I've been to every single session with him. I do my own workouts (for my frozen shoulder). I have a ball there.

The top guy (don't know what your would call him at this place), but he's the one who set the tens machine and told me to leave it at that setting and he can do it for as long as he wanted to. He did tell me (Alan slept all through this discussion), he told me that Alan should start at the lowest session.

I told this to Alan but he wanted to do what he wanted to do.

I did tell him that if he used it again and turned the dial all the way to the right, that he would be a dead husband. He laughed.

He woke up and feels just dandy.

We're going there tomorrow. I shall get more detail on the electrodes with the big pad over it, (don't know if it's IFc).

Will update.

Melody

I've used the TENS unit now for just under a year. I have never had any complications from using it. I use it on my feet which are totally numb and most always burning. I crank it all the way up - and I can barely feel it. I occasionally use it on my hands as well. This is a totally different situation - I can really feel it and it does make my fingers dance. Sometimes it is more effective than other times. My insurance paid for it and pays for all the supplies. The company sends me an order sheet monthly and I just check off what I need (if anything). It was prescribed to me by a physical therapist.

Cheryl:

Exactly what does this do for your feet?? Does it take away the burning??

Today, I accompanied Alan to the pysical therapist and I asked about the electrode thingee (with the big pads), that they put on his calf, and they put a big hot pack over it.

I asked them "what is this thing called"?. It's called a Low Voltage Stimulator.

It's not a Ifc. I made sure to ask this question.

It's supposed to stimulate healing.

I then asked about the TENS unit and told the guy what Alan did (revved it up to the highest thing on the dial). He said "Melody, it's powered by a 9 volt battery, don't worry, he can't hurt himself.". He did say that he should increase the thing slowly, and not to just turn it on and dial it to the highest number. Alan said he would do this.


Now today, I USED THE DARN THING.

My knee was killing me. I put the two pads where the chart said (I went to one of the links in one of the posts) and there's a chart that shows you where to place the electrodes.

I can laugh now, but honestly, I was afraid I would electrocute myself.

I v e r y s l o w l y turned it on, and started to dial the intensity.

I felt nothing till I got to 4, then I stopped at 5.

And I said 'Alan puts this thing on 8???, holy moly.

I also put it on my frozen shoulder.

I shall try it on my feet.

The weather is nuts and that's why I'm burning.

Going to Cornell on Friday.

electrostim
 

is another electrical device for healing. I don't think it ocillates the way the IFc does, but it is not the same as TENs. I don't know why it is used instead of IFc, but it may have to do with tissue damage/surgery.

I had IFc and ultrasound myself. (tendon injury but no surgery)

This site gives definitions:
http://au.answers.yahoo.com/answers2...7162658AAfm73M

Hi Melody - Yes, the TENS Unit does help with the burning. It helps while you are using it and for awhile after (time varies). One thing I know about it is it is supposed to help with circulation. My doctors say that my circulation is fine... Also, you can use it while soaking a foot in water - have not tried that yet as the instructions do not make sense to me.:eek:

Cheryl

Cheryl

You can use it while soaking in WATER???

Me??? Don't think so!!

I'd be frightened half to death, that I'd be electrocuted.

Reminds me of A LONG LONG TIME ago, when I was working, I had gone to Bloomingdales and I went to their Bath and Body department and I purchased a home Jacuzzi. It was $100. Do you know how expensive $100 was 25 years ago??

The thing looked really cool. And since I LOVED whirlpools, and this thing turned your bathtub into a whirlpool, I figured "why the heck not"??

So I purchased it on my lunch hour, and took out the directions and showed everyone what the instruction booklet said.

WELL!!! I will never forge this part. On the left side of the instruction booklet there were all these DON'TS!!!!

DON'T IMMERSE THE CABLE IN WATER.

DON'T IMMERSE THIS PART OF THE UNIT IN WATER.

DON'T DO THIS.

DON'T DO THAT!!!

I just looked at the instruction manual and said to myself "oh lordy, can I really do this??"

The unit was to fit over the side of the bathtub and make all the water turn into whirling jets of warm water. Sounds good, right??

But my mind always went to the left side of the instruction booklet WITH ALL THE DON'TS!!!

There were more DON'Ts and DANGER!!!! then there were 'SAFE!!!!

So I looked at my fellow co-workers and said:

"Well, I'm going to try this gadget out tonight and if I don't show up for work tomorrow morning, you'll know that I electrocuted myself".

Everybody laughed.

So that night, I take it out of the box, I again look at all the DON'Ts, and I promptly got scared and put the unit back in the box all prepared to bring it to work and return it on my lunch hour.

I awoke the next morning with a fever and could not go to work.

Well you should have seen everybody calling my house thinking I electrocuted myself.

I never laughed so hard. I had to assure my boss that I didn't have burns all over my body.

I never used that thing, and now I'm told that I can put electrodes on my feet and put them in the water while using a tens unit???


I don't think so!!!! lol

Cheryl its not really complicated, you get a divided boot bath at a store like walgreens, fill it about half way with water and put some epsom salts in it, then take one red lead from the tens unit with the pad off and put it in one side of the foot bath and then take the black lead with the pad off and put it in the other side of the foot bath. It will not electrocute you , you will feel increased strength of electrical pulses over dry pads and the epsom salts will make your feet feel better as well.

Hey Joe - Thanks for the info. I think I might just try this since I cannot feel it when I crank the machine all the way up.

Melody, if you don't hear from me again - you will know why!:D

Cheryl

How much Epso Salts did you put in each side of the divided foot bath?

How much Epsom Salts did you put in each side of the divided foot bath?