That's great. Once you get better sleep, that will help too.

I've not liked the magnets on my neck or upper spine. They make me dizzy. But the Quadrabloc ones show head placement. I am still leary of that. Also I never use more than one big one at a time, or two 1/2 inchers (my knee). I don't even need the big one all night anymore. Sometimes I just use it while reading in bed. I tend to be really conservative since the medical literature is scant about magnets. However the FDA has approved a new depression treatment using a device with strong magnetic energy directed to the center of the head!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,441882,00.html

I still say, keep away from the heart. The magnetic field is about 6 inches with those strong types. Magnetism falls off quickly thru the air, with distance.

I hope your relief continues. Next on the agenda after about 2 weeks is to see if you can not use the magnet and see if the nerve holds to a more normal return to function. Don't assume this is for life yet. I think nerves get "turned on" and the mechanism for turning them off gets wonky and once they turn off you perhaps won't need the magnet every day. I don't use mine that often anymore. In fact sometimes I forget about them! (isn't that awfully dense-- slaps forehead!)

Hey mrsD, my apologies if I missed something, but it seems like so far, this discussion has been about using magnets for joint & back pain. Do the magnets help for PN too?

I have not found that the magnets work for "burning".

They do work for shooting, stabbing pain and deep aching pain.

PN may just be burning (like I have). But it may be stabbing too like Meralgia Paresthetica.

I only mention them occasionally here because safe use depends on the person, and on the internet one cannot really safely gauge how a person will handle the strong magnets. You see in this thread already, humor and some examples of unsafe potential. In person, I can see a person and how they react and form their thoughts etc to guide me in deciding if they will be able to do it properly.

Reading here you can see many kinds of PN. I don't think magnets will work much for numbness, or global all over the body burning which seems common here.

But if you have a targeted nerve (like Cher) that has been identified as over-firing, or not working right, then the magnet option for pain relief is possible. My goal is to get people off the medications that seem to not work very well, and trade-off lots of side effects. The MP issue, also responds quickly to the magnets as does sciatica. If you go up to the first post here, I explain the nerve paths, there.

There are safety issues with magnets too. And I have to trust that people understand those as well. But on the other hand they are very effective, do not wear out unless you have an accident and break them or lose them etc. You cannot use them if you have any implanted medical device or shunt. So while they do not "cure" anything, they may give some needed pain relief, which improves quality of life.

I have typed the "magnet information" so many times here and there and it is long and takes up MY time to do so, I made the thread finally. That way people can see the basic potential.

My memory is shot. I blame it on the meds, but growing older might have something to do with it.

The ebay store I bought the last magnets from have a good selection at reasonable prices, so I'm going to order myself some 1/4 ones as well.

I'll let you know what happens in a couple of weeks.

I apologize for taking her thread away from the PN aspect of the magnets. The meralgia paresthetica is a problem with a nerve, and when it flares, it is always accompanied by lower back pain. Using the magnet last night calmed both the nerve and the lower back pain. I think she also talked somewhere here about using them near the ankles PN as well.

My pain is primarily burning...too bad. But they might help my knees. I'll think about trying them for that.

If you buy the less expensive ones.... and doing a Google search will show you companies that charge alot of money for them... then if they don't work for your particular discomfort, it is no loss really. If you spent hundreds of dollars on a belt or mattress etc, that would be a shame if they don't work.

The size I used on my knee is 1/2 inch wide and 1/16th thick.
Those were a decade ago now!

The best placement was on the meniscal trigger point...which the orthopedic doctor demonstrated to me was my hot spot.

The really large magnet I use now, I tried on the back of the knee where I put my Lidoderms sometimes, and it made my lower leg "buzz" for some reason. I don't know why that is either.

I did use my 1/2 inchers on my thumb with the torn nail...and at the base of the thumb it stopped my throbbing (which was awful!) I used the tiny ones on my broken big toe, back when the boulder rolled out onto it. (I had to take it off for the x-ray at the foot doctors when that happened).

For when my feet really burn and sometimes that goes 1/2 way up my shins, I use Biofreeze for that. Avoiding potatoes gives me less incidence of that in the past year. Really hot summers, can make burning nights for me still too anyway.

So using the Ebay sellers is best. Just type in "neodymium magnets". If you want the plastic coated ones, like plgerrard, then put "plastic coated" in the keyword too. I find that links to companies on Google keep changing. And some magnet suppliers won't deal with you if you want smaller amounts of them and charge a surcharge for the order. Ebay does not, and some even have free shipping every once in a while!

Thanks mrsD. I tried the Biofreeze but all it did was make my skin feel cool for a few seconds, and then back to the burn. My cupboard is full of stuff that I hoped would make the burning stop, including pharmaceuticals. So far the only thing that has really helped is Ambien, which for obvious reasons isn't the best answer. Maybe one of these days I'll find something practical that helps.

But I think I will try the magnets for my knees. They only hurt walking down the stairs, so if they work, it wouldn't mean that much in overall pain reduction. But I guess it's something.

Do you suppose that the magnets might help the pain from polymyalgia rheumatica?

If you Google medical magnets there are some sites that promise many many things. I have always had some sore muscles and they don't seem to respond the magnets at all for me.

If you buy some inexpensive ones, you can experiment on yourself. Some pain is nerve induced some is deeper aching in character. I don't think anyone understands all the pain we feel and many of us may have mixed types.

I have a book I bought years ago, that said for some 20 minutes is enough! That is why I tried them on my old old cat. Sticking one on fur is not really reasonable, and wearing some wrap would make her nuts. So I just hold the magnet in my hand and place my hand over various parts of the back of her neck, two front legs (where the limping is) and along her spine to the tail. If I put the magnet under her (trying to get my hand back so I can sleep), she leaves. The other 2 cats don't like it, either. So everyone IS different! We typically do that at night when I go to bed. She follows me, and makes murping sounds until I do "it" for her.

MrsD, just thought I would share another success story using magnetic therapy.

Just recently my next door neighbor was complaining of his bad lower back, he said he was taking the max amount of morphine for the pain but it wasn't working to good, he was still in terrible pain and he couldn't even get a proper night sleep with the pain, I suggested magnets to him which he said he would try anything for relief so I put 3 strong magnets on him, right on his spine, one on the sore spot & the other 2 on each side of first placement, in opposite poles to each other, of course.

The next day he said he felt terrific most of the pain was gone, he couldn't believe the difference they made, I said to leave them on for 4 days then take them off [ I have found this works the best for severe pain ] .
Anyway by the end of the third day he told me that the pain was gone completely & he was off the morphine and felt great.

Take care everyone
Brian

I'm a believer. I bought some of the high gauss recommended by Mrs. D and tape them to my feet every night. By morning, I am symptom free (too bad it doesn't last all day, but I take what I can get).

Between the magnets and Salon Pas patches, I can get some decent sleep