Using Magnets for Pain
 

I've used magnets for over a decade now. I don't use them everyday...but only for severe episodes. I've used them on my right knee (first applications), my broken toe, my ankles, my back, over the years, and on my fingers now and then.

Every year or so I search on Google, and there are always new products coming out. Use the keyword search: Medical Magnets

You'll find several links to start with in this thread, and many more.

Here is what I have sent to others for basic information. I just checked the links and they are still active.
Most are just "examples". Medical magnets continue to appear on the net. This info I compiled in Nov 08.

The bottom line is high gauss (very strong) are the best, and the South pole toward the body blocks the pain. North may stimulate nerves. These are called neodymium magnets. One side is S and one N.

http://www.health-science-spirit.com/magnet.html

This is a pretty good explanation of how they work. There are very inexpensive sites out there, with some very powerful magnets. Strong is what you really need.
But strong needs to be used wisely....do not use if you have a pacemaker, do not wear near computers, will set off airport scanners, I don't use them near the eyes or heart.
Things like that. Given what is happening with the new hybrid cars lately, and their computer controls, I would not wear the magnets driving either. The ones I use are very very strong and may affect the operation of the car--who knows these days?

The downside to buying cheap magnets is that they are not marked according to polarity as a rule.
The first site gives hints on how to know which is N and which is S. With strong magnets you can also tell by putting them on. I don't have good effects with N towards the skin.
It stimulates nerves for me, and may increase pain. If placed over a painless spot like behind the knee, I'll get an uncomfortable buzzing. But when the S is placed where I have my pain, it changes it..and over days, it can get rid of it even.
I used the smaller magnets 1/2 inch neodymiums on my knee over 10 yrs ago. They cost $30 a pair! Now I have 1 inchers I bought online about 2 yrs ago that cost $1 each!
http://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=DE2

and
http://www.rare-earth-magnets.com/c-9-disc-magnets.aspx
(I would go with either of the bottom two choices....the very bottom is thicker but much stronger).

My podiatrist uses magnets and was surprised when I told her I did too-- (I had a broken toe and used it for pain). She suggests putting either moleskin or tape on the S side that goes towards the skin, since some people get a "magnet burn" or rash from the nickel. It is sort of a raised itchy spot. There are other ways to keep the metal away from the skin, and some companies charge alot for that.
http://www.magneticarts.net/medical.html

http://www.123ezpainrelief.com/neo.html

http://www.magneticarts.net/mag_patch_research.html

So I think for experimental purposes, I'd go with the cheapest easiest ones, and experiment. If this needs long term exposure, and you like the results you get, you can then spring for a more expensive version.
http://www.whatareneodymiummagnets.com/safety.html

I use a medical tape I get at WalMart, to make them stick...the clear tape with holes in it.
I use 3 pieces in a star pattern to keep it on. I don't need these large very strong magnets for very long...they are so much better than the 1/2 inch ones I used to use!
I find that if I wear them for long periods I sometimes get lightheaded... dizzy. I don't know why...but I have inner ear problems anyway, and these must stimulate the nerve in my left ear which is damaged. Brian here on PN has never become dizzy with his, that I know of. So that might be a unique thing for me.

Many people laugh at magnets...some doctors think it is placebo. But I don't ...I know they work. One just needs to use them correctly. A while back some magnets were sold thru Walgreens' etc and they we called Nikkon...they were very weak and useless--they were black and iron and about 800 gauss (compared to 10,000 gauss of the neodymiums which are rare earth elements). People remember those, and have no idea about NOW.

I had a great article from NY times, but it just was taken off the web: Her is another similar:
http://energy-healing.suite101.com/a...or_pain_relief

And here is a meta analysis of many papers about static magnets:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18818562

So one can see that it is not really laughable anymore.

In fact the FDA has just approved a magnet device for the head, to treat difficult depression!

This is the new website for MagnaBloc magnets. They are the premier ones, and I wonder if the 4 combined smaller neos with mixed poles is actually needed. I get such good results from my single mega strong 1 incher.
But here is their website:
http://www.quadrabloc.com/

They are the form researched at Vanderbilt University. And I saw a Dateline TV program about them many years ago where a young man had huge pain in his abdomen, and no one could find a cause (like appendicitis etc) and he recovered quickly by using these magnets, one on each side of his lower back!
The website is pretty interesting, but they are expensive as you'd expect.

