The Pons Device - A Hands on Review

I tried to to keep this non technical and as simple as I could. Hopefully I succeeded. I already previously wrote a blog post about the Pons device. However, now that I actually have one, I thought I would give you my review. Pons stands for portable neuromodulation stimulator.

Basically, it is a mouthpiece which I insert into my mouth. The mouthpiece sends electrical impulses through my tongue, with the overall goal of resetting my vestibular system (the system in your body that helps you balance yourself, that is to say, your eyes, inner ears and brain).

I then exercise and do balance exercises for 100 minutes daily, broken up into five twenty minute sessions. This is while using the mouthpiece. I will do the daily exercises, six days a week for fourteen total weeks with the mouthpiece. I will need to commit to doing balance, stability and mobility exercises, daily for six days a week for fourteen weeks without missing any days. This won't be easy but if it can restore my mobility then it will be absolutely worth it. 

In theory, after fourteen weeks of using the mouthpiece, I will have tricked my body and mind into believing that I am using the mouthpiece, when in actuality I am not. Theoretically, I will be able to walk totally unassisted for the first time in six years. I am excited about the possibility of walking again before I turn 42. Eliminating my limited mobility will be eliminating one of my biggest hurdles in returning to normal life. This will be a game changer not only for me, but for everyone else around me.

I am not able to start and stop my treatment. I will have to continue working out vigorously for six days a week for the fourteen weeks in order to give this a chance of working. It was not cheap to buy, and it was not covered by insurance. So, I don't want to waste my parents money. I have one shot at this. It won't be easy. Nothing truly worth it ever is. However, I am hopeful.

I will need to do balance and stability exercises for a total of 100 minutes daily (broken down into five, twenty minute sessions with rest breaks in between). I will need to exercise for six days a week (taking only Sunday off for a rest day). I think that I will continue keeping this workout schedule for the rest of my life, regardless if the pons device works for me or not. However, full disclosure, I usually do a full workout Monday to Friday and I reserve Saturday for my "light" day. I usually only do twenty minutes on the treadmill and 33 minutes on the elliptical machine. 

I have used Google Gemini (Google's AI chatbot) to design an alarm schedule for which will run Monday to Saturday, it will go from 8am to 7pm. It let's me know when to set my phone alarm to go off for my reminder to exercise with the pons device for twenty minutes daily, five times a day. This is meant to give me the best chance of walking unassisted again. I will of course be reviewing my alarm schedule in person with the trainers and technicians who help me to set it up. I will make any changes which they may deem necessary. 

I will be going for in person training and setup of the pons device. I am hopeful that I can learn everything I need to know, before I leave Texas. I want to give myself the best chance of success when I get back home to Pamplona Spain and actually start using it. I know that using this device, exactly as directed, is my best chance at regaining my mobility (which is currently one of my biggest hurdles). The only thing that will prevent me from exercising 100 minutes daily, six days a week, would be if I literally physically cannot. Other than that, I will do the full treatment program for fourteen weeks. 

There is no guarantee that it will actually work. The Pons device manufacturer claims that the pons device is helpful for mild to moderate limited mobility. I would consider my mobility limitations severe. So, I am trying not to get my hopes up and expect miracles. However, if it improves my mobility even by only ten percent, then it will have been worth the money and hard work that I am going to have to do. 

Edit: I wrote all of the text above, prior to actually getting the pons device (Portable neuromodulation stimulator device). Now that I actually have used it, I will give you my review. 

Firstly, I should mention that I found out that I am the first person in the entire state of Texas to get and use a pons device. The company that sold us the unit has made a YouTube video of me using it. So, I am now semi famous. 

Now onto my review. The pons device is supposed to restore your vestibular system, balance, mobility and stability. This is the hope anyway. I am trying not to get my hopes up yet. However, even a ten percent increase in my balance, stability and mobility will be worth it. Using the device is not painful. It feels like drinking Sprite or carbonated water, as it sends electric pulses through my tongue and to my vestibular system. 

As I previously mentioned, you must exercise for 100 minutes daily, six days a week, broken down into twenty minute training sessions. All of this exercise is done using the mouthpiece. You can take Sunday off as a rest day. You must concentrate on relearning the skills that your body uses to balance yourself. Examples would include, but are not limited to: heel to toe exercises, sit to stand drills, stepping over obstacles, shifting your weight correctly, walking backwards, closing your eyes and touching your nose, standing stationary with your feet close together and walking on the treadmill, among other things.

My course of treatment is set to last for 14 weeks, 100 minutes daily, six days a week. You can take breaks between exercise sessions (in fact you are encouraged to). You can also pause in the middle of a training session for up to two minutes (anymore than that and you will need to restart your training session). After fourteen weeks of training with the pons device, you then do the exercises like normal except that you don't have the pons device in your mouth. However, after fourteen weeks of using it, six days a week, you have now tricked your body into believing that you have the mouthpiece in your mouth when in reality, you don't. 

The only negative side effects that I have noticed so far are: You cannot talk with the mouthpiece in your mouth and holding the mouthpiece in your mouth for an extended period of time, does make your jaw tired. Additionally, holding the mouthpiece in your mouth does create a lot of saliva. My tongue also continues to vibrate for a while after using the device. However, all of these things are minor and very bearable. It will absolutely be worth the time,effort and expense if this restores my ability to walk normally again. 

This is going to be a demanding fourteen weeks. However, I am aware that this might be my only chance to get this right and hopefully restore my mobility. If this actually works as they are claiming, it will be pretty miraculous to not have limited mobility after six long, hard years. Limited mobility is currently one of my biggest hurdles in my quest to return to normal life. If I can beat this, it will make life so much easier for me and everyone else around me. 

Til next time, Tyler