Has anyone tried the latest P Stim device for pain?
 

I've recently tried P Stim for a period of 72hours. I was advised this treatment as i suffer from chronic and acute pain. It was connected to the Vagus nerve on my ear and it then sends electrical signals to activate my parasympathetic nervous system and to decrease the response signals from the pain receptors to my brain, as they are apparently overly responsive due to the massive injuries i had 18mths ago.

There is barely any information out there and I wanted to see how others responded to the treatment.
This is my experience...
My pain had definitely altered from a sharp and shooting feeling to a dull aching during physical movement and working out. I am very physically active. In the gym I felt fatigued in my muscles so i decreased my weights and did what I could.
I added only one new exercise (static lunge) and normally i get a shooting pain as my Dr wants to repair my meniscus and see what else is going on inside my knee. But this time it felt fine although a little unstable as usual.
The next day I was no longer wearing the device and i woke up with my knee was in agony and i was limping. I haven't experience this severe pain in a long time. Also my forearms and wrists were hurting and inflamed (even though i did less weight).

This leads me to the thought that the P Stim was masking the pain reactions i 'should' have had, to warm me to stop with that movement.This is very worrying to me as my physical activity is my life, work and passion.

There are so many questions I have but there is nothing out there on the websites that i could find.
It states 'Virtually no side effects,' but what are they?
Who are these people they tested the device on? Are they physically active? Their age? etc
Did they do MRI's of the brain in these clinical studies? (as the P Stim re-sets the mid brain)
They have stated no long term effects...but this is a new device...who knows in 20 years time!

I had a headache in the sinus area and behind that area (frontal brain?)
Restless nights sleep as it would turn off and on every 3 hours
The actual procedure isn't invasive, but to me it felt invasive (I felt claustrophobic, not in control of my own body and i dreaded the 3hrs of the flicking sensation in my ear)

I am very in tune with my body and know when something doesn't feel right. I am physically active, fit, eat a healthy mostly vegan diet, sleep 8-9hrs, drink lots of water etc.
So if i feel a headache....i know something is wrong.

Anyways the treatment plan was to wear the device for 72hrs every 10 days for 6 sessions. I'm not sure I want to go ahead with the second treatment as physically I don't know my capabilities when wearing it, will it switch off the pain receptors i actually need (short and long term).and there is not enough research out there on this device and they really don't guarantee no side effects.
I would rather try acupuncture first than this extreme device. I have muscle relaxants and pain killers etc, but i would never take them before working out.

Please let me know if you have tried it? considered it? or have any thoughts about it?

I appreciate any help and advice

I am so glad I came upon this post, and it only took me 3 hours of searching 'side effects of p-stim' ha! I just had p-stim device put on 3 days ago, by the end of the first day I had it on I began experience horrible headaches and bad nausea. This has gotten worse as of today the 3rd day of wearing the device. I have searched everywhere to find those "Virtually no side effects" as well with no luck - I was under the impression that if a device is approved for medical treatment by the FDA they were required to list any reported side effects??? They are found no where on the website for the manufacturer or the literature included with the device. I even emailed the CEO of the manufacturer of the device (located in Austria) she promptly responded and told me I would need to contact this person:
IHS Innovative Health Solution
**

Att: Gary Peterson
**

I have emailed him with no response as of yet. Of course this website lists nothing about side effects either... seems very very odd to me that it is so difficult to find this information.

If you happen to come across it, please share!

Trying P Stim Aug 1, 2013
 

I too, have searched for hours and hours to find ANY information from actual people, that are not on a PAID site, about the effects of P Stim.

I found three posts, two of them here. The third was a post about a "Friend of mine who said..." . So I thought that I would post to let people know my experience after mine is installed on Thursday August 8, 2013.

The two posts here do not make it look promising for me as I seem to be the type of person whom always has the worst of side effects from just about every drug or treatment I have.

I am going into this with an open mind and will post the results, positve or negative, as the treatment goes on.

I have Neuropathy in both legs, with the left foot starting about sock hight and the right from Buttocks to middle of foot. I also have lower back pain from L 3,4,5 compressed and torn. The pain goes from stabbing to an ongoing toothache effect.

I am taking Lortab 10/325 twice daily. All other Pain meds have been stopped due to side effects. Amitriptyline, Nortriptyline, Gabapentin and Lyrica.

Thanks for your posts.
I truely hope you find something that helps.