Placement of high gauss magnets is similar to that of Lidoderm patches. This post of mine discusses placement to hit the major nerves:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread118240.html
Here is a 3D link showing nerve distributions for placement:
http://www.healthline.com/human-body...eg-vessels#4/1
Interrupting a nerve path, before it gets to the spine, is the best way
to use magnets. The new very strong ones don't have to be worn all day long either, I have found. About 20 minutes a day works for me.

If you need further advice, please send me a PM.

The Quadrabloc website also has a section devoted to placement. So interested readers can check that one out too.
They have specific placement patterns based on the polarity of their mixed magnets.

This is a pretty complex subject, and really I think the most benefit can come to people with specific targets for their pain.
Diffuse symptoms, like burning all over, or generally burning feet, may not respond. But if you have had an EMG that targets a specific nerve as your problem, then you can find a way to place a magnet for that type of pain.

Since some magnets are so inexpensive, a few dollars, some here may want to try them. Read the safety information about pacemakers, implanted devices, computers, cars, etc before using them at all. Keep them away from small children who may swallow them.

This thread is for any questions, or additional comments. Don't hesitate to ask.

Very informative post Mrs D, can't add much but be very careful when handling these strong magnets, don't put them close to each other they can slam together with a mighty force and if your fingers are in the way :eek: been caught many times before.
There are a lot of magnetic gimmicks out there that are expensive & useless, the magnets are to weak to do anything , the strong neodymium magnets are a different story, the power of the magnet and just as important the placement of the magnets are the key things for successful use.

Lower Back Pain
 

In your Lidoderm placement thread, I posted about my recent problems with meralgia paresthetica and lower back pain. I want to try magnets for the lower back pain, and have looked at the links you posted, and did my own search for "magnets for lower back pain". When I am in the state of pain I am now, I don't absorb things well, so the answer may be right in front of me, but I'm not seeing it.

Everything I found seemed to point to purchasing a type of belt with several magnets attached. I would prefer not to spend $60-90 until I am able to experiment a little with them.

Could I simply purchase several magnets and tape them to my lower back using medical tape and an ace bandage to hold them in place?

If I do that, what strength and number of magnets would you recommend?

Or, considering this is almost always linked to the meralgia paresthetica, is there something else you would recommend.

Thank you again for your timely and informative posts.

Yes, you can.... I'll get you examples today some time.

I'll edit this thread...so look in later.;)

Some magnet suppliers have low prices, but they hit you with a service fee say for items less than $20-50. Also shipping is a factor.

I have found 4 suppliers on Ebay which are more affordable. I hope you are active there.

http://cgi.ebay.com/5-STRONG-Neodymi...item1c117a0d37
1.5in-- this is larger than I use, and thicker. But stronger.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=120550055996
1 inch -- a good price for 10 including shipping Same size as I use, and you will have to determine the polarity

plastic coated
http://cgi.ebay.com/10-Neodymium-Mag...-4-x-1-8-Disc-
N48_W0QQitemZ360091715556QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item53d72387e4
PLASTIC-COATED- these are 3/4 in before coating. They may appeal to you since they are less likely to cause magnet burns. But they are thicker because of the coating. These are slightly smaller than the one I use.


best price size uncoated:
http://cgi.ebay.com/10-Neodymium-Mag...item2eac08801e

I like this last one the best. The size is right, the price is right.
You will have to put some moleskin on the pole toward the body. You will have to determine the S pole yourself. This is the size I use.

I bought mine at a computer supply place...you know a build your own... 5 of them + shipping for about $10 a few years ago. They were being discontinued then. I bought the last of them.

I cover my bare magnets with surgical tape, and replace it when worn and icky, and mark the S pole. The polarity is easy for me to figure out, since the wrong pole (N) causes more pain, or at least buzzing feelings.

The belts typically use 1/2 inch neodymiums, many of them. Seagem who posted here for a while bought an expensive belt that was really strong. I wonder how he is doing. Some people don't come back after they find their answers tho.
This is the belt he bought:
http://www.drbakstmagnetics.com/inde...=62&Itemid=315
he bought the most expensive one...which is onsale now.
The belt is less flexible for use IMO.... I use my magnets in alot of places on the body.

