Nerivio – a new kid on the block

I know I am not alone in saying that I don’t like to take medicines if I don’t have to do so. I try to live healthy, exercise, hydrate. It also doesn’t help that a lot of people don’t get complete relief from most rescue medications. To say there is a dissatisfaction with rescue therapy is an understatement. The idea that a good offense would provide the best defense will likely only lead to more side effects. So, what is one to do? Well, there are several devices on the market that may provide headache relief without oral therapy. One of the newest ones is the Nerivio device by Theranica. This is a remote electrical neuromodulation or REN device that is applied to the upper arm. This sends small electrical impulses to stimulate small nerves in the epidermis in the arm. This input is received by a brainstem pain regulation center that can inhibit pain signals by releasing neurotransmitters. These chemicals can cause significant pain relief which can end the migraine attack. The device starts at a low strength and can be turned up to a target intensity via an app on a smart phone. There is no activity limitation while the device is running either. You can work with it on (I interviewed a patient with it running) or a young patient can even go to school with it on. It can be worn under a shirt sleeve so it is not noticeable either. The treatment takes 45 minutes and there are no side effects. The treatment feels like a tingling but is not painful. It does require a prescription but is easy to use and can be a nice alternative to traditional medical therapies