Hi Laurie! Welcome to NT! I have a TENS unit and it does help. Long story short, several years ago (before MS dx) I went to physical therapy to help with the pain along my ribcage. This is the routine that helped me the most and I still do now when the hug gets worse. Most days I just tolerate it; it's part of my everyday life. It used to come and go in phases and I have been dealing with it since 1996?? '97ish? Only now it is constant and never stops and I now know what it is.

1. Apply warm (not hot) moist heat for 10 to 20 minutes or take a warm bath (Epsom salt helps a lot).
2. Do the TENS unit for 10 to 20 minutes.
3. (Optional but helpful) If you have some who can give you a massage, have them massage your back.
4. Apply ice for 10 to 20 minutes.
*Give yourself a few minutes between each one. Don't go straight from the warm to the TENS to the ice.

I have permanent severed/dead nerves in my ribcage extending in to my stomach (no abdominal reflexes on my left side). If you have something similar, don't apply the TENs lead to that area. You can burn yourself without realizing it.

I have spent many, many nights sleeping with an ice pack to help me sleep through the night/take some of the pain away. This usually happens during a spinal lesion flare. During those times, I know I will be down for a good week and it will take up to 8 weeks or more to feel better.

Hang in there Laurie!!! We all can relate to how you are feeling. Try different things and see what works best for you.