The quadrablocs have 4 --1/2 inch neos in them, two poles up and 2 down, in an X pattern . That was the type studied by the doctor at Vanderbilt. They are covered in plastic for longevity etc. They are the most expensive, IMO. But they have over a decade in use etc.

I find these large really strong ones, you don't have to wear all the time to get benefit. I only wear them at night typically. I don't want them near the computer, etc.

Thanks for taking the time to give me so much good advice. The listing for the plastic-coated magnets from ebay was removed, but I did find another set of 10, so ordered that.

I already have surgical tape and ace bandage, so I'll be all set when the magnets come in.

I like the photo in your signature. Is that periwinkle? We have 12 different gardens in our yard (most around trees) that we mulch every year. Last year I decided on "natural" mulch, so we planted 1000 periwinkle plants as ground cover for most of the gardens, and planted strawberries in the rest. The periwinkle isn't that thick yet, but almost all the plants have blooms on them. I'm hoping it will spread and thicken this year. In the meantime, it looks like mulch again this year.

The photo is of scilla (Siberian squill)... a little bulb with a short life but very beautiful. They reseed and spread quickly.

When we moved in here there was a patch by the back door about 6ft by 4 ft. It is now moving thru our whole yard. (almost a 1/4 of an acre --the yard is 1/2 acre--- and when it blooms all at once it is a total blue carpet. Then the leaves die back and for about 10 days are slimey and icky...but I think it is worth it.
So hubby rakes in the direction away from the house, and the seeds disperse outward.

The ants also carry the seeds around. I used to sit out on the front steps down in front (we live on a hill), with my son and wait for Daddy to come home from work. I'd watch the black ants carrying the seeds around! Some get stored, and some planted that way. We have the scilla in the rock gardens down in front from that method of dispersal too!;)

I put my garden things in my siggie (and sometimes avatar) all during the growing season....you see them soon! ;)

scilla:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scilla

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/p....asp?code=R160

http://www.theplantexpert.com/springbulbs/Scilla2.html

When all else fails, read...
 

Sometimes I have to wonder about myself. My magnets arrived today, and I was so anxious to try them out, I thought the mid-day nap would be appropriate. So, I quickly scanned this thread, pulled out my surgical tape and ace bandage, and went to work on my first attempt at using the magnets for my lower back. And, I do mean Work! After 15 minutes I was so exhausted, I fell into bed sans magnets.

Let’s start with the fact that the magnets came in a roll, like a roll of nickels. Of course they were magnetized together, and my fingers just didn’t want to rise to the challenge of prying them apart. And, when I would finally get one pried loose from the roll, it would snap right back. It only took my brain about 20 attempts (may be an exaggeration) to realize that I had to place the newly freed magnet about 5” from the roll to lessen its strong desire to return.

All this, Cagney & Lacy (my Avator) found extremely fascinating. They would creep closer for a better look, only to jump back again when the magnet snapped back to the roll.

Once I got the hang of prying the magnets apart, I started to place them on the tape. This is where actually reading would have come in handy.

I laid out one long strip of tape, and attempted to place the magnets on the tape side by side. But, they kept escaping the tape and snapping together. I finally figured out that if I placed them an inch apart, it curbed their desire for companionship. When I had finally succeeded in getting 5 magnets placed on the tape, I was ready to tape the strip to my back.

I picked up one end of the strip, and snap, snap, snap. The tape folded accordion-style between the roll of magnets. My attempt to straighten the tape back out, was what finally ended today’s experiment. I took hold of each end of the strip and pulled. The magnets flew off the tape, clattering against towel rack, commode and sink. Thank god one didn’t venture near the window.

If the bathroom door had been open, Cagney & Lacy would have bolted through in their mad scramble to escape flying magnets. Instead, they both took to the bathtub, where they found one of the errant magnets had landed. I left them trying to pry it loose from the tub drain, while I recovered with a nap. Their success was no better than mine had been with the roll. The darn thing kept snapping back to the drain. They were still playing with it when I woke.

If nothing else, I have found a great way to keep them entertained.

It is like they are "alive".... I know.

