One of the best parts of my role as Marketing Manager at Innovate Mississippi is spotlighting founders who are solving real problems—often creatively—right here in our state. Most days, I tell the stories of startups with big visions and plans to scale. But sometimes, a founder walks in with an inventive product—something simple, effective, and personal.
That’s what happened when Joel Maier, a physical therapist from Madison and founder of Anodyne Systems, connected with Innovate. His product, the Anodyne Wave, is a stretching device designed to ease wrist pain—particularly the kind caused by carpal tunnel. It’s not a high-tech startup with a big investor pitch deck, but it is an innovative, thoughtfully designed solution that works.
Someone in the office immediately flagged his info for me because I’ve been vocal (maybe too vocal) about the burning, tingling sensation in my wrists. After battling carpal tunnel syndrome for the past eight years, I’d grown used to managing the pain. I’d even started wearing wrist braces to bed every night. It’s not exactly glamorous—and not very comfortable either.
Eventually, doctors recommended surgery on both wrists. But I wasn’t ready for that. I’ve always preferred a holistic approach over jumping straight to pills or surgery, and I wanted to explore every non-invasive option first.
So I was thrilled to learn about the project Joel had brought to Innovate: a treatment for carpel tunnel syndrome called the Anodyne Wave. It’s a simple, well-designed stretching device that targets the connective tissue on the back of the wrist and behind the thumb. These tissues are thought to tighten and transfer force to the median nerve during carpal tunnel. There are no gimmicks, wires, or medications—just gentle, targeted stretching to release tension and reduce pain over time.
After just a few minutes of stretching each wrist, something surprising happened—the burning sensation had eased. It didn’t disappear completely, but the difference was noticeable. I kept using the machine for a few days in a row, and I stopped needing those nighttime wrist braces. That might sound like a slight shift, but it was a game-changer for me. The pain that used to keep me up at night—and distract me throughout the day—started to fade. I felt like I had some control again.
These days, I use the Anodyne Wave to stretch my wrists after long stints of typing, texting, or driving. I still feel discomfort occasionally, but it’s a fraction of what it once was. I don’t feel “cured,” but I’ve found a good solution—one I can turn to when needed.
As someone who gets to tell these stories for a living, I usually cheer from the sidelines. But in this case, I get to be the customer and the cheerleader. Joel isn’t just a founder building something innovative in Mississippi—he’s built something that changed my daily life.
Meanwhile, I was glad to hear that working with Innovate had also been a positive for Joel. “After working with Innovate Mississippi, I can say that they have a lot of experience helping startups. They can connect you with knowledgeable business leaders and help guide your startup in the right direction,” he said.
Sometimes, it’s a real perk of the job to share these stories. And in this case, I’m grateful to say that this one’s personal. If you’re dealing with carpal tunnel or similar issues, visit AnodyneSystems.net. It might just help you the way it helped me.
