T E N S units

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 10:30 am

Has anyone here had experience with using this device? I'm considering one and am curious to know if anyone else has done so?

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 10:37 am

Childbirth? WOW...I wouldn't've considered one for that! (Thinking...on your lower back, perhaps?) I've got a severe muscle spasm (recurrent problem) and I'm just wondering if the unit might not help.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 10:42 am

Lulu I had to wear one of these after I broke my Neck to help with the pain. I wore it constantly. I'm not sure it did anything unless the new one are better. :rolleyes:

SuzyB · Post by **SuzyB** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 10:44 am

Hi Lulu,

I was given one of these machines a couple of years ago to try to help my back pain, unfortuantly it did not work for me but the chronic pain team did tell me that many patients have found some relief with the machine.

I'm going in hospital later on in the year to have a cord stimulation implant fitted which works on the same principle as the TENS, they are hoping it will give me some relief from the trapped nerve in my leg but have said not to get my hopes up for it giving me some relief in the back.

Hope it works for you

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 10:46 am

Carla & Suzy....I feel your pain...as they say! Thanks for the input. Suzy...I hope the new thing works.

SuzyB · Post by **SuzyB** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 10:50 am

Lulu2;516455 wrote: Carla & Suzy....I feel your pain...as they say! Thanks for the input. Suzy...I hope the new thing works.

Thanks Lulu, i hope so to, it really is the last option for me, i'd much rather have that than take all the pills, i'm rattling as i walk

Patsy Warnick · Post by **Patsy Warnick** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 10:52 am

I didn't feel much relief from the Tens - I think it depends on the level of pain one is in for the unit to be successful.

Suzy - theres also a surgery - high tech using a laser to go in and remove/shave a small are where your nerve has pressure.

I had it done and that terrible pain down the leg is gone.

Do I still have back pain - yes, but not that suicidal leg pain.

Patsy

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 10:53 am

Patsy, do you mean they might work better on severe pain? Or lesser pain? I've had one physical therapist recommend a TENS and another sort of rolled his eyes. Who knows? :-5

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 10:56 am

Is that what you meant, Patsy? Suzy?

SuzyB · Post by **SuzyB** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:06 am

Patsy Warnick;516464 wrote: I didn't feel much relief from the Tens - I think it depends on the level of pain one is in for the unit to be successful.

Suzy - there's also a surgery - high tech using a laser to go in and remove/shave a small are where your nerve has pressure.

I had it done and that terrible pain down the leg is gone.

Do I still have back pain - yes, but not that suicidal leg pain.

Patsy

The problem i have Patsy is that i had a disc removed 5 years ago, they left a tiny bit there to save me having the back fused. When that little bit of disc slipped back in October it pushed the scar tissue out onto my S1 nerve, and all the top consultants have said it's too risky to operate as scar tissue is so thick they couldn't guarantee that the nerve wouldn't be left permanently damaged. They said they was not prepared at my age to do that operation but if i was 30 years older they'd of tried it. Not what i wanted to hear but you have to listen to the experts.......

To answer your question Lulu, i was given my TENS machine through the chronic pain team, it was tried after physio didn't help. After the TENS i did try Acupuncture, which although it didn't cure me, it did give me some light relief

Patsy Warnick · Post by **Patsy Warnick** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:06 am

Less pain

and if a therapist rolled the eyes - they know the Tens kinda works

I myself think the Tens Unit is a money gimmick for the medical dept. just to bill something else to your Ins.

Try it - Its for less pain, if your in severe pain a small impulse will not redirect the nerve to stop responding.

Patsy

Patsy Warnick · Post by **Patsy Warnick** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:18 am

Suzy

I know what your going thru. My surgery was L5, S1

had part of the disc removed in 1996 - I have the same problem with the scar tissue - nerve pressure Pain!!!

I won't let Drs back in - I keep getting referred to Ortho specialists - I don't go.

At some point I'll have no choice.

This implant will redirect the the nerve from reponding? It should help, thats suicidal pain - just makes you sick and theres nothing that will relieve it. Everything in my house theraputic.

Please let me know how this works for you - Oct. .

Patsy

SuzyB · Post by **SuzyB** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:21 am

Patsy Warnick;516506 wrote: Suzy

I know what your going thru. My surgery was L5, S1

had part of the disc removed in 1996 - I have the same problem with the scar tissue - nerve pressure Pain!!!

I won't let Drs back in - I keep getting referred to Ortho specialists - I don't go.

At some point I'll have no choice.

This implant will redirect the the nerve from reponding? It should help, thats suicidal pain - just makes you sick and theres nothing that will relieve it. Everything in my house theraputic.

Please let me know how this works for you - Oct. .

Patsy

Thanks Patsy, i will. It was my L5 that i had removed, my L4 has lost all it's jelly, they said that i have two other disc's that are regenerative. BLOOMIN BACKS:-5 :-5

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:24 am

Suzy, Patsy...my daughter had four cervical discs replaced (NOT FUSED) by Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli in Germany last winter.

http://www.bertagnoli.com/

He's wonderful, and the replacement disc means she has normal range of motion. If you've not heard of him...do some research.