You really should start with just ONE.

I rarely use more than one anyway. These guys are strong and penetrate 6in. You don't need them in a row. Nail the right nerve and one is plenty.

Twisting to remove from the stack is best...twist or slide. The coating helps...it is far worse with uncoated ones like I have.

I also keep a bit of the tape to overlap the diameter of the magnet and use that as a handle. Twice folded on itself, it works quite well.

The websites on Ebay all have warnings on them about how to handle the strong aspect of them. I have mine in a little plastic box, and once during the night it grabbed a paper clip you know the type with handles, and snapped it in the night across the table and woke me up! Keeping them in the sock drawer is handy, since metal is not normally in that drawer. They are safely away from other things, and computers, etc.

You know where I just saw on TV another odd use for these strong magnets? The show Meteorite Men, on the Science Channel? They put 3 of those neodymiums on the head of their dirt pick, and when a piece of meteorite is in the ground it jumps up and sticks to the magnets. They showed a closeup of this process many times on the shows. I love that show...the guys are funny and the situations funky and in the end they take the ones they found and get scientific analysis and evaluation. I always get thirsty watching them suffer out in the desert! LOL

Thanks mrsD.

Using only one sounds so much easier, and that will leave me with 9 for kitty playthings. :rolleyes:

So, for lower back pain - would I place it directly over the sore spot, or somewhat above? below?

Where does the back hurt? Is it sciatica? That would be at about L4 one inch from the midline. After an hour or so if there is no change move it an inch more and experiment to find your "hot spot". Change in feeling is pretty quick with these, so nothing is lost except a bit of time.

Tailbone area? Then about one inch from your "butt crack" and about 1 inch right or left depending on the side that bothers you.

These work best for radiating pain... I'd try them on your feet.
One foot at a time. Using the map and 3D link, place one over a major nerve at the ankle, and see what happens. Red side down.
I have used a magnet above the ankle bone and below, just before the arch. If you have pain that goes to the the big toe, the inside medial area is best.

Yes, it is about L4-L5, a little to the right. So, I'll start there, and just experiment. As soon as I get away from this computer for the day, I'll give it a go, and let you know tomorrow how it works.

Thanks so much for your endless patience with those of us (or maybe just me) who challenge it so frequently.

Thanks Kitt. It's OK to laugh. I've been laughing at myself. My favorite line from the Calvin and Hobbs comic strip: "If we couldn't laugh at things that don't make sense [substitute ourselves], we couldn't react to a lot of life"

Once you get the hang of it, you will be magnetizing all your friends! I even do my very old, lame cat at night. She gets about 20 minutes worth of one large magnet. It totally relaxes her and she falls asleep quickly purring!

Only because I'm already in a silly mood, I have to make a very silly comment. So, I'm begging your forgiveness in advance:

Definition of 'magnetic personality'?

LOLOLOL---- not only that, but they will really think you are
eccentric too! Many of my learned colleagues made fun of me.
But I just kept right on working, with no drugs, and making money... the jokes on THEM!

I was totally surprised when my foot doctor said he uses them too --- gave me the tip to put moleskin on one side. Yours are coated, but back when I started, coatings were not available, and magnet burn was a real thing. Yours should not do anything like that to you!

Half my friends already describe me as eccentric. The other half will finally believe what they've been told. :icon_lol:

yeah be careful with these magnets. I thought i was being careful but two came together with my finger in the middle. to add insult to injury(literally) a piece of the magnet cracked off.

They are very strong. I glued a little metallic clip to my bedside table, and if I take my magnet off in the night I just reach over and it jumps onto the clip. I keep all of the others in a safe place.
Placed on a table with assorted objects, the magnet will move and attract "things". I have two layers of tape on my uncoated one..it helps with the handling. If it does crack the tape holds any pieces and prevents them from flying thru the air, etc. Once the thin nickel coating is breached, I'd not use that one anymore. They are crumbly inside I've found.

Pieces that crack off can go into your eye... so handle carefully.

I found one large strong magnet enough for me. I have some tiny ones I use on fingers/toes. It was one of those I used on my broken toe. Those are less likely to cause serious accidents, but they can fall off and get lost in the house.

