Pain relief without the help of medication may sound too good to be true, but a new startup says it has created a wearable that does just that.

A new device called Cur — created by a San Francisco-based startup of the same name — aims to provide an alternative to pain medication for people with chronic pain, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Cur is a wireless version of TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) systems, a therapy that temporarily relieves pain by sending low levels of electrical current to your brain, which masks pain signals and decreases the amount of pain you feel.

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TENS therapies been used for years by medical professionals and portable home devices have been previously available as well. But people have been limited because most portable devices available have wires that make them inconvenient to use on the go, says Cur's cofounder Shaun Rahimi.

Image: Cur

Cur is not only significantly smaller than these devices but completely wireless. It has a rechargeable battery and can work for up to 3 hours on a single charge (it comes with a charging case, which delivers an additional 30 hours of battery life). It uses adhesive gel pads that stick to the body, so the device can be worn while out and about.

Central to the wireless functionality is the device's sensors, which measure individual muscle vibrations. These vibrations inform how much current the device delivers at any give time, though users can manually adjust the output if they wish. Many people who use TENS devices at home, and even doctors or other medical staff, can be of unsure of what level of current is appropriate for a given ailment, Rahimi says, adding that people often underestimate what amount will be effective.

"The biggest problem in Tens today is around this specific concept: it's how can I trust a user to get to a strong but comfortable level," Rahimi explains. "The challenge is knowing what is enough to just get beyond that initial sensory sensation level to where it's effective enough to actually give a result."

Cur costs $149, which includes a charging case and a two-month supply of adhesive pads, during the initial crowdfunding phase and will cost $299 after the launch. The company says it expects those who order during the crowdfunding phase to get their shipments by December of this year.

Rahimi is quick to point out that, despite its name, Cur is not a cure for chronic pain — though it may provide relief for as much as a few days in some cases — but rather a pain management alternative to medication.

"The beauty of it, is it removes the pain without adding other issues, like side effects." he said. "When you have no pain and no side effects you have a chance at sitting down and thinking 'how can I get better.' "