TENDLITE® Red & Infrared LED Light Therapy with DeepPower™ by Shine®

I bought this because this kind of light therapy was recommended on a dental website that was talking about dental implants where they drill the anchor screw into bone. Nerve damage can happen with dental implants. I had a traumatic extraction that left me with significant nerve damage. Nerves take a long long time to heal and psychologically it can be a rough journey. Since this kind of red-light therapy was recommended, I figured it was worth a try. I have been using it now three times a day for five days now. As far as pain goes, I don't use it for that reason, but I did notice that it reduced some of the bone pain that comes and goes. It doesn't work as well as medication and it doesn't last as long, but it definitely did help. I should also say that I used it for just two 1-minute cycles and the pain relief was just some relief for about an hour. Even the instructions state that it may take up to 3 weeks of regular treatment to notice a difference, and judgment should be withheld until after 3 weeks of use. I haven't had it that long, so I can't comment on the truthfulness of that statement. I also have significant arthritis in a finger that was made worse after trigger finger release surgery. I also plan on using it for this finger, but I have not done so yet. My dental issue far outweighs my finger right now. I should also mention that this was the only unit that had the light power that was recommended on the website for dental issues. I will have to do an update after I have been using it for at least the recommended 3 weeks. I can also say that when I use this unit, my nerves will slightly tingle, so I want to believe that there is benefit to using this. I'm dealing with a significant amount of numbness and feeling that tingling builds my confidence that the feeling in my lip and chin will return. So far, I am happy with this product. I would not purchase this for wrinkles and beauty benefits because the instructions state that it will not help for that. I suppose you could try it since I have seen so many YouTube videos about how it works for youthful appearing skin. I have my doubts, but I'm not using it for that anyway. I hope that when my nerve injury is healed, I will still be able to get my money's worth in using it for arthritis. UPDATE: It is now April 5th and I have been using Tendlite for 18 days, 2-3 times a day for 3 minutes each session. The first week I did not notice any change, but again, even the instructions state to wait until after using for 3 weeks before making any judgment. Today, I can say that the feeling is about 90% returned in my chin and 80% returned in my lower lip. I still have some numbness in my lower lip. The healthy tingling I used to get is still there in my lip but I'm getting more and more paresthesia (nerve pain) as the nerve heals, which my dentist says is normal and will resolve over time. The greatest pain is during and just after eating, but once I finish, the pain gradually subsides. I can press my lips together and get full sensation. In summary, for the first 3 weeks 2 days before using Tendlite, there was no change at all in the 100% numbness that I had from a traumatic dental extraction. After using Tendlite for 18 days, I am well on my well to healing with near full sensation back. The big issue now seems to be the relationship between the nerve and muscle movement. I will continue to use Tendlite because I firmly believe that it has helped with nerve damage. As I stated before, I got the recommendation from a very medical dental website that recommended near infrared light therapy with at least 660 nm light that Tendlite has. I was not able to do a comparison on another nerve because I only had damage on one side. But I am convinced that once I started using the red light, improvement came much faster than it probably would have. Considering that it usually takes several months to recover from nerve damage, I think I am ahead of the process with the help of Tendlite. I'm not a doctor or a dentist, I just know what I feel. I have used the unit after eating when the nerve was its most irritated and it did feel pretty good. That too helps me feel I'm better with it than without it.

