I was first introduced to a TENS unit when I was a teenager. My cousin was a chiropractor and had sent one home for parents. I've always had muscle pain, especially in my back. At that point in time the cost of the machine was inhibitive, and I was only able to use them at the chiropractor 's office. Thankfully, the units have become much more affordable and home use is an option. So, what is a TENS unit and is it worth the cost?
TENS units deliver small electric impulses to the nervous system, thereby promoting pain relief by reducing the nervous system's ability to transmit pain signals to the spinal cord and brain. The body is also stimulated to produce endorphins to help with pain control.
There are a lot of uses for chronic pain and the TENS device among these: postoperative pain, neck & back pain, joint pain, arthritis, sports injuries and fibromyalgia. Some of the benefits of using TENS devices for pain include its small, portable, and noninvasive. While there are many benefits to TENS there are also possible side effects to watch out for. Among the side effects are some people are allergic to the adhesive pads, do not place on front of neck because it could lower BP, and do not place on or around the eyes because it could cause the pressure in the eyes to increase. There are also people that should avoid TENS units, among these, pregnant women should avoid the device in the abdominal and pelvic regions; may induce seizures in people with epilepsy, people with heart problems, and people with pacemakers and electrical implants.
Many things can affect the benefits of the machine including low/high frequency options, duration, intensity, and pad placement. TENS have been shown to be more effective when the pads are placed on acupuncture sites. People can develop tolerance to the intensity of the machines and will need to adjust the intensity or frequency.
Having these units accessible and cost effective has helped my chronic pain a lot and allowed me to decrease the pain meds and muscle rubs. When my low back tightens up or I have thrown my backout the TENS helps me relax the muscles around the injured area. This gives me a lot of pain relief when used after hot/cold treatments, light stretching, PEMF treatment, and Epsom salt baths.
References:
Lillis, Charlotte. What is a Tens Unit and how does it work? Medical News Today. November 9, 2018.
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