Magnetic back support

Hi - my mother who is 90 has a PM that she's had for the last two years.
Four weeks ago she developed excruciating back pain. She's on all sort of meds but little is helping.
I would love to get her a magnetic back support as anything is worth a try.
Having had a flick through previous messages it appears that the warning over magnets are overdone and to cover manufacturers of magnetic products.
Obviously the magnets would be on her lumbar region - not near the site of the PM.
Any help on this would be much appreciated as I'm desperate to get her some help.

4 Comments

Why risk it ?

by IAN MC - 2013-03-26 06:03:22

I am sorry to hear about your mother's back and I can understand you wanting to try " anything " . But why even consider trying something where :-

i) There is no scientific evidence that it works and

ii) There is the possibility that it could affect the settings on her PM

I'm sure that not everyone will agree with me but I believe that the main benefit of magnetic devices is for the bank balances of the marketeers who peddle them. ...... but , on the other hand,people who bought snake oil swore blind that it helped them. The 'placebo effect' is very powerful !

Have you considered physiotherapy ? Has a good orthopaedic surgeon looked at your mother's back ?

Best of luck and I hope you find a safer solution

Ian

I'm with Ian!

by Many Blessings - 2013-03-26 09:03:48

Hi Kayjo,

I know you are going to get a ton of answers here regarding your question. Some will say give it a try, others will say why risk it. I'm with Ian. Why risk it.

I know they say it depends on how strong the magnets are, how close to the PM you have them, etc., but for me, once your settings are set right, I wouldn't take the chance, just in case.

I am however, a big believer in alternative medicine, including magnet therapy (acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, creams, lotions, supplements, etc.). There are so many other things out there that your mother can try before resorting to surgery (if that's what you're trying to avoid.) It that doesn't work or your not opposed to surgery, it might be good to look into that. But, if were me, I'd Google "Alternative remedies for back pain" before I went for surgery. Again, that's just me.

Best of luck with your decision.

not on the torso

by Tracey_E - 2013-03-26 09:03:48

I'd avoid it, that's just me. I'm usually the first to say go for it and see what happens, but magnets within 6-10" of the pm are not a good idea. Yes, warnings are usually overdone but that's the itty bitty ones you find in cell phones, laptops and earbuds, not a larger one you'd find in the support.

Has she been to a good chiropractor? They don't work for everyone but mine got me pain free after a head on car accident when the orthopedist and neurologist were talking pain management. Massage therapy? Accupressure/puncture? There are a lot of alternatives other than magnets and medication.

Magnets are really a ...

by donr - 2013-03-26 11:03:12

...crap shoot.

I generally tell folks to try it & see. MOF, just this past weekend I took a magnet held name tag & stuck it on my chest just over my PM to see what would happen. Nothing, nada, zilch, bupkis. Now this name tag had a pair of supermagnets on it & I left the keeper bar attached, but still zero effect on my PM. Generally, the keeper bar diverts the magnetic flux into the interior of the bar & away from the outside world. This one did not. It still allowed the magnets to attract iron/steel.

BUT... I still would NOT use such a device as you are talking about. You have no idea of the strength of the magnets, their configuration, etc, etc, etc!

Just wanted to add another vote supporting Tracey & Ian & Many Blessings.

Don

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