Oska Pulse Review: Is PEMF pain technology for you?
Disclosure: this blog contains affiliate links and I will receive commission if you decide to purchase from Oska, Inc. using this link. I was provided with a free product in return for my review.
For the past 2 years, I have been reviewing various products I have been trying for pain. This is because I live with chronic pain from a neurological disorder called dystonia, which I have had since 2001. I also know many others who experience pain from various causes, so I want to let people know what is available that might help. The latest device I have been using is called Oska Pulse, made by Oska Wellness. Oska Pulse is a non-invasive pulsed electromagnetic therapy device (PEMF) intended for relief or reduction of pain, including back, shoulder, neck, knee, muscle, and joint. It is a drug-free therapy, providing an alternative to pain medication.
After learning more about the technology and hearing positive results from others, I was very excited to try Oska Pulse. What also impressed me is that the device was FDA approved in only 2 weeks, which is unheard of, and it won the 2017 TechCo Startup of the Year Competition. Rather impressive to say the least.
I have been given this product as part of a product review through the Chronic Illness Bloggers network. Although the product was a gift, all opinions in this review remain my own and I was in no way influenced by the company.
What is PEMF Therapy?
Science teaches us that everything is energy and all energy is electromagnetic in nature. All atoms, chemicals, and cells produce electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Every organ in the body produces it own signature bioelectromagnetic field and all cells in the body communicate via electromagnetic frequencies. Nothing happens in the body without an electromagnetic exchange. In other words, electromagnetic energy controls the chemistry in the body. This in turn controls tissue function. Disruption of electromagnetic energy in cells causes impaired cell metabolism, whatever the initial cause. This happens anywhere in the disease process. PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) devices are designed to address impaired body chemistry and thus, the health and function of cells. (Source: http://www.matrixrepatterning.com/pulse-electromagnetic)
What is Oska Pulse?
Oska Pulse is a small, portable PEMF device (about the size of a computer mouse) designed to break the cycle of inflammation, reduce pain and muscle stiffness, increase mobility, promote joint and muscle recovery, and release the body’s natural endorphins.. The Oska Pulse is calibrated for 4 specific frequencies related to bone repair, cartilage repair, increased blood flow, and pain reduction.
PEMF devices are different than TENS units. A TENS unit floods nerve paths to block pain, but when it is turned off, the pain often returns. PEMF technology is different in that it is designed to target inflammation at the cellular level for healing and long-term pain relief. The company refers to it as “massaging the cells” by increasing nutrients in and increasing waste out. Also different from a TENS unit, you won’t feel any pulsing or tingling with the Oska Pulse. Optimized PEMF is intended for you to feel nothing, although some people notice a slight warming of the afflicted area due to increased blood flow. I never feel anything when I use it.
Why did I want to try Oska Pulse?
I experience chronic pain from dystonia (primarily on the right side of my neck and back), as well as shoulder pain from years of playing baseball and racket sports. I also have bad tendinitis in my elbow that started about 2 years ago after an injury from a bike fall. The cool thing about Oska Pulse is that I can treat all of these areas at the same time. It has a 20-inch treatment diameter (8-10 inch magnetic field in all directions; about the size of a beach ball). So, when I use it, I strap it to my upper right arm. Because of its treatment area of 8-10 inches in either direction, I can reach my elbow tendinitis, shoulder pain, and the neck and back pain from dystonia.
This is the very convenient feature of Oska Pulse. It does not need to be touching your skin (or touching you at all) or go exactly on the area that’s hurting. For example, you can sit or lie down and have it near your areas of pain. This is because of the 20-inch diameter treatment field. You can also put it in your pocket or use the strap that comes with it to attach it to various body parts.
How to use the Oska Pulse?
Oska Pulse is simple to use. You just click the power button and it runs for 90 minutes. It will beep once when you turn it on and flash a light blue color. When it goes off, it will beep 3 times and the light will turn off. You can take a break from using it or keep turning it on after it completes a cycle. This is what I do. Whenever I use it, I turn it back on as soon as it goes off, so I am getting constant treatment. That is, treatment for as long as I want to get on a particular day, which is often several hours in a row. The Oska Wellness website provides recommendations for usage, but you can of course use it as you see fit. I used it a lot at first and not too much at all anymore. However, this doesn’t mean I am free of pain. I still need to use it. I am just noticing longer periods of time without as much pain and times with no pain at all. As you will see in the links at the bottom of this review, I have used this device for several other health issues with success.
Some people get immediate relief, but for some, particularly those with chronic pain, you may need to be a bit more patient. I didn’t really notice significant change until after a few weeks of daily use (about 4-6 sessions a day). What’s interesting is that I went from having to use it every day for several hours to now only a couple times a week for a few sessions. The tendinitis in my elbow always comes and goes, but for the first time in a year, it is consistently better. To give you an idea of the pain I experienced, there were times I was not able to shake someone’s hand, fully extend my arm, or make a fist. This has all greatly improved. My neck, shoulder, and back pain are also better, which I have had for over 20 years. On occasion in the beginning, I felt a little more pain when using it, but this is not uncommon as the body is being cleansed of any toxins built up in certain areas. Some people may not respond well to this form or therapy, no different than any other therapy. We are all very unique so please keep this in mind if you try it.
I am still playing with it to see how it can be more effective, but I can say with confidence that it has helped. I can’t say that you will experience the same, as we all respond to things differently. It may not help or it may help much more than it does me. The great thing about it is that they offer a full 30-day money back guarantee if you don’t like it.
