about 3-4 hour sessions daily, the suggested amount. for those who don't know, quell is a wearable pain relief device that uses intensive nerve stimulation, much like the tens unit, to block the pain signals from getting to the brain. to me it sounds like they're using the gate control theory of pain.
pros: it's easy to use, the battery (chargeable) lasts long, and it's convenient. what i love about it is that i can wear it on the go. for me it's been a good distraction from the pain, similar to the distraction i appreciate being submerged in water. on days or hours where the pain is too much for me to even rest, i put it on to distract me from focusing on the pain. on other days it keeps me distracted enough to be 'active', if that makes sense. i've noticed that i can do more overall in a day, not a magical amount, but enough for me to definitely notice. for example, i was able to start volunteering at the animal shelter, something i've been wanting to do for a while but just didn't have the energy or just too sick to do. now i'm able to go there a few times a week. i still crash when i come home, but the difference is that i can at least do it vs not doing it at all. it also has a great return policy if for whatever reason you want to return it. depending on where you purchase it from you have either 30 or 60 days.
cons: the only con i have is that the electrodes that attach to your body wears out after a few weeks so you have to purchase them every month or so. and they're not cheap, it's about $30.
notes: personally i think it's worth a try if you have the funds and you can always return it if it doesn't work for you for whatever reason. but do try it for at least a month because it took me a few weeks to see the results as it was very gradual. and also to discredit psychosomatic results. also if you're experience so much pain that even a tens unit was more painful than distracting, then i think the quell would not be for you. again, it's not a magical device that took away all my pain or my pain miraculously disappears once i put it on. i still feel it, but the quell distracts me from focusing on the pain enough for me to be 'active', like lowering the volume to hear yourself think. at least this has been my experience. for more quell user reviews go to fb, they have a page, search for quellrelief.