Below you will find my original review from 2018. I have used that device steadily for four years, with an additional purchase of the specific batteries required two years down the road. Now I have decided that in spite of the fact that my old Tendlite is working away nicely, I am going to be proactive and now have another one in case the older one gives out due to the constant use it receives! These are WONDERFUL! They far exceed the results that my chums' other brands of red light pain reducers are able to achieve. THIS IS AN AMAZING DEVICE! My only caveat is that you must use their proprietary batteries if you need replacement batteries over the years...I ordered mine without any trouble from the company. Here's my original review: Bought this because of how much relief red light therapy gave my late ancient Jack Russell terrier who suffered terribly with arthritis until our vet started her on this kind of therapy. We had two and a half happy years that we would not have been able to enjoy together, all due to this kind of therapy. She lived to the ripe old age of 17 and a half, even with assorted health issues. The arthritis was managed beautifully by regular red light treatments, and was not a negative factor in those last years. This is not exactly the same kind of device, but it is the same kind of therapy. I now suffer from arthritis in my knees and from a Morton's Neuroma in one foot. I stumbled upon the Tendlite device during a browsing session on Amazon (so much easier on the knees to "browse" an on-line store rather than walk all around the town), and gave this a try. Based upon my dog's results, I had pretty high expectations for this, and I have been absolutely delighted with the results I have had so far. I have carefully read and followed the directions, and selected the three treatment cycles (one minute each), three-per-day treatment plan for my knees, which is the most intense. After about a month, I have had excellent results! Don't get me wrong...this is NOT going to cure my arthritis. What it does is significantly reduce the inflammation in and around the joint, which reduces the pain and stiffness. This allows me to exercise more, to use my knees better, to walk better...in short, it is a game-changer for me. In fact, I have had so much help from this device that I now use it on the ball of my foot that has the neuroma, and to a lesser degree on the top of that foot, directly over where the neuroma is located. I treat these two areas only one time each per day. [The device times out after one minute, so a single treatment is always one minute in duration.] The improvement in this poor foot has been nothing short of astonishing! I can't know if others will have such a remarkable improvement, but I wanted to share my results with other sufferers. This is easy to operate, although a bit hard to hold as it is the size of a small flashlight... and with somewhat stiff fingers I worry about dropping it, and comes with an operations booklet that is murder to read, as some pages with needed information are the teal color that seems to be the device's hallmark. Why would this wonderful company print info on such dark pages? Yikes! I had to enlist a kind teenage neighbor who had to use a special crafting light in order to read the information aloud to me. Aside from that glitch, I am DELIGHTED with this remarkable little device. BRAVO!

My husband and I have purchased two Tendlites over the past year. They have been very effective in relieving knee and joint pain. Also, swelling has been largely reduced. It is by far the best product I have found and has helped me avoid knee replacement. The first Tendlite was purchased last April. It worked very well for three months. Then we had a problem with the battery not recharging. I contacted the company via e-mail and was given instructions for returning the unit for repair. Servicing the unit took several weeks. When I attempted to find out why there was such a long delay, I received an e-mail saying that the person responsible for repair had been on vacation! Recently, I received an information card from Lumina offering an extended warranty that could be purchased. I contacted customer service via e-mail asking how to purchase the warranty. To date, there has been no response. My main issue with Lumina is their poor customer service. There is no way to speak personally to a customer service representative. I am interested in purchasing the extended warranty and have had no response from the company. Lunima has requested that we come back to them with problems before writing a review and yet they are either very slow to respond or haven't responded at all. Good customer service is very important to me. Lumina's current web-site is not adequate in resolving problems. A customer service representative that can be contacted via telephone is needed. I would have given the product and additional star if better customer service had been provided by the company. Lumina has asked that we contact them first to resolve any problems. Well, I have tried that route and have not been satisfied. I would ask that the company review their customer service practices and attempt to improve them. I am still interested in the extended warranties and would like to hear from someone representing the product.