Speaking of money, it is not on the cheap end compared with other personal use items for pain. Oska Pulse retails for $459, but if you contact me, I can give you a code that I set up with the company that will take $55 off that price. Again, speaking of price, this may seem expensive to some and not to others, but the way I look at cost when it comes to pain that interferes with my life, if it helps and I can be more functional, it is worth it. Especially if it reduces or eliminates the need/cost of other treatments/therapies, which this device is intended. Plus, there is no risk to try it thanks to the 30-day money back guarantee. For me, I have spent so much money on things over the years that didn’t help or only helped a little, so something like this which helps quite a bit makes the price quite reasonable to me. You can’t really put a price on pain relief and to try it for free, why not. It is not covered by insurance, but can be purchased using the FSA and HSA stores. Payment plans are available and you get a complimentary 1-year warranty and extendable to 2-years if you register your device.
Who should not use Oska Pulse?
It is recommended that people with a pacemaker or defibrillator, DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) pulse generator, cochlear implants, intrathecal pumps, etc., as well as those who are pregnant or nursing, and those being treated for cancer, should consult their physician before using Oska Pulse. Please also consult the company (Oska Wellness) for any other contraindications. This other website is also a good resource for information about PEMF technology contraindications. To learn more about the use of PEMF technology, the Oska Wellness website provides links in their FAQ section to dozens of clinical studies on the efficacy of this technology. Please also visit their Facebook page.
(10/14/2018) Please click here for an update on my experience using Oska Pulse where I share other symptoms for which it has been helpful.
(12/8/2019) Please click here for an update about my father’s experience using Oska Pulse to help him with a back/hip injury.
(4/19/2020) Please click here for an update about my experience using Oska Pulse to help me with a pre-cancerous skin lesion.
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Tom Seaman is a Certified Professional Life Coach in the area of health and wellness, and the author of 2 books: Diagnosis Dystonia: Navigating the Journey (2015) and Beyond Pain and Suffering: Adapting to Adversity and Life Challenges (2021). He is also a motivational speaker, chronic pain and dystonia awareness advocate, health blogger, volunteer for the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (DMRF) as a support group leader, and is a member and writer for Chronic Illness Bloggers Network, The Mighty, Patient Worthy, and The Wellness Universe. To learn more about Tom, get a copy of his books (also on Amazon), or schedule a free life coaching consult, visit www.tomseamancoaching.com. Follow him on Twitter @Dystoniabook1 and Instagram.
Is the Oska something I could try for Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Hi Anita- Yes, the Oska device could very well be of help for Trigeminal Neuralgia. If you have specific questions about others who have used it for Trigeminal Neuralgia, please contact the company directly to see if they can provide testimonials and reasearh on Oska and Trigeminal Neuralgia. If you decide to get it, please let me know your experience with it. Thanks!
Hi I have a programmable VP Shunt in by brain for hydroceophalus
Is it safe for me to use?
My guess would be no, but to be sure, please check with the company.
Hi…..You said you had more pain in the beginning….how long did the increased pain last and did it subside it you took the machine off? I just ordered one and want to know what to expect and not send it back too soon.
Hi Ellen- The increased pain I had was mild when I first began using it and it lasted only when I was wearing it. It was gone after taking it off. It may have had nothing to do with the device itself, but instead that it was wrapped around my arm. My hunch is that it was a combination of both, especially since the pain (in my elbow in particular) was so bad. Increased pain from using it is not what everyone will experience so it may not be the case for you. I am happy to say that I haven’t had to wear it for over 2-3 weeks since the elbow pain is pretty much totally gone. I don’t even think about it much anymore. I would give it the full 30 days to see how it helps before sending it back. Everyone’s experience is different and since they have the 30 day fully money back guarantee, I would use up all those days to try it out. Good luck with it and please let me know how it goes.
Thank you for that info. One more question…I have a magnetic mattress cover /pad on my bed. Can I still use the Oska in bed?
and..
Can you still get the money back guarantee if you buy it somewhere other than the oskawellness website?
Ellen,
I am not sure if you can use it if you have a magnetic mattress of if you qualify for the money back guarantee if not purchased from their website. I would contact the company directly about that. Here is the direct link to their contact form. https://www.oskawellness.com/pages/contact-us I’m sorry I can’t be of more help with these two questions
Tom can you tell me if the Oska is cover by insurance. I could us something like that for my neck, but also my back as I have had four back surgery and arthritis has set in.
Hi Sally,
Oska is not covered by insurance to my knowledge (please check with your insurance company/doctor to confirm) but it is available in the FSa/HSA store. Here is an article that describe it in more detail: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oska-pulse-wearable-pain-relief-device-now-available-at-fsastorecom-and-hsastorecom-300547245.html
I have used OSKA for chronic back pain- can not tell if because lying down or if device is effective. I have chronic neck pain from dystonia, but OSKA does not conform to that area- unfortunately- even if plac ed on nearby shoulder, the pain relief circumstance does not seem to apply. Thanks for your review and all your help for dystonia challenges. I purchased and read your book also.
Hi Dot,
Great to hear from you and thanks for sharing your experience with Oska. I agree that it does not conform well to the neck area. I sometimes wrap it around the upper back of my desk chair when doing work, lay it beside me when laying down and put it on my shoulder. I’m sorry to hear that you have not been able to get any results from it on or in the proximity of pain. For how long have you been using it?