Is TENS Safe to Use for Pain? Bob and Brad discuss TENS Units and when they are beneficial for decreasing pain.
Are TENS machines Safe to Use for Pain?
TENS machines
TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) How does it help you with your pain?
You attach the pads directly to your skin. When the machine is switched on, small electrical impulses are delivered to the affected area of your body, which you feel as a tingling sensation.
The electrical impulses can reduce the pain signals going to the spinal cord and brain, which may help relieve pain and relax muscles. They may also stimulate the production of endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers.
What TENS is used for
TENS may be able to help reduce pain and muscle spasms caused by a wide range of conditions including:
arthritis
period pain
pelvic pain caused by endometriosis
knee pain
neck pain
back pain
sports injuries
It’s also sometimes used as a method of pain relief during labour.
Does TENS work?
There isn’t enough good-quality scientific evidence to say for sure whether TENS is a reliable method of pain relief. More research is needed and clinical trials for TENS are ongoing.
Healthcare professionals have reported that it seems to help some people, although how well it works depends on the individual and the condition being treated.
TENS isn’t a cure for pain and often only provides short-term relief while the TENS machine is being used.
However, the treatment is generally very safe and you may feel it’s worth trying instead of, or in addition to, the usual medical treatments.
Trying TENS
If you’re thinking about trying TENS, it’s a good idea to speak to your GP about a referral to a physiotherapist or pain clinic.
A physiotherapist or pain specialist may be able to loan you a TENS machine for a short period if they think it could help.
You can choose to buy your own TENS machine without getting medical advice, but it’s generally better to have a proper assessment first, so you can find out whether a TENS machine is appropriate for you and be taught how to use it properly.
To get the most benefit from TENS, it’s important that the settings are adjusted correctly for you and your individual condition.
If you find TENS effective, you can buy a TENS machine from a pharmacy. They range in price from about £10 to £200. More expensive machines aren’t necessarily any better than lower-priced ones, so it’s best to do some research before you buy.
How to use TENS
The information below is a general guide on how to use a TENS machine. You should always follow the manufacturer’s specific instructions.
TENS machines are small and lightweight, so you can use them while you’re working or on the move. You can put it in your pocket, clip it to your belt or hold it in your hand.
You can use TENS throughout the day for as long as you like, although it shouldn’t be used while you’re driving, operating machinery, or in the bath or shower.
Positioning the pads
Make sure the machine is switched off before you attach the pads to your skin. Position the pads either side of the painful area, at least 2.5cm (1 inch) apart.
Never place the pads over:
the front or sides of your neck
your temples
your mouth or eyes
your chest and upper back at the same time
irritated, infected or broken skin
numb areas
Turning it on and adjusting the strength
Turn on the TENS machine when the pads are attached in the correct places. You’ll feel a slight tingling sensation pass through your skin.
The machine has a dial that allows you to control the strength of the electrical impulses.
Start on a low setting and gradually increase it until the sensation feels strong but comfortable. If the tingling sensation starts to feel painful or uncomfortable, reduce it slightly.
Switch the TENS machine off after you’ve finished using it and remove the electrodes from your skin.
Are there any risks of side effects?
For most people, TENS is a safe treatment with no side effects.
Some people may be allergic to the pads and their skin may become red and irritated, but special pads for people with allergies are available.
TENS isn’t safe for everyone to use. Don’t use it without first seeking medical advice if:
you have a pacemaker or another type of electrical or metal implant in your body
you’re pregnant, or there’s a chance you might be pregnant – TENS may not be recommended early in pregnancy
you have epilepsy or a heart problem
How does a TENS machine stop pain?
How Does Tens, TNS, Stop Pain?
For more on TENS machines and how our readers use them why not go here.
How Does Tens, TNS, Stop Pain? from Bob Johnson on Vimeo.
TENS machines – what everyone suffering from a pain condition needs to know
TENS machines and pain management
Introduction
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a method of pain relief involving the use of a mild electrical current.
A TENS machine is a small, battery-operated device that has leads connected to sticky pads called electrodes.
You attach the pads directly to your skin. When the machine is switched on, small electrical impulses are delivered to the affected area of your body, which you feel as a tingling sensation.
The electrical impulses can reduce the pain signals going to the spinal cord and brain, which may help relieve pain and relax muscles. They may also stimulate the production of endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers.