Hi Folks,

Keep searching; I found the following on my first try:
These were all found on the first page of search hits, using the criteria adverse effects p-stim

Also, if you are experiencing adverse/side effects, there are places to report same: where to report adverse effects

Hope this helps,

Doc

Welcome Azzabar,

No offense intended, but the first statement doesn't sound like the second is accurate.

Something for everyone to keep in mind is that people with bad experiences are far more likely to post about them than people with good/successful experiences. The successes are out living their lives and have no reasons to seek support.

Best wishes, and hope success for everyone,

Doc

Today I am Cyborg. :-) I got my P Stim installed at 0900 August 1, 2013.
It took approx. 20 minutes from the time I signed the release to the time I was walking out the door.
The installation was mildly uncomfortable, likened to getting an ear pierced. My ear was aching a bit after the Doctor was done. The stimulation from from the electrical impulses feels about like a small snap to the ear with a ruber band. After 20 min or so it was not that bothersome. The pulses are about every 5 seconds and last about 3 hours. After the first set was finished I was relieved that it had stopped. There is about 2.5 hours of down time when it strikes again. It was sudden and startled me. I am glad that I was not driving, that is how much it startled me. It would be nice if they could make it ramp up because the initial few shocks of the second round seemed harsher than the very first. I assume that it was because I was not ready for them. It took me a little bit longer to get used to the shocks on the second go around.
As I am writing this I am between intervals. I have a mild headache and am somewhat nauseated.
As for pain levels, I do not feel there are any changes. I did not expect any after only using this for one day.
I will post again tomorrow after sleeping through this.

Yes, please keep posting; I think this will be of future value to many.

Doc

Ok, it is Friday August 2, 2013, day 2 of my P Stim install.
After my third interval, last night, I went to bed around 10:30 pm. At around 0100 the P Stim did wake me up,when it started, but after a couple of minutes I was able to go back to sleep. I assume it was around 0400 that it shut off because at 0700 it started again. I barely noticed the tingle this morning Weather it was because I was still sleepy or the effects of last nights medications had not wore off, I am not sure. I did wake with extra energy this morning and was able to get some things done around the house.
At around 1 pm it started again. The tingle was as sharp as it was yesterday but after an hour my ear started to become numb to the sting.
I find myself very short tempered, since this thing has been installed, and hope that this dissipates as I acclimate to the device.
As for my pain level...this morning was good but as the day has wore on my pain has increased.

Saturday, August 3, 2013. Third day with P Stim. The device didn't turn on last night until 1100 pm which kept me awake until 1:00 am. Needless To say, I was tired this morning.
I am noticing that I am NOT noticing the tingling as much now. I still notice when it starts but a few minutes after ;I have to think about weather it is working. I notice that it is working because my ear seems to get warm and a bit achy.
My pain levels seem to have lessened. I put this to the test in my shop where I am repairing an old Telechron Clock. I spent two hours standing at my bench and was able to walk away and continue my day. Prior to P Stim, 30 to 40 minutes of standing was all that I could handle and then I would have to head for a chair. After this the rest of my day would be shot.
It is evening now and I am tired from todays activities. I have taken an early pain pill due to increased pain levels and to try to relax for bed. I believe that the P Stim will be OFF by 11:00 pm, which should allow for a better nights sleep.

I hope you all have a good nights sleep.
See you tomorrow.

Sunday August 4, 2013. Fourth and final day, for this cycle, of P Stim.
After yesterday's success, in my shop, we decided to go to a museum and walk around for a while. I did this not only to enjoy the exhibits, Models of DaVinci's machines and devices, but to see if I would now be able to walk, stand and crouch for a long period of time, pain free or at least with less pain. The answere is No. I over did it. Several times I had stabbing pain in my back and by the time we where finished my leg felt like a tooth ache. The P Stim was on and pulsing during this time.
I am having the device removed tomorrow morning which corresponds with my monthly Pain Management visit.
I will discuss with my Doctor what happened over the weekend and whether or not I should continue with the remaining 5 cycles.

I am not sure why Saturday was such a success and Sunday was not. I guess the only way to find out, if Saturday was a fluke, is to go ahead with at least one more cycle.

For me, the P Stim was not miserable to wear but it did take some endurance whether it was the sting, the tingle, the burning sensation or just having something stuck to my ear for 4 days. I will be glad to have it removed.

The next cycle, if I continue, will start 10 days from Monday. I will see, during this time, if anything has changed.

If anyone else is going to try this device, please post and let us all know how it worked for you. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Have a good night.