Chronic Pain Support Group

Does anyone here have any experience with the TENS units?

I had treatement with it when I was first injured and it did help a lot with pain. I wanted to get a unit my own and wonder has anyone had any success with replacing thier medication and used the TENS?

Any experience in this area would be greatful I am so sick and tired of the Nuropathic medications that are first dangerous, but side effects are just not acceptable to me.

Hi Mehlisue

I am sorry you have been having so much difficulty.

There is another thread on the Sciatica support group which relates to the tens units. The title is "New symptoms numbness in foot and more" . Look under Group Home.

In addition, I have been checking with a cousin of mine. She has bad sciatica. I asked her and she was not very positive about its being useful. However, when I asked her to lend me her unit since it was not very useful, her husband would not lend it to me because he was using it regularly for his own problems. I think actions speak louder than words.

Also I have been investigating the webs looking for a unit. I found some that are portable (as in you wear them around and remain active while they work). I was in the process of trying to determine what voltage and current levels would be best.

here is a link to a bunch of them - they seem reasonably priced (if they work):

http://www.tenssystem.com/?gclid=CIbZvL3OvpsCFdVL5QodvTAIAQ

Post edited by: ray2135, at: 07/20/2009 06:05 AM

I tried a tens unit once.

There weren't enough patches to cover the areas that I needed taken care of. LOL! I needed it for my hip, neck, shoulders, and upper back. It was hard for me to put on as well. I had to have a family member help. (simply because of it being the back)

On a serious note though, it just didn't work for me.

Check with your doctor and insurance company before purchasing one. I know that my insurance company would have helped cover it, had I have kept it. So, if your doctor thinks its a good idea and will prescribe it, then insurance may help with coverage.

Thanks Ray for the link and the advice, you are right, actions do speak louder than words and if he is using it, than it must work well for him.

My husband had a previous wife who's daugther was born with nerve problems in her spine. After a lot of surgery and tons of medications, they finally implanted a tens in her spine and she wares a belt that holds the unit. She can tweek it to what level she needs when the pain goes up or down. It got her of meds and that to me is worth having it implanted.

I do not have contact with her so I can not get the information from her.

Let me know if you find one that really works.

thanks melinda

Good idea, I will talk to dr about it and check with inusurance to see if it will cover anything. I wont hold my breath on that. LOL

I know my TENS unit have been a lifesaver - but I can't say that I have used it as a replacement for pain meds... more like in addition to. It has helped me get through afternoons at work, or really rough evenings. I absolutely LOVE mine, and would recommend it for anyone suffering with pain. You can move it all around, put it anywhere you need to put it, and it's portable. I usually find a way to make it discreet by covering the wires with my clothing. Sometimes I can't, and I don't care. People ask me, "what happened"? and I say, "I'm just having pain right now", and then I explain how it works - hopefully getting a little slice of education in there. It was relatively inexpensive, too.

I know this post was well over a month ago, and you probably have purchased a TENS unit by now, but I got mine for around $50. I had originally bought it for a back injury, however, with fibro, it helps anywhere I need it to help. I agree, sometimes it feels like there aren't enough patches to put on, lol, but then you just pick the evilist (sp?) spots and then treat the next area. You can adjust it to whatever level you need. The patches lose their stick after a while, but you can buy replacements for about $13. I got all of my stuff at a local pharmacy - not just any old pharmacy, but more of a medical supply company. You can probably call any old pharmacy and ask them where you could get one, tho

i have been to the point where i will try almost anything for 'some' pain relief. i do have a TENS unit (ordered by my primary care doctor...neurologist suggested it but i have hmo so had to go that route) basically i am glad i have it but i have spinal cord pain so probably need more sticky pads than they gave me to cover the area of pain. overall tho, i would give it a try....from time to time it does take a little edge off.