TENS unit
 

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

I have a nice TENS unit--
 

--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?...

TENS machine
 

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!

Hi
It is the Empi Select model. You could go to their web site and check it out. It originally came with connections for 4 electrodes, but they sent a pamphlet with it, which showed more wires, so I called them and asked to send them. That's how I get 8 pads on, and sometimes that isn't enough!

Hi, I live in Australia and have a machine called a Circulation Booster, which is a TENS machine. The machine is placed on the floor and your feet are placed on the machine, it also has extra electrode pads which you can place on various body parts, the book explains where to put the electrode pads for different pain areas. It has a timer that goes for 30min and you can ajust the strenght like any TENS machine. It has help the pain in different areas that I have put it, but while my feet feel good while I am using it, they go back the same after I have used it. I guess 30min is better than no relief at all. You can also get gloves for it but I have not purchased them yet as my hands are not too bad at the moment.

hoping that this was usefull

Lesley

I see there are a bunch of threads on this topic, so I didn't want to start yet another one. My doc started me on this: http://www.rsmedical.com/product_rs4m.asp It's not a TENS unit...I guess the frequency or something is different. Whatever it is, it helps. But it's the same-old thing-- when battery dies, you're left waiting for it to recharge. It looks like the way it's built, they really don't want you opening the unit.

So the thing is, it does, much to my amazement, help me not feel the burning pain in my feet if I put the pads on the sides of my calves. I just wish I didn't have to settle for forty minutes on, then down for charge time, and so on. I was wondering if I could find one on my own that would do the same thing for me that I could switch out. What would really be nice would be one that could run both on batteries and wall current. Does anyone know of something like that?

Battery/AC powered TENS/IFC/NMS Electrotherapy Unit
 

After lots of research, I bought a QuadStar II made by Bio Medical Systems.
It can drive up to 8 electrode pads.
I mainly use rechargeable nickel/metal/hydride batteries, but it also has a nice 'wall wart' AC supply with a convenient super-long cord.

I'm grateful to my Dr. who wrote a prescription so I could treat myself at home.

As a tech, I'm 'into' the electronics part of the therapy - still trying to learn more.

Used IFC (4 pad array) for my sore shoulder, knee, amd my wife's sciatica.
Running TENS in my regular foot soak for neuropathy.

Would enjoy hearing from anyone else with a QuadStar and how they use it!

I am also researching TENS units. There seem to be wide variety, and I suspect a wide variety of quality levels. May I ask where you sourced your unit and approx. price. I am seeing this one online for $357 through allegro medical, which would make it among the pricier units in the portable category. I do see that it also provides nms and inf in addition to TENS, so it is more sophisticated.

Thanks!

Also wondering what you did to get rid of your Neuropathy... would love to know

Thanks so much
Donna

Just curious how did you get rid of your Neuropathy symptoms, was there any one thing in particular that helped ?

Thanks
Donna

Lots of TENS info up in stickies
 

type TENS in your search and find lots of units. They asll do the same thing but charge what people will pay. My first cost $100.00 but my second cost $32.00.
does the same thing.

Allways research before buying anything.

Less pain to all. GEORGE