Magnet crazy
 

I actually forgot to try the magnet when I left the computer yesterday. My husband came in from the yard to tell me he saw an Indigo Bunting - the first of the year. Since we only have them for about 2-3 weeks each year, I spent the next couple of hours on the porch scanning the trees and yard, but alas I never spotted one. Maybe today.

So, it was near bedtime when I finally remembered. But, I found the right spot on the first try.

When my lower back and the meralgia paresthetica is acting up like this, I can spend a couple of hours trying to find a comfortable position. But last night I was comfortable the minute I laid down - almost.

Probably because the lower back pain has been so overpowering, I never realized that there was also some back pain around T6-7. But with the lower back pain gone, the T6-7 pain was noticable. So, I got up and slapped another magnet on that spot. Again, I found the right spot on the first try. How lucky can one get.

Now comfortably pain-free, I settled in to watch The Good Wife, while my meds lulled me to sleep, but drat that shoulder that always bothers me when I lay on my left side. Never fear - there are 8 more magnets.

I discovered quickly that a magnet on the spine and one on the left shoulder is not a good idea. Because of the autonomic nature of my neuropathy, I have heart rate problems anyway, so I recognized the signs. Within about 5 minutes of adding the shoulder magnet, I noticed my heart rate slowing down. As soon as I realized what was happening, I removed the shoulder magnet. I can live with minor pain in the shoulder, but I can't live without a heart rate.

I woke up only once during the night, but not from pain. For the last several weeks with the lower back and MP acting up, I've been up almost every hour, and finally just get out of bed completely around 4:00-4:30 am. But I slept peacefully last night and didn't wake up until around 6:30 this morning.

I can already see that magnet therapy will improve the quality of my life.

Thank you mrsD. :Thanx:

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! :Doh: (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. :rolleyes:

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

Well, this thread is moving along nicely! I am glad some people are getting some pain relief.

I had to use my large one last night too! (and my wrist splints).
Doing alot of yard work etc. AND I managed to LOSE it again...took a whole day to find it! :o

So I have decided to order the coated red/green ones and did so this morning from Ebay. I think they will be more "visible" and less likely to lose. When I bought my 1 inchers a few years ago, they were closeouts, from a computer supplier.
I didn't belong to Ebay then, so I had no idea there were affordable coated ones. So they should come soon, I expect. ;)

The coated red and green are what you recommended in your earlier post, and what I purchased. I can't compare them to the uncoated, but they are working great for me. I have had four good night's sleep in a row. I wear one all night, and again during the mid-day nap. Not only am I sleeping better, but have very little pain during the day.

Sleeping good and not living with daily pain, makes me less cranky. So, I thank you, but my husband thanks you even more. :)

My magnets are silver in color and thinly coated with nickel. I put tape on them to make them bigger and easier to handle.

The most devious loss place is snicking onto the mattress edge.
Most conventional mattresses have a metal edge on them under all that ticking and fabric. Sometimes I don't stick the magnet on ME, but just leave it under my back, and most of the time it stays in the bed somewhere. The other night I was more tossing and turning than usual and it rolled off and while falling was attracted to this metallic edge of the bed. It was stuck on "under" an edge and was totally out of view. Sometimes it falls off me, and ends up on the floor. I've had them restick themselves inside my loose PJs, too. Many odd places, which are baffling.

I am so glad you are getting relief. I do think it is possible with long term use for your nerves to quiet. That is what happened with my MP and the Lidoderm. I don't like to hold that carrot out too often, but it is possible. That may not happen, but be prepared for it if it does. Sometimes there is a relapse, but in general, you may see some permanent changes.

Keep me posted as to your progress in any event! ;)

P.S. I saw a site the other day, that puts the magnets in 4's in a soft cloth baggie...so you can just lie on it. I am going to try this soon, but I have to figure it out some. That would make them like the Quadrablocs. I am going to order the 1/2 inchers for this. But I will try two of the red/green ones as well. I'll use a bright color like red...too. Anyway that is a project for the near future. This will be good for the back area!

Great post MrsD, glad to read that people have benefited from your thread.

