I use the TENS for the hug. BUT, if the area is really nervy, meaning nerve pain, . That hurts. If it's muscular, its fine.

I take Neurontin for nerve pain and it works well as long as I don't up the dose.

I don't take anything for the spasms and just do my best to endure them. If they are really bad, I will take an Ativan. I do take Epsom salt baths and that helps, at least for a bit.

My routine when things get bad . . . Take an Epsom salt bath, do the TENS unit if the pain isn't nervy, and then I put an ice pack on my ribs. Between this and the Neurontin, I am able to get some sleep at night. I sometimes do this during the day, but I tend to opt for the ice packs more during the day. I don't use a heating pad as that always seems to make it worse.

Hope you find something that helps you with the pain.