Fibromyalgia Support Group

Hi guys,

came across a fantastic physio today who had a similar illness to fibro and was able to really help me out. She's suggested a TENS unit could really help me if she shows me how to use it correctly.

Just wondering what your experiences are and what machines/recommendation you have?

Thanks

What is a TENS unit?

I've used a TENS unit in physical therapy.It feels like heaven on my legs and back. I wish I could own one.

Its like this electroshock machine that massages your muscles. You attach these pads where you want to feel the shock and you can turn the shock up as high or low as you want it.

I've been using a TENS unit for a few years now. My chiropractor suggested it long before I got diagnosed. I use it mostly when something is causing my pain to be worse than normal, like when I had a disc protusion up against my spine last month. I also find that it helps if I use it when I have to be in the car for long periods of time. It's been a great thing to have to get me through flare ups until I could get to the chiropractor.

thanks mate, i hadn't thought of using it on my legs, thats a great idea. I'm glad its worked for you

i to tried a tens unit at a therapist, ended up buying one for myself, you can purchase them online. it does help if you place the pads in the area that is hurting, however 2 things..... once you take the pads of i find the pain never went away, it just feels as though the stimulation covers it up while the machine is on, and second, never place the electrode pads near your heart, or on your neck as you have so many nerves in your neck leading to your head aka brain. trust me i did it once and i ended up with what i call a tens tic for awhile, i almost had to have injections to relax the muscles as i really could have permenatly did damage, sometimes i think i did. may sound stupid that i did it, but i placed the pad just at the curve in my shoulder toward my neck, not directly on my neck and oh boy........ it scared me out of using it for some time, but when flare ups get bad i get it out, it is no magic machine but it does take your mind off the pain and direct it to the feeling of the tens

I didn't like it at therapy or when I used a friends, I would never buy one. I've heard many say if any pain went away it was for the time of use and came back some said multiplide. I hated them! Good luck!

I've used TENS at pt places and chiro offices as well as at the ortho's office and I now have one. I think one of the ideas behind it is that it is supposed to increase blood flow to the painful area. It does help to distract from the pain. I don't usually find that it really helps to fix anything and for me using it for any extended period of time is very tiring. But when I get really really tense or am having loads of pain in my shoulders and upper back especially I find it helps at work. I've also used it on my lower back. The pt has used TENS on my knee when I hurt myself hiking (before fibro). It is probably a good idea to have a physical therapist or chiro show you the proper way to use it to avoid the problems mentioned by redsoxgirl. You do have to be careful where you place the pads.

Good luck!

Red

We all react differently to 'everything' - but personally I HATE all those machines.

A few years ago my doctor asked me to do a clinical trial on a very sophisticated and very expensive type of Tens. They had just been imported into the country and a group of doctors in different towns had been asked to send their worst pain patients.

There were 12 of us. It was three weeks - every day. My pain was getting worse and worse but every time I told them I wanted to leave they kept telling me I would be 'fine' after the three weeks. After two weeks my doctor came to the lab and when he saw how much pain I was in he pulled me out immediately and insisted on seeing the other patients results.

A few felt no difference, a few felt temporary relief but three of us has reacted really badly.

He didn't purchase the machine and nothing would make me use one of them again.

If you do get one I really hope it helps you.

Hugs

Faerie