Update After 6 weeks use: This product is a very effective phototherapy unit, perhaps the best currently on the market in terms of price/performance. Keep in mind, there is no silver bullet for treatment of inflammation and pain of joints and muscles, but phototherapy IS an effective component in treatment. I have been using both home made and commercially available (Tri-Light) phototherapy units for the better part of 20 years now, so I was already confident in the results of applying it for joint, tendon, and muscle issues. In the modern era of high lumen intensity monochromatic LED technology, treatment is more cost effective and beneficial then ever. Context of Treatment: I have an old knee injury from many years ago that while healed, continues to give periodic issue with pain and inflammation (most often due to overuse). The ongoing combination of phototherapy, application of Penetrex, post treatment compression wrap, and light physical movement exercises has proven consistently effective in keeping my knee in shape and effective without chronic pain. And the ability to manage my knee without having to resort to pain killers or anti-inflammatories is the real plus for me personally. The Tendlite is my "go-to" phototherapy unit now as part of my treatment program. It is several times more effective then my old Tri-Light (and more cost effective too, since Tri-Lights now days sell for close to $500.00). I treat my knee, once a day, three to four days a week, with on average 3 one minute sessions each treatment. After treatment I apply Penetrex to the knee, and then apply a mild compression bandage to the knee for an hour or two afterwards. I then do physical stretching and light physical therapy exercises to the knee for about 5-10 minutes. The combination of these techniques are both simple and effective for my personal treatment needs. The Phototherapy provides monochromatic photon stimulation at 660nm while the Penetrex combined with a mild compression wrap after phototherapy treatment, for me personally, amplifies the treatment benefits of the phototherapy treatments. To those of you considering a Tendlite, if you understand the research and efficacy of phototherapy treatments for injury and pain of joins, tendons, and muscles, this product will not disappoint. If you have pain or inflammation, but have no knowledge or awareness of phototherapy and how it works... PLEASE RESEARCH and become aware of what it is, how it works, and what it is effective in treating FIRST, and consult with your doctor. As I said, it is effective and is well researched in medical science, but it is not a silver bullet or a magic pill. Like all treatment protocols, it must be applied in context to an ailment and in a manner that is effective in treatment. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Original Review: This is a provisional rating of 5 stars, for the quality, effectiveness, and usefulness of the product. I will provide additional comment and/or revise my rating in a month or two, so that I can add specific comment as to it's effectiveness in treatment. But honestly, having been familiar with phototherapy treatment devices for years now (I have even made some of my own), I already know the technology and it's application for physical treatments are effective for many inflammatory ailments and repetitive stress injuries so I expect no surprises or let downs in this regard. Unit quality: Outstanding. This is a professional level product in terms of build construction, components, and features/functions. Build quality in particular is Outstanding. Rugged, well machined casing that should outlive the LED emitter itself. You get a nice carrying case to keep the unit, charger, etc in. It also comes with a separate and rugged nylon belt pouch that you can use if you want the unit handy during the day. Form Factor: like a small pocket LED flashlight, only much better build quality and componentry. Functionality: Wow.... they took a viable phototherapy treatment methodology and packaged it in a consumer friendly device. It contains built in timer functions to insure that the consumer knows how long they are treating. It is extremely simple in operation. So simple that some consumers may not bother to read the instruction manual and therefore not realize a couple of operation quirks about the device. But anyone that actually takes 10 minutes to read the manual should have no issues at all. It's simple to operate, simple to use, and effectively provides measured treatment. Performance: No doubt about it.. this unit has a high quality 660nm RED emitter with mirror focus and direct point diffusion such that it effectively emits a soft yet powerful emission of single wavelength light. The manual states that output is 1500mw, which is very respectable output in the context of doing meaningful phototherapy treatments. While I have owned units over the years for phototherapy, and even made some myself, this unit is superior to anything I have owned or have made in the past. Very nicely designed emitter assembly. Documentation: the owners manual is fairly short, yet it covers all the essentials of operation and use. It is also careful to stipulate limitations of use both in terms of who, how, how often, and for what. It also has the obligatory statements about who should avoid using and also how not use it. Now from a practical standpoint, all of this is included to insure compliance of labeling and instructions per FDA guidelines for such devices to be used by consumers. Lumina Customer Support: well, hopefully I never have need for it, but when buying anything on Amazon, one thing I look for is an active presence of the manufacturer on Amazon, interacting with customers and answering questions or concerns when they are posted. This indicates to me that they care about customer satisfaction and stand behind their product (rather then just sell it through distribution and wash their hands of it. Lumina Group is in fact active and informative here in the review section of the product listing, and that's great sign IMO. Product quirks (not product show stoppers in any way) to be aware of: 1) the unit has a built in one minute timer in it. So when you click on the little button, it activates it for one minute. Note that at the end of the one minute, you must actually click the button again to power down the unit. I'm not sure if it actually draws any power if you do not click the button again after the timer shuts down, but I always click it to be sure. In any event, if you are doing multiple one minute sessions with the unit.. be aware that after the first session, you need to click the button TWICE (once to turn it off, and then once to reactivate the timer for the next session). A small anomaly of operation really, but if you are doing multiple sessions, you need to be aware of the way it works so as to avoid frustration. 