Mrs D, something you may want to try If you want to use more than one so you can lay on them in bed [ especially for the spine ], just place them in opposite poles so they push away from each other, I normally just set them up on a table first, put the first one down [ doesn't matter which pole ] then grab another and carefully place it down [ about 4 inches away holding both firmly] then just slowly push the second one towards the first one, if it starts to push the other one away that's perfect, if it starts to attract flip the second one over so it will push the first one away, the point at which it starts to move the first one is the distance I use when placing them on my body, creating a magnetic field of energy, any additional magnets gets done the same way.

Thanks Brian. I'll try that. I am going to make the stitched pad thingy soon. I hope my hand holds out tho! ;) My carpal tunnel does not like sewing by hand.

I've always darned my own socks and
replaced buttons and done minor repairs with needle & thread.
Nowadays, just threading the needle
(with the little metal wire thingy, to assist)
takes forever, and sewing on a button
either makes my hand go numb, or ...hurts!

ive actually sewn my finger to what i was sewing on two different occasions. i really have to watch what im doing.

Yesterday we planted over 60 plants at my son's new home, for his garden/landscaping. The work took all day... some were large Hostas, and one humongous one needed to be moved so he can put up a rain barrel under the eave. But many were small plants I grew from seed here under lights starting in late January. Even tho the soil was soft, and the new sharp trowel helped, my hand is totally blasted. Luckily it was cool...and at times COLD, and that helped I think.

Even tho I wore my braces to bed (I do so as a result of my own gardening at home) I can barely use the mouse today. I can only do 15 minute bursts and then I have to rest. (going numb).:rolleyes:

Tape makes a difference
 

I had my first bad night since using the magnet for my back pain, and it was all because of the tape I used to secure it. I had been using a roll of 3M surgical tape that was left over from one of my surgeries, and it worked great. I could use it for 2 days, and that included changing positions when I didn't find the right spot the first time.

My neighbor stopped by over the weekend, complaining of lower back pain and I had just the thing for her. (Yes, mrsD, I'm magnetizing my friends ! ) So, I gave her 2 of my magnets and the end of the roll of 3M tape.

I had a new roll of Johnson & Johnson tape, that I opened last night. It looked the same, but it is awful. It is flimsy, and everytime I reached around to put it on my back the tape folded over on itself. Once it did that there was no prying it apart, and I had to start over with a new strip. I finally got my husband to help me, but that made it more difficult to find the right spot. And each time we removed it, we had to replace the strips because they lost all their adhesiveness.

We finally got it in place, and after about an hour the darn strips started sliding, folding in on themselves and digging into my skin. So, I've been on the internet in search of 3M surgical tape. I can't find any drug stores or even Walmart that carry it. It looks like I am going to have to buy a box of it over the internet.

mrsD, I know you said you buy the tape from Walmart. What brand is it? Walmart has several types of the Johnson & Johnson First Aid tape. The one I have is the All Purpose Clear Tape.

My tape is called NexCare (by 3M) and I bought it at WalMart about a year ago.

This is it:
http://www.walgreens.com/store/catal..._sku=sku727919

Mine is in a plastic dispenser like Scotch Tape comes with a little sharpey cutter at the tear off spot. It is clear plastic with tiny holes so it is breathable.

Tape can be fraught with woes. I don't wear my magnets all the time. I go in bursts of 3 days to a week, then I don't need them for a while. So my tape lasts me a long time. Sometimes I just lie on my back with a loose mag underneath me, while I read before sleeping. These really strong large ones really don't need long times on the body, at least not for me. When I do my left groin area, where I tore that tendon, I don't use tape at all, just lie on my side for an hour and read with it in the fold of my leg. (I don't have TV in the bedroom). You could watch TV etc and place them like that.

I just ordered 50 of the 1/2 inch wide 1/16 deep from Ebay for 11.69. I am going to sew those into a large long pad, to put in the bed. And a smaller pad for 2 of the big ones. My friend just came by on Sunday, and gave me a quilted gift pad for a gift.
So we discussed how to do this, and she may help me, as she is more skilled at sewing than I am.

The tape sort of "gets" to me after a while...it leaves a residue, that is hard to get off, etc, and for really hard places I can't reach well to apply it. I find that body heat makes it stick really well. So if it seems "unsticky" at first on your back just lie on it for 15 minutes and the stickum then really sticks! We have a memory foam mattress topper that reflects back body heat, and this may enable this more, I think.