I'm starting a new thread on this because I never even held one in my hand before, let alone used one. I'm not using it because, well, I want to see if Alan lights up like a Christmas Tree or whatever. I have not forgotten what happened to me when the podiatrist used that vibrating planing tool on my toes. UGH!!!

So it's a ProM-300 TENS unit.
I just opened up the manual and said "you've got to be kidding'. I'm afraid I'll electrocute myself with this thing. Reminds me of when, years ago, I purchased a home jacuzzi, portable system, that you hooked up to the side of the tub and plugged it in and it was supposed to turn your bathtub into a whirlpool. I purchased it on my lunch hour and read the office staff what the manual said. There must have been 10 WARNINGs, on the pages. Don't do this, don't do that. So I told them, "if I don't come in tomorrow, I electrocuted myself". Well, I went home, took one look at the thing and said "forget it, I'm not plugging this thing into an electrical socket and stepping into the bathtub". I never used it, BUT, the next day, I got some kind of flu and never went to work and they all called my house thinking I electrocuted myself. I never laughed so hard, even with a headache.

I just opened the manual and it says stuff like Burst Mode, and Modulation Mode. I'm supposed to understand this thing??? Adjust Channel Amplitude.???

This unit was used by my friend's 82 year old mother so if she can do it, I guess we can do it too. I'm reading about pins and lead wires, and sockets (Oh my god).

Uh Oh, it says to use gel. Just checked inside the case and there is no gel. So do I go to a medical supply store and buy the gel???

OY VEY!!!! lol
Melody

I wonder, how difficult is it to get a Tens Unit? Can the doctor write a script for it?

My neurologist wrote mine; and I got a portable Empi unit, with two electrodes that are independently programmable, twelve different pulse patterns, and an intensity scale that ranges from zero to fifty. it runs off a rechargable nickel-cadmium 9-volt "transistor" battery. It's not one of those huge contraptions that one finds in physicl therapy offices, but it is good for what it is.

I originally got it to help with the thigh pain of meralgia parasthetica (a great addition to my neuropathy symptoms), but have used it all over my body. The pads at the end of the electrode wires come with a sticky gel already on them, to aid in the impulse conduction, although that means you can only use the pads a few times each before they lose gel and conductivity. Empi calls me each month to see if I need more sets of pads, and sends them by express mail.

I find the unit effective as long as I am using it--the electrical impulses mask the pain or tingling, as they are conducted to the brain more quickly than those sensations. After I shut the unit down and remove the pads, thouhg, the sensations come back fairly quickly. There are times, however, when they do not, almost as if the pulses have "re-programmed" the fifirng patterns of the nerves in that area. That happens only after really long session (hours), though, and not consistently.

Does this help in the long run too? Or just when the pain is strong? I had thought the clinic I was at was going to have that but they didn't. Melody could you maybe call the doc you work with on how to use it? Maybe even at the medical supply store they would know. Let us know I'm so interested in other treatments.

Well, I can't call the doctor, because he didn't prescribe it. My friend lent it to me for as long as Alan needs it. I thought it would come with gel that you put on because I read something about gel in the litle booklet that comes with it.

Now I read here on these boards that the little pads already have gel on them, really??? Didn't know that.

I'm scared to death to use this item. I know Alan, he'll pick up the book, take a look at all the instructions, the diagrams, the electrode info, the lead wire info, the amplitude info (I have no idea what these things are), and he'll hand me the stuff and say "here, Melody, you put this on me"

See, this is a man who points a remote at the cable box, and when it doesn't work, yells for me and says 'why can't I change the channel,?? and I look at him, burst out laughing, and say "you can't change the channel on the cable box, because you are pointing the VCR remote at it". He goes "oh,".

So believe me, if I dont' understand this and find out how it works, Alan will never use it. Or, even if he does, he'll light himself up like a christmas tree".

Dr. Theirl once told us he would lend us a unit if we so desired.

I was hoping one of you learned people who have used this would gently guide me in the process. For my first question, do I go out and buy gel, or do the pads actually have gel on them, (and how do I find this out?)