2) This latest unit has a rechargeable Li-Ion battery, and it is a powerhouse with 3000mAh at 3.7 volts. So clearly this emitter is pretty high power and would be quite the battery consumer if you were using regular batteries. It's not a common battery, but it also will very likely last a long time given it is a battery model 18650 Li-Ion unit. The quirk here is that you must remove it from the unit and place it in it's own wall charger. This is no worse then your average camera or other consumer device, but it requires you to make sure you always install it correctly in either the unit or the charger since it does not have any physical polarization keying to it. On the plus side.. the battery that Lumina uses has both short circuit and over-current protections in it, and being Li-Ion it will not degrade with use. 3) The battery charger unit is a bit counter intuitive. It does not have polarity indicators anywhere, and clearly is an OEM charger for model 18650 batteries. Since it is a cylinder style battery, it's not rocket science to figure out which way the battery goes into the charger, but it is a point of failure on the part of the consumer. Like all cylinder style batteries, there is a flat end and a slightly pointed end to the unit. Just be sure to put the flat end of the battery to the spring side of the charger. The same is true for the Tendlite itself, the flat end of the battery goes in first (to pair with the spring at the bottom). The charger unit itself is nicely designed, and it appears to have safeguards in it to prevent damage to the battery as well. Be aware, the way the indicator lights work is also a bit quirky. It blinks between red and green when it is charging. I would prefer it be solid red when charging and green when charged, but I also get that this is an OEM charger for this type of battery.. so the features are what they are. I often take a star off for product quirks that are counter-intuitive, but in the case of the Tendlite it has so many well designed features and overall capability that I'm giving it a 5 star rating in spite of a few small quirks in design and function. Wishlist: Small wish... it would be nice if the units battery could be recharged while installed in the Tendlite. It would make it even easier to use and would eliminate user error with battery removal and installation. Again.. a small wish.. noting imperative. And I do understand that one of the things that makes this unit cost effective to sell directly to consumers is the use of standard components. So.. the battery setup for this current model is a compromise between price and simplicity.

Update!!! It's been 5 mos. of using the Tendlite and I am still utterly delighted. After 2 decades of unbearable pain from parasthetic MS I finally have some serious no-drug relief. OK, When I bought it I was really skeptical, but desperate. After the DEA decided to toss legit patients in with opioid abusers I was left with the [anesthesiologist/'pain management'] doc shrugging me off. (These docs don't have much more than a few weeks extra 'training' and are totally unsympathetic based on my & other patients experience.) My pain felt like I was being cremated alive & had gotten to where I would've tried anything. My regular docs were understanding & sympathetic but were blocked from doing more than giving pysche drugs which not only didn't help much, the side effects were almost as bad as the pain & relief was minimal. All I could take was Tylenol (allergic to NSAIDS, plus long term daily use causes gastric erosion) which left me with ice packs to numb the nerves. (I got 1st deg. frostbite trying to get a few hours sleep.) I'd go 2-3 days without much sleep as Ambien [zolpidem] only bought me a few hours at best before pain jolted me awake. When I bought the Tendlite I would have bet I'd be sending it back as I fully expected it to fail. SURPRISE!! Two weeks after conscientiously using the light 3x on each area 3x a day [this is no time save a few minutes or cut corners] I woke up one morning to NO pain. Whoops? Did I suffer a stroke? My legs fall asleep? Nope. I had normal feeling in my lower legs & feet for the first time in 20 years! I kept up the 3x each spot 3x/day for another week then cut back to 2x /2x day. Now I do it just once a day and the pain isn't just better, it's GONE! Life's wonderful. It's joy! I am without any pain all day. I danced at my son's wedding! I sleep 6-10 hrs a night (no Ambien needed) and wake without screaming (literally). Yes, if I overdue exertion or skip treatments I get a minor relapse, but it's nowhere near the excruciating pain that had me in tears, unable to work or walk for days at a time. I simply up the number of treatments for a day or two & I'm back on track. This kit came with the stainless steel light (virtually indestructible), two batteries (1 to use, 1 to charge) the charger, the glasses & a very nice carrying case. Each battery runs several weeks before needing recharging so you're never without your Tendlite. I've added a rectangular piece of solid foam from which I'd cut out a half cylinder almost the length of the light so it didn't need to be held while it was on. I lay the light on the foam & can leave it there for all 3 re-lights. Then I just move the foam rest to the next spot & run it again. No holding the light, no staring at the laser. I bought a light for my sister with RSD & she said after 3 wks she hardly notices her ankle at all. My RN friend who has a debilitating bone disease got one for herself after I got such good results. She, too didn't expect any improvement but says she's gotten outstanding pain relief to where she doesn't need her prescribed Vicodon 7.5 at all. Four others have gotten a Tendlite for everything from arthritis to fibromyalgia to diabetic neuropathy. Two of my CCF docs say they've gotten all positive results for patients for whom they can't give drugs which delights everyone. As an RN (30 yrs exp, fmr trauma & cardio-thoracic specialist; Dir. of Nursing) I absolutely rate this device 5 stars and well worth every penny.

