The Fisher Wallace Stimulator is basically an electroshock device. It has not been approved by the FDA under current standards. It has received 'grandfather' approval based on similar devices that predate FDA approval requirements.

I take exception to companies that hide behind this FDA loophole. They make fabulous claims but have never submitted their clinical trials for proper FDA approval.

I am not saying it does not work. That is a questionable issue.

There are many medical devices like this that are cleared because they claim the device creates no health risk.

The price 'starts at $595' with no information as to what it actually costs. The refund program is questionable. The buyer gets stuck with about $100 or more not refunded.

So, as the saying goes caveat emptor, buyer beware.

This type of device can be helpful with pain conditions. The other issues are questionable.

I bought a similar device years ago and had no luck with it but that's just me. I bought it for pain.

I'm back from my week at the Carrick Brain Center, and wanted to share my experience with a few caveats:
1) my injury is unique to me as is my potential recovery
2) i was in no way incentivized to post or prohibited from posting
3) my experience is only that -- one person's.

Overall, I was highly impressed with the amount of testing that took place on day 1; although I found it pretty exhausting. They use all of the latest equipment in testing from VNGs, Dynavision2, saccadometers, IMPACT, etc. I would say that I had more comprehensive testing done in the first day than I've had in all of my other visits combined over nearly 3 years.
They also did the most comprehensive physical examination that I've encountered.

After Day 1, I returned to the clinic 3 times per day for intensive treatment which consisted of a variety of exercises to address my particular issues with vision, balance, fog, etc. The treatments were roughly 60-70 minutes per session and always concluded with a session in the gyrostim which had a profound effect on me personally which was demonstrated by a pre and post VNG for each gyro session.

They re-tested me constantly, made minor adjustments to treatment as they would see improvements. I was there for a total of 5 days; and felt the fog lifting by day 3. Day 4, I was crashing from all of the stimulation; however I didn't have the symptoms as much as the exhaustion. They reassured me this was typical and by the last day I felt much better.

Overall, they were very professional and also very realistic in not promising any spectacular results in just one week. They essentially re-built my neurological foundation (again unique to me) and sent me home with exercises to reinforce/strengthen these connections/improvements. The exercises are to be done 2-3 times per day and take me about 10-15 minutes to complete per session.

Personally, this really did have a major impact on my condition; and I do wish that i had found them sooner despite the price; and the difficult side effects of my returning flight (laid up for 2 days).

I hope this is of some use; and I'm trying to provide some info without getting too specific since we all have different injuries and have different needs. I can tell you that they showed us objective data pre and post which demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in my gaze, tracking, and balance. This was all witnessed by my fiancé, who is a skeptical physicians turned believer.

I will keep up with these exercises as prescribed and let you know the outcome. The other interesting and very gratifying part for me is that my neuralgias, which are debilitating, were at about a 2 of 10 compared to the usual 9 of 10. I attributed this to some of the chiropractic adjustments that I received along with the overall therapy.

IMO - they've combined what medicine should be: integrated, multi-disciplinary approach that is customized to the individual. Unfortunately, insurance companies prevent that type of model since it would be a big loss hence the large cash price tag for such care.

Again, i hope this is useful information & I wish hockey mom the best down there. I hope your experience is similar to mine.

Hope you're all having a better day.

thank you very much for that update. i was thinking about you. we leave sunday and start treatment monday. i am keeping expectations low as i think disappointment would be difficult. i am concerned that the flight may set him back. he said last week was better than this week which has me so upset as i was starting to feel some hope.

are you feeling better today after the flight has worn off, then before you left? i am still wondering the long term effectiveness.

do you have headaches? is that neuralgias? sorry not familiar with that term

i definitely feel much better now than before I left. Yes, I have horrific headaches and did have them after the return flight for nearly 2 days. I've been diagnosed with occipital neuralgia (headaches generated from the nerve at the base of the skull) along with traditional migraines. everything quieted down after 2 days and i'm highly encouraged after being very skeptical about going down there.
Get as much rest as possible between the sessions. I slept more (and better) down there than I have in several months.

I wish you a safe and productive trip; and hope that he's free of any headaches or complications while there and beyond.....

thank you so much. i am so glad you are feeling better. do you have any headache free days now or is it always there?

i am so hoping this helps him as resting has been brutal and boring and depressing for him. this along with the fact that the resting does not seem to make any difference. he still has the constant low grade headache that randomly explodes into a full out migraine apprx three times a week.

this is our first experience with concussion and this injury has been by far the most brutal. he had his appendix out in march and says he would take day after day of appendicitis over this.

as a parent i am so sad for him. he is missing his youth. no school dances, parties, movies, xbox, sporting events....he went from a fun busy active life to this

i'm so sorry to hear of what you and your son are enduring. personally, i've struggled with headaches. i have been headache free the past few days but it's really early to make any type of correlation for me; and it would be unfair of me to give you any false hope.

The folks there are very sensitive to headaches and do focus on minimizing them. I hope they have a treatment that is effective for your son's headaches. Resting is not fun for any of us, but I can't imagine for an active kid.

Please let me know how you make out.

it must be so nice for you to be headache free for a few days. i hope it lasts forever for you.

don't worry about offering false hope. i am very aware that everyone is different.

it is just nice to talk to someone who had a positive experience.

my son is very negative on going. he is embarrassed to tell his friends and his concussion dr here said carrick brain center can't help it is only rest and time. after hearing that he did not want to go. i showed him some testimonials and he is onboard again.

at this point he is seeing rest is not making a difference and wants to try something different.

i explained that these drs deal with this day after day and they might offer him at least some different options.

right now he is not even watching sports on tv or tv at all and not even attending some school games. he is basically scared to do anything that will prolong this injury.

is there anything you can tell me about the gyrostim treatment?

also are you on any meds? what do you take for migraines? did carrick doctors take you off meds? my son takes advil when he has a bad headache otherwise no meds

hockeymom,

"he is embarrassed to tell his friends"

What is he embarrassed about ? Does he think his concussion makes him less of a person ?