Ok, so I've got shingles, had them since I was 13 or so. I've finally reached the point that professional "pain managment" is called for.

A guy I work with wears a "magnetic bracelet" which he swears by.

A brick-layer friend wears a "magnetic belt" when he sleeps for back pain - says it works.

So...off to Wal-Mart I went and plunked down $4.95 for a "magnetic bracelet", a pretty little wisp of gold-colored metal with magnets that face towards my wrist.

Been wearing it 24/7 for about 2 weeks and have decreased my Nupin intake from 6 per day (2 w/breakfast, 2 w/lunch, 2 w/dinner), down to 2 per day.

I "think" it works.

Anybody have any personal opinions? Anybody use one? If so, what do you think - do they work? Or is this miraculous healing all in my head?

I don't like prescription drugs, so please don't recommend that I "see my doctor for appropriate pain management meds"...I ain't gonna do it.

I know a guy at work that wears a magnetic bracelet. He calls in sick and gets injured more than anybody I know. Who knows, maybe if he didn't wear it, he'd be dead.

Seriously though, if it works, even if it's a placebo effect, go for it.

One word "gimick" I don`t think they work. I tired it for awhile for back pain.. Didn`t work for me.

I know a guy who smokes a "magic cigarette" usually after lunch and whenever I talk to him he always says "feelin fine".

seriously, If you feel better than yes its working. Although I'd stay away from anything like a magnetic vest or magnetic pants.They have got to be hard to accessorize with

hmmmm, "magic cigarette", might have to try that...AGAIN!!!

It seems to work for him. at least he never looks like he's in pain......come to think of it he's always smiling

Thats because he has braces on his teeth. The magnet draws his mouth back.

Very nice laughing at an injured person.

Let's see that's laughing at the injured and mocking the disabled. You indeed are a class act sir.

What else would you expect from him?

Or he could just continue to yell at Posters who have no respect.

I agree here with Mcgee it didn't help me in the least. It seemed to make things worse then again I didn't take any drug's while having the belt on. The drug's was better then a magic ciggerate SamyO. YYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH Who's your daddy ?????????? that was some good stuff they gave me.

I recall reading the results of a major double-blind study that was done recently that pretty much debunked the claims of "magnetic therapy". If you Google "magnetic therapy" and "double-blind" (leaving the quotes in) you'll get plenty of results. Here's the first few:
Magnetic Therapy: Plausible Attraction?
Magnet Therapy: A Skeptical View
Skeptics Dictionary Magnetic Therapy
(Don't read 'em if you want to believe)

Thanks for your opinions, one and all.

The "Power of Suggestion" is an amazing thing.

I told my mother and she hobbled out and bought one.

I talked to her the other day and she said she didn't feel anything when she put it on, but when she took it off to bathe, her "whole body tingled". She thinks it "must be doing something". She put it back on and she LOVES it!

Hahahaha!

She suffers terribly from arthritis, does her grocery shopping in two trips because it's too much to do the whole store at one time.

Damn bracelet made her feel "so good" that she taught herself to ride one of those little electric carts and spent THREE HOURS driving around inside Wal-Mart.

"Placebo" or not, anything that gets Mom out and about is a good thing.

PS - my back REALLY does feel better, and I haven't even smoked the "magic cigarette"...yet.

As long as it makes someone feel better it works!

Almost 100% sure it's nothing but placebo effect. But I'd take placebo effect over prescription drugs any day. As long as they don't try to convince you to buy bigger, more expensive magnets over time, what harm is there in it?

If it's helping then I would just accept it and try not to look into it too deeply. All of the studies says it's useless - but you don't need to know that - especially not if you're feeling bettter.

Too funny! My father just got Magnets to improve the taste of the wine from his vineyard for his birthday from a friend. We cracked up! BTW--we forgot to use it on the wine we opened the next night...

It seems harmless enough but I'd say it is all placebo. Congrats on your Mom. Just don't let her substitute magnets for "real" meds she might need.

sometimes on super bad days... why i feel like i'm going to drop... i lean up against the fridge for a hot second before i open it. usually face first. i got lotsa magnets. that's as close as i get to magnetic therapy.

sorry - couldn't resist... <3