PAIN BEING TREATED: I have congenitally deformed ankles. I am now in my 50's and these ankles are finally giving out. They both need to be rebuilt or fused. I've been told by drs that unlike knees and hips, these types of ankle surgeries are often not very successful and that both ankles cant be done at the same time and after surgery care involves up to a year rehab and time in walker etc so I've been putting it off because I'm too busy and I have too many responsibilities. This leaves me in a constant state of pain when I walk or stand which at times I can't do it all and often even when I'm not walking it's still shooting pain. EXPERIMENTAL METHOD: Having tried most other pain relief options I decided to buy one Tendlite and one DPL Flex pad after reading the reviews. I am using the flex pad on one ankle and the tendlite on the other. I have had them now 4 days. I plan on trying to use them one to three times a day in the manner which the directions state. TENDLITE: This is 10 times in 1 minute treatments all around left ankle with the Tendlight which turns off by itself after 1 minute DPL FLEXPAD: 20 minutes steady use with the flex pad wrapped around my right ankle. BE AWARE ONLY USE 20 MINUTES! BE AWARE IT LOOKS LIKE ONLY SOME LIGHTS LIT DUE TO BEING OUTSIDE VISIBLE SPECTRUM RESULTS: So far after only 4 days what I can say is: FLEXPAD: seems to have a nice slightly energizing warming effect and I did walk better after using it with that ankle however the lights feel like a bit uncomfortable sticking into me while having it wrapped around my ankle with the velcro wrap that comes with it no matter how loosely i wrap. TENDLITE: also made me walk slightly better although I didn't feel that overwhelming warm effect. It's also a little awkward trying to put the Tendlite all around different spots on my ankle, turning it on after each one minute and holding it there while it treats each spot compared to just having something wrapped around your ankle and laying there while it works. CONCLUSIONS: Based on my limited use it seems as though perhaps the Tendlite effect might last slightly longer than the dpl flex pad. Neither one of them last for a long time but I'm hoping for a cumulative effect because reviews seem to say you have to stick with it to get enhanced benefit. I will update after continuing to use both of these items. As of now since I am at the beginning of this experiment I am giving them both three stars. SEPT. UPDATE: Well I didn't get to do my experiment as long as I wanted to but I did do it for the first week and my initial feelings about the benefits and limitations of both of these products still remain. I continue to use both products. I do reach for the DPL pad more often because it's just more convenient to turn on a switch after putting the pad either around my ankle or on my back and then just relax while it works for 20 minutes. The Tendlite is more difficult to reach some places and you have to keep turning it on after 1 minute treatments which makes it a little inconvenient and less relaxing while you're trying to treat pain. I do think the Tendlight is good for very localized pain spots in places you can reach easily and effects may last a little longer than the DPL pad. I haven't quite for sure determined that yet . I am going to continue to evaluate both of these products and so are others in the house who have pain but at this point I'm raising my review of both products. If LEDs weren't sticking into me a bit when I wrap it I would probably give DPL 5 stars but it definitely gives some temporary reduction in pain. Also when I've used it as a flat pad, I don't feel the sharpness of the lights. Very helpful when I have used it on back issues and neck issues. I am glad I bought this product. UPDATE APRIL 2018: So both products are still working. Have not had the issues with the adapter breaking on the DPL pad that some people have stated nor the pad coming apart. Both of the rechargeable batteries are still working with the Tendlite and the bulb still working. I think the Tendlight is better for very localized areas tendonitis tennis elbow carpal tunnel and maybe DPL is better for larger areas or more difficult to reach areas. Just the experience in this house :-)

