Question for people with a tens unit???

[AQA]

Can anyone share thier experience with me? I am contimplating on buying one. I am curious to know how it actually works. Thank you.

[backache]

Okay these kind of questions I can answer. TENS stands for transcutaneous eletrical nerve stimulator. It is used for acute and chronic pain. You attach electrodes to the skin to transmit electrical impulses, which produce a mild tingling, tapping, massaging sensation.These small shocks interrupt pain impulses from periphery to the central nervous system, increase production of endorphins and improve blood supply to the affected part. Increased circulation encourages healing and helps reduce muscle spasms. Most of the people that I have been in contact with who used them said they had some relief.

[RNvic]

AQA,
If you think a TENS unit would help, get your Dr to write scripe and then wc will pay for it. The units are not expensive any more but the patches are around a dollar each and have to be changed at least every other day.
The TENS unit will transmit a nerve impulse and help to break the pain. I have had one for about 15 years and use it when the musle pain is at its worse. It helps some but not all the time. It doesn't seem to help with the nerve pain.
Hopefully it will help you.
RNvic

[Sithie]

AQA, I am not sure if it can be used with your SCS, please ask to be sure, don't want ya hurt.

Sithie

[vickinat]

AQA,
I agree with Sithie, you may not be able to use it with your SCS. I have one and use it every day when I'm working. Mine was ordered by my Dr. at first to be rented and W/C finally purchased it. I can use the same pads for awhile, they can be regenerated with a few drops of water, this is what the supplier explaine to me. The company sends me pads, leads, or other supplies that are needed. I use it mainly on my lower back (SI area) and on my periformis muscle, and it does distract from the pain.
Take care
Vickie

[hurt at work]

i use a tens unit it helps some.if you can use on i have a nice on,its a ultima 5.its fully adjustable,lots of setting and it has two sets of leads.you can run both at the same time they have seperate controls and power ranges so you can work on different places at the same time.my wife got it a work her cost was around 30.00 so im sure the price is somewhat higher through your dr.hope you can use one it will help so oh the pads on this one you can use over and over for a long time they stay sticky for a long time.

[sparkey]

I also have a TENS unit which i am totally lost without. It is alittle bigger than a cell phone size and hooks onto my waste while i walk around and do anything i want with it. It has many settings such as for the neck area/hand/feet/back/ etc. It also has the pads which the wc ic pays for whenever i need more. The pads do last a very long time if you keep them clean and put them back onto the plastic they came off of. I get a good 20 uses out of mine and then i know when to change it if it is not sticky anymore.

I accidently got billed from the company for it and saw that it cost workers comp 800.00. There is a website where you can buy them a heck of alot cheaper i saw. I use it on days that i am in so much shoulder/wrist pain that i just want to sit back after i take my meds and use it, or while typing on here. It comes with rechargable batteries/and charger. As much as i use mine, i have only had to recharge the batteries 2 times.

If you are going to therapy, i would suggest you ask the therapist to ask the doctor for a script to send to the ic for one. That is how i got it. Just be careful and NEVER EVER DRIVE while using one. I was told a woman was wearing one and got killed as the cord got tangled in her steering wheel making a turn.

[used and abused]

I've been waiting on one for over a month now. The insurance carrier is being a real jerk about it. As for helping when I was getting that part at therapy I could tell a differance. Hopefully it will help you.

[AQA]

Thank-you all for your responses. I will speak with my pm dr. about it next month. I am thinking that it will help with the low back while the scs is handling the left leg. Something tells me he will say "no" but it is worth asking.

[mawolf33]

Hello, I know this question was posted a while ago but I just came across this forum and wanted to let you know that I to have a scs and my Dr. told me it was ok to use my tens unit for my low back pain.