Marie5656 · Post by **Marie5656** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:25 am

I just asked Rick, as he used to have one for his back. He said it helped quite alot. Unfortunatly he no longer has it, though he wishes he did. He thinks a former roommate of his "borrowed" it and never returned it.

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:27 am

AH--a good report. May I ask what his problem is/was?

SuzyB · Post by **SuzyB** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:29 am

Lulu2;516513 wrote: Suzy, Patsy...my daughter had four cervical discs replaced (NOT FUSED) by Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli in Germany last winter.

http://www.bertagnoli.com/

He's wonderful, and the replacement disc means she has normal range of motion. If you've not heard of him...do some research.

Thanks i will def do some research on him

Patsy Warnick · Post by **Patsy Warnick** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:31 am

Suzy

L4 is shot on me too - at one time a Dr suggested putting a rod in my back - I don't think so, see ya.

Once your out of alignment - you go to pot - and that helps with pain too.

didn't think I'd ever experience that - relaxes you - helps.

I'm sure you've tried everything to relieve the pain - all I can suggest is a hot bath - stretch and try to move around and stay limber

The older we get - the worse it gets.

Good luck

Patsy

LULU - I will research this Dr. and all other options - its becoming such a high tec world, in time we'll have more choices of non advasive treatment/surgery. Thanks

Marie5656 · Post by **Marie5656** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:31 am

Lulu2;516519 wrote: AH--a good report. May I ask what his problem is/was?

He was involved in an auto crash..someone rear ended him.

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:32 am

Suzy...my daughter couldn't find anyone here willing to do anything more than fuse her neck! Dr. Bertagnoli literally saved her from life as a semi-cripple! I was impressed not only with him, but with the hospital staff in Bogen. Perhaps he could help you, too.

Marie, was it his neck or shoulder or lower back?

Marie5656 · Post by **Marie5656** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:34 am

Lulu2;516536 wrote: .

Marie, was it his neck or shoulder or lower back?

Lower back. Still gives him grief, but arthritus has set in. This is why he wishes he still had it.

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:35 am

Interesting. Thanks! (I've been looking on Google..they're not all that expensive, it seems. Perhaps he could get another.)

Marie5656 · Post by **Marie5656** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:38 am

Lulu2;516541 wrote: Interesting. Thanks! (I've been looking on Google..they're not all that expensive, it seems. Perhaps he could get another.)

I will mention that to him. But Won't he need a doctor's order for a new one?

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:39 am

Yes, but surely his doctor wouldn't object?

Marie5656 · Post by **Marie5656** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:39 am

No, she won't at all. He is going next month, I should mention it to him.

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:42 am

Maybe this is a happy coincidence? I hope so. I'm still deciding whether or not to try something ELSE for this bloody shoulder! (It's an old whiplash legacy.) SIGH.

Marie5656 · Post by **Marie5656** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:45 am

It may not work for you, but when I have tension and pain in my neck and shoulders, this is what I do. I bought one of those horsehoe shaped neck pillows, the ones you can heat in the mirowave. I love it. I am due to get a nw one soon. I have had this one for several years, and it has lost alot of the filling.

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:46 am

Lulu, I've used a tens on 2 different scenarios. One was when I had some extensive dental work, worked great. (Used on my jaw.) The other was given to me by a physical therapist who moonlighted with me at the bar. She strapped the thing to my crapped-out knee and told me to work with it on. Hadn't had a good working night like that before and I wore it 2 or 3 times a week after that. I had great relief from this device.

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 12:07 pm

Good to know, B'R! I'm leaning toward trying one....

How's your therapy coming along?

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 2:14 pm

Lulu, i've had a tens machine for 4 years as i have lower back problems.

I checked out with a physio before i used it and he showed me the points best for me to place the pads.

I use it for 8 hours on 8 off and although it does'nt completly block the pain it does take the edge off for a while.

Hope it works for you.

Tater Tazz · Post by **Tater Tazz** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 2:32 pm

hi lulu! I have one I had to get when when I was in theropy. All it seemed to do was take the pain away for awhile. When I shut it off, about 1/2 an hour later I was in horrible pain again. Towards the end it did nothing. but I will tell you a funy story about it. I wore it one day to work, and one of the cables came undone and fell in my pants and gave me a shock! I was dancing very nicely. If you have more questions I can try and help.

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 2:43 pm

OMG! "Dancing," eh?

It's beginning to sound as if it's just something which works for some and not for others.

Hmmmm....what to do? I'm still leaning toward trying one.

Tater Tazz · Post by **Tater Tazz** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 2:50 pm

I asked people before I got mine. Some it worked on some it did'nt. My surgeon said it was not going to work. That's about the only thing he's be right about. But the insurance paid for most of it.

chocoholic · Post by **chocoholic** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 3:39 pm

Lulu, I have an ongoing lower back problem and gets bouts of Sciatica, I have a TENS machine and although it doesn't cure the problem certainly helps a great deal.

I also have a Backlife machine which I use at least twice daily and this has proved to be of immense help in keeping my back pain under control

I can recommend both of them.