Tell us about your symptoms and treatment experience. Take our survey here.

caret icon Back to all discussions

Major relief using EAD Electro Auricular Device

have tried every treatment for my migraines since they began forty years ago. Two years ago my migraines began worsening significantly. I started becoming allergic to all my medications, almost all food, and many more odors than imaginable. My doctors couldn't figure out why this was happening so they sent me to Mayo Clinic. They immediately tested and discovered I had a B12 level of 7000 and cobalt level of 37. I was told this was the highest they'd ever seen. Unfortunately, my doctor that had added B12 to IVs, IMs, and sublingual supplements never tested my B12 level. I was left with severe allergies and peripheral nerve damage that managed to manifest itself all over my head. Now allergic to all pain killers and migraine medications, Botox,etc., my pain doctor was limited to occasional nerve blocks and daily hyperbaric oxygen therapy, both helped, but were temporary relief. My pain doctor then found a new treatment approved in 2014 by the FDA that is based on stimulating the nerves in your ear to retrain your own endorphines to stop pain, especially head pain. Every 5 days I had a new device with four leads slightly pierced around one ear lobe and attached to a battery pack behind my ear. I used 6 devices and it has been over a month feeling good. I've been told people get great relief with 1 to 6 devices. My headache pain went from 7-9 down to 1-3 with this pain lasting up 12 hours 2 or 3 times a week which is hardly even noticeable. My symptoms like light and sound sensitivity are barely noticeable also during those few hours. I'm told for some it's permanent and others need another round of devices in 6 months to a year. Has anyone else used this device? I called the company directly because it's so new my doc didn't have enough information. If you or your doctor are interested the website is www.I-H-S.com. My husband and I talked to them directly also for information with great results. I hope this helps my fellow migraine suffers and more people that have used this will speak up with their experience.

  1. Hi pixieq,

    Thank you for sharing that information with us. I'm not familiar with that site, or products.

    I can tell you if you've not see a "true" migraine expert, you may want to. Here's the thing -neurologists may be fine doctors but have hard time being experts in one area because they treat so many different conditions like multiple sclerosis, stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson's and others. Migraine/headache disorder specialists are just that, experts in one area - migraine and headache disorders. They are also board certified in headache medicine, which is different than being certified in neurology. Something to keep in mind is that all neurologists are NOT migraine/headache disorder specialists even though they may claim to be, and all migraine/headache disorder specialists are not neurologists. Does that make sense? Let me give you information on how migraine specialists are different; http://migraine.com/blog/how-are-migraine-specialists-different/ and how to find one;Neurologists may be fine doctors but have difficult time being experts in one area. This is because they treat so many different conditions like multiple sclerosis, stroke, epilepsy and others. Migraine/headache disorder specialists are just that, experts in one area - migraine and headache - and are board certification in headache medicine whereas all neurologists are not. It's also important to note that all neurologists are NOT migraine/headache disorder specialists even though they may claim to be and all migraine/headache disorder specialists are not neurologists
    Let me give you some information on how migraine specialists are different; http://migraine.com/blog/how-are-migraine-specialists-different/. To help you find a migraine specialist, take a look at this link; https://migraine.com/blog/looking-for-a-migraine-specialist/.

    Keep us posted on how you are doing,
    Nancy

    1. Hi Nancy,

      Thanks for your concern. I have had a Migraine Disorder Specialist for 19 years since I moved back to my home state. I had a Migraine Specialist before this for many years while living in Arizona from Barrows Neurological Institute. I was very blessed to find such caring doctors. In the 70's and early 80's I was in the care of regular Neurologists and they really didn't specialize and a few I tried didn't seem to care or have much knowledge about our disorder. Over the years I spent much time researching doctors because no two doctors are in agreement about course of care. My regular Migraine Specialist has agreed with my most recent treatments because I became allergic to all my medications after Cobalt poisoning that had nothing to do with his care. I received the massive amounts of B12/Cobalt from a doctor treating me for allergies and adding his own supplements. Ironically, the same doctor treating my allergies was unknowingly destroying my system. This is why I was sent to a Pain Specialist and soon we realized my body could only handle the occasional nerve block and HBOT. Nerve stimulators were my other option, but my insurance turned down the Occipital Stimulator. Then four months ago my doctor found out about the EAD stimulator which although not covered by my insurance company it is was very reasonably priced especially for someone like me who had run out of options and was in extreme pain. This simple stimulator that's based on accupuncture points in your ear that when stimulated together release your own endorphines to stop pain. It has been an absolute miracle for me and I wanted to let others know it could work for them. This neuro-stim system was first trialed on and is now used by the military, veterans, wounded warriors.org, and a children's hospital. I am hoping more migraine/headache suffers have tried this, but I know it is a new stimulator. I will update on how I'm doing over time.

      Thanks again for caring,
      Pixieq

      Please read our rules before posting.