First, let me say that this is an initial review, and I will update this as time goes on. I have been using the TendLite for a couple of days now. The instructions are short, and setup was easy. The reason I ordered the TendLite, is that I have some shin pain caused by running. I have tried a great many things to completely heal it, but always have some areas of lingering tenderness and pain to contend with. I have looked at this device numerous times, but despite so many good reviews, couldn't see how an LED light device could really help. Finally, in exasperation, I looked at it again. I also researched 660 nm red light therapy, which is the type of light generated by this device. There are a great many fairly scientific articles that seem to indicate that this is legit. With that in mind, I went ahead and bought the TendLite. The way my shin pain is, if I feel along, but not directly on the shin bone, I can locate small areas or clusters of sore spots. These seem to be the source of my generalized pain. Since the this device works on a fairly small area at a time, it's not a good choice to cover a large area. However, in my case, since I can locate individual small areas that seem to be the trigger points, it's manageable. I located the points, and 1 by 1 I used the light on them. In some cases I did two or three 1 minute treatments in a row. When I would feel them again, immediately after, the pain was indeed gone. Since I knew exactly where the pain point was, and could tell that it had actually stopped hurting, I can tell that the light is definitely doing something. I fully expect to have to retreat these areas again, but am hopeful that with continued treatment, they may go away all together, or at least need treatment only occasionally. I don't really understand behind the scenes how it works, but I do know that it does work. My research prior to purchase, also showed me that the TendLite applies a much more intense light than other products that I could find to compare to: 500 mw / cm2. Most others I could find simply wouldn't say, or were 20, 40, or 50 mw / cm2. It seems that the intensity may be the reason why it causes such quick results. I don't have any joint pain to try it on (thank God :-) ), so I can't tell you how it works for that. My guess is that it would be effective. If you have large areas that need treated, and can't identify trigger point areas, then this may not be the device for you. If you are like I was, and couldn't really see how red LED light could actually make a difference, then give it a try. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

I've had knee pain for a few years now. It's been steadily getting worse and has gone from an annoyance to interfering with my lifestyle. I've already been told that I have arthritis in my hips and back, so I'm sure I have some in my knees as well. Last spring I attended a car show and stood up or walked around most of the day, rarely sitting. The next day I could barely walk my knees (especially the left knee) hurt so bad. Not only that, but my range of motion was severely handicapped by the pain. It was a huge chore to squat down or get up from the floor. As a result, I cut back on walking and playing out in the garage, and that wasn't good from both an exercise or fun standpoint. I tried a couple of creams on here that got great reviews, and one of them gave me a little bit of relief, but not nearly enough. My chiropractor was giving me cold laser treatments on my back, so I decided to look here on Amazon for lasers. I was hoping to find a home version of what he was using, and immediately found out that I would be looking at seriously big bucks. In my search, I ran across this LED light. The reviews were quite good, and the price was not too bad, but the skeptic in me kept me from pushing the "buy" button. I finally decided that given the seller's generous return policy and the good reviews that I would give it a try. When the light arrived, I was impressed with the quality and solid feel of it. It had the feel and heft of a fine medical instrument, certainly not some cheap toy. The battery was charged enough for use, so I immediately read the owner's manual and then tried it out on my left knee. I tried it in 3 different locations across the top of my knee for one minute each. I started to get up from my chair and ... WOW... I had very little pain. I was blown away by the lack of pain and my ability to get up from the chair without having to use my arms to push myself up. I had full range of motion with my knee and could bring it up as high as it would go, something I was unable to do previously. I couldn't believe that only one use would yield such an improvement, but it did. I've used it for a week now, twice a day. The pain never completely goes away, but it is substantially reduced. I've started walking again and playing out in the garage again. This product has literally changed my life. That sounds like a horribly overblown cliché, but it's true. I'm excited to see what a couple more weeks of treatment will bring. I'm no longer using the cream I bought and haven't even thought about taking a pain pill. This is truly an incredible product and I would very much recommend it to anyone who is seeking relief from muscle pain or arthritis.