What TENS is used for
TENS may be able to help reduce pain and muscle spasms caused by a wide range of conditions including:
It’s also sometimes used as a method of pain relief during labour.
Does TENS work?
There isn’t enough good-quality scientific evidence to say for sure whether TENS is a reliable method of pain relief. More research is needed and clinical trials for TENS are ongoing.
Healthcare professionals have reported that it seems to help some people, although how well it works depends on the individual and the condition being treated.
TENS isn’t a cure for pain and often only provides short-term relief while the TENS machine is being used.
However, the treatment is generally very safe and you may feel it’s worth trying instead of, or in addition to, the usual medical treatments.
Trying TENS
If you’re thinking about trying TENS, it’s a good idea to speak to your GP about a referral to a physiotherapist or pain clinic.
A physiotherapist or pain specialist may be able to loan you a TENS machine for a short period if they think it could help.
You can choose to buy your own TENS machine without getting medical advice, but it’s generally better to have a proper assessment first, so you can find out whether a TENS machine is appropriate for you and be taught how to use it properly.
To get the most benefit from TENS, it’s important that the settings are adjusted correctly for you and your individual condition.
If you find TENS effective, you can buy a TENS machine from a pharmacy. They range in price from about £10 to £200. More expensive machines aren’t necessarily any better than lower-priced ones, so it’s best to do some research before you buy.
How to use TENS
The information below is a general guide on how to use a TENS machine. You should always follow the manufacturer’s specific instructions.
TENS machines are small and lightweight, so you can use them while you’re working or on the move. You can put it in your pocket, clip it to your belt or hold it in your hand.
You can use TENS throughout the day for as long as you like, although it shouldn’t be used while you’re driving, operating machinery, or in the bath or shower.
Positioning the pads
Make sure the machine is switched off before you attach the pads to your skin. Position the pads either side of the painful area, at least 2.5cm (1 inch) apart.
Never place the pads over:
- the front or sides of your neck
- your temples
- your mouth or eyes
- your chest and upper back at the same time
- irritated, infected or broken skin
- varicose veins
- numb areas
Turning it on and adjusting the strength
Turn on the TENS machine when the pads are attached in the correct places. You’ll feel a slight tingling sensation pass through your skin.
The machine has a dial that allows you to control the strength of the electrical impulses.
Start on a low setting and gradually increase it until the sensation feels strong but comfortable. If the tingling sensation starts to feel painful or uncomfortable, reduce it slightly.
Switch the TENS machine off after you’ve finished using it and remove the electrodes from your skin.
Are there any risks of side effects?
For most people, TENS is a safe treatment with no side effects.
Some people may be allergic to the pads and their skin may become red and irritated, but special pads for people with allergies are available.
TENS isn’t safe for everyone to use. Don’t use it without first seeking medical advice if:
Pain Management – what treatments do you take (or have taken) for pain?
Since the earliest days of Patient Talk we have always been interested in how our readers manage their pain.
Pain – what works best?
With many of our readers having multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and diabetes in particular the whole area of pain management is an important part of our mission as a blog.
So when one of our readers asked us “What treatments do your readers take for pain?” we thought that this would be an excellent opportunity to find out.
So that is the purpose of the poll below.
But we would also like to take the discussion a little bit further. While we have looked generally at pain management in the past today we want to do something a bit different.
Once you have taken part in the poll (for which many thanks) it would be very grateful if you could tell us a bit more in the comments section below. In particular could you rate the treatments in terms of your own pain outcomes. A bit like this blog on TENS machines and pain.
Many thanks in advance and we are confident your comments will be of great help to others on their pain journey.
| CindyJones1 | We should be able to choose more than one. I do take medication but I also have a spinal cord stimulator, my trusty heating pad. PT exercises and therapeutic exercises given to me by my therapist. I had to get one due to my adhesive arachnoiditis, she has given me a lot of tools. |
| patienttalk patienttalk.org |
MancFlickChick Great tip – many thanks |
| MancFlickChick | When my fingers felt like they were being stabbed by thousands of tiny knifes (this doesn’t happen with everyone) the only thing that did any good was to put them in cold water which worked instantly, much better than the incredibly strong pain killers the ER staff gave me which did nothing. |