I really can't understand how this could help with pain, but Alan said "It redirects the pain signals to the brain". See, he might not know how to use remotes, but he does understand pain receptors.. lol.

Will update all of you. Melody

Mel,
I had the TENS treatments before, for a fractured finger
(that never healed right & is still 'bent').
You use the lowest settings for pulse and intensity, then gradually increase them until you feel a 'tingle' & is not uncomfortable.
Stay at those settings - or back off 1 setting.
You may want to play around at the pulse rate, but never more than is comfortable. Keep it going for anywhere from 5-10 mins to 1 hour and see if you get relief.
The pads have 'sticky-backs' gel is not necessary.
Hairy areas should be shaved for best stick/contact.

Nide44:

Thanks much. Now here's my question. Alan has PN pain between certain toes of his left foot and certain toes of his right foot.

Both feet are completely numb (he never knows if he has his socks on).
And his feet burn (before a rain, THEY REALLY BURN),

So where do we place the electrodes? Anyplace on the underside of his feet? On the tops of his feet?? Or because there are 4 pads, do I just take the pads and place them between the toes and then turn on the juice (at the lowest thing, I read what you said)?

Or does it matter where you place the pad. For example, if we put the pad on the top of one of the toes and turn it on, does the zapping thing only affect the area that it is zapping, or will it zap the whole foot (even though it's on low). See, Alan won't feel anything, so how do we know it's helping him??

I think I need to take a video course on Tens Units. As a matter of fact, I'm going to do a search on the internet. They have videos on everything, and if I could find a video of my Vidalia smart chopper, I most certainly should find a video of a Tens unit and how one uses it.

I remember, when I was prescribed Lantus (I had never given myself an injection before in my life), well before i even had the syringes in my house, I went to the Lantus website and I watched how to give oneself an injection. I must have watched that video a hundred times. I can now give myself an injection blindfolded (lol), but the first time was a doozy.

So before I go and plug Alan in, I want to see how others plug themselves in (if you get my drift).

Thanks so much.

Melody
P.S. What would I do without you guys on this forum??

Being that his PN is in his feet you can also get a divided foot bath or two buckets, put water and epsom salts in each side or each bucket and place one lead on one side or one bucket and the other lead on the other side or other bucket. This will make the tens more effective. It is how the rebuilder works basically, and it is totally safe. When you feel the tingle it is set high enough.

Hi Mel, i have a machine that is very similar to a T.E.N.S, it was really made for use on acupuncture points but it does the exact same thing as a T.E.N.S machine, runs on 4 small batteries, no gel with this one, but i just wet the skin with a tiny bit of water were the electrode was going under the electrode then secured it on with some adhesive tape, it made the pulse a lot stronger.
I used it on my feet, it helped me with the burning feeling whilst i had it on and for a while after too and i agree with Bob 100 % in that starting on a very low setting is only and safest way to go, i think its sorta trial and error until you get the right strength for the individual.
I hope it helps him.
all the best,
Brian

Brian:

Since this is not my machine, I'm not using it with any water. I have read about the rebuilder and all that is, is a TENS unit that you use with water.

We can't afford that either.

But the thing I simply wanted to do was find a video online to see exactly how a person would set up this thing. Attach the electrodes, where to place it, etc. etc.


Well, since I couldn't find it by typing into yahoo. "instructional video on the use of a TENS unit". I figured I would go to youtube. Now youtube.com has videos on absolutely anything. If you want to see a person eating a grasshopper I know you can find it on youtube.

So I typed in TENS unit and you would not believe what came up. There's a guy who has a tens unit on his arm and everyone is laughing as his hand contracts. They are having a ball just watching his hand contract and they are daring him to turn up the voltage.

But the thing that really freaked me out is that some guy attached his TENS unit (to a certain part of his anatomy) to see what would happen.

I didn't have the guts to watch this video.

Some people are absolutely nuts on this planet.

I will continue to search on the net. There has to be a instructional video somewhere on the internet.

If anyone knows where it, please post a link, okay??

Thanks.

and if I can't find any videos, I gather I will just read the manual and Alan and I will figure something out.

Good Lord