Hi;

Does anyone own a TENS unit? I understand that it feels like electricity and can be helpful for pain. But is it good for people with neuropathy? Could someone please give me a review of TENS , positive or not.

Thanks;

Hi
I have a TENS, and just love it! I can put up to 8 electrodes (patches) on it, and me. It has different settings, and I can adjust the strength or frequency.

I just use it whereever I hurt. I have PN in my feet, back pain, and seem to be developing a sensory issue. My pain management doc lets me use it where I need to.

If you have one, or can get one, go for it!!!!

Barb

Are these expensive and how do you go about getting one?

Not expensive, but I suppose it depends on where you get it from.
I believe for a TENS unit you need a drs signature /Rx or possibly a chiropractor would work as a signature.

[PURPOSE: A Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator, or TENS, unit is designed to relive post-operative, acute and chronic pain. It is used for pain caused by peripheral nerves and not central. TENS units are prescription-only devices. ]
http://vitalityweb.com/backstore/tens2.htm

I got a EMS machine for my chronic mild muscle pain.
You don't need rx for that kind.

more info on the various types of e stims-
http://vitalityweb.com/backstore/Muscle-Stimulator.htm

tens unit reviews -
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&c...S+unit&aqi=g10

when I had painful neuropathy (I don't anymore, I have numbness and motor loss) I tried a tens unit and it didn't really do much for me. It might have lowered the pain from an 10 to an 8, but that just wasn't significant enough for me to be worth the hassel.

I was able to hire one before buying - so, I didn't buy of course - but see if you are able to do this. Of course if you can get it on insurance that is something else, but that wasn't an option for me.

cheers

raglet

--that I use on all sorts of body parts, just so that I can get some relief from all the wonderful parastheses that kick up.

TENS is not healing in any real sense--on needs higher intensity IFC for that (which physical therapists or chiropractors often have), but it does help to replace annoying sensations with another sensation that is regular and one can get used to. Pain signals, in particular, are, oddly, the slowest transmitted signals through nerve pathways, and TENS vibrations/pulses are transmitted more quickly and interfere with those sensations.

I have to say with mine, it's nice while it's on, but there's no continued after-effect--as soon as I shut it down/take it off, the parastheses seem to come back.

Hi
My PM wrote the script, called it into Empi, who checked with my ins co, and it was shipped in a few days.

Another poster said it doesn't "cure" the pain. That is soooo true. But I sleep with mine. All night. And well. And can still hurt the next morning when I take it off. But I slept. Maybe I don't hurt quite as much and can move more freely, so its worth it for me. Everyone is different, if you could get one on a trial for a week or two, that may be worth checking into. My husband doesn't like the sensation at all and won't use it for his aches and pains.

Just curious: what did you actually do to get rid of your PN pain?...

If you don't mind, please list the name and model number of your machine?

I had one 15 years ago, for muscle pain....it felt like neuropathy does now.

I didn't get much from it.

The stuff the PT does with electrodes and steroids, now that works!