Tens for Nerve pain????
 

I am desperately trying to figure out other ways to minimize my burning pain, especially at night when my pain seems to flare most.

I had gotten a Tens machine through my insurance last year but have been afraid to use on the areas where my burning is present.( upper back/shoulders).
Model Med Stim TS-1211 - http://www.medi-stim.com/downloads/T...lSheet_web.pdf

I tried to find information that explains why TENS might help but I haven’t seem to have found anything compelling and the studies that have had some success were for PN caused by Diabities.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroanalgesia

I still wanted to give it a try but was trying to find out if there is any specific treatment TENS protocols for Peripheral Neuropathy. I found a place that does gives general settings and electrode placement for the feet but my issue is in lies between C5-C8. If you click on the electrode placement tab at the top and fill out name and email and click continue, you can download a pdf the gives you that info. You don’t have to put a real name and email to download the pdf.

http://painmanagement4u.com/nerve-pain-relief



I am thinking possibly putting one lead on my spine and one in the area that’s burning but still not sure about what stimulation setting and pulse width and rate to choose.

I would appreciate anyone to chime in and share some success with their Tens unit and would like to share their settings. MY biggest fear is the TENS machine will make my burning increase as cold laser therapy and traction seemed to make my nerves fire off like crazy.

Tens
 

You have to experiment with it. Basically it is fooling your nerves. It works well for me on my lower back and sometimes shoulders. Of course we are all different.

Here is another link.
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q...U2hKWhadV_zkLA

This link for thoracic placement:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q...l2wciqibVO78EA

http://www.carerehab.com/protocols.html#TENS

This seems to be the motherload.

What is this interferential current device? On that page they have some protocols for nervepain.

Looks like its slightly different then TENS.

Found this:

http://www.texas-medical.com/info/IFinfo.htm

Inferential is actually better. I had it at PT... The therapist says
the inferential currents change in wave form and that somehow
causes healing. TENs only mask nerve signals.

I had inferential for almost 3 months along with ultrasound when I had my tendon/hip/groin injury. You can buy them too online, and they are between 100 and 200 dollars.

Sounds good for muscle/tendon issues but does it matter when it comes to nerve pain?

I have no idea.

I think the website below has a good overall explanation of the types of stims and what the main focus of each do-

[DIFFERENT TYPES OF ELECTRICAL MUSCLE STIMULATION
EMS, TENS, INTERFERENTIAL and RUSSIAN MUSCLE STIMULATORS]
http://vitalityweb.com/backstore/Muscle-Stimulator.htm

i used interferential therapy for nerve pain, the throbbing, burning, squeezing pain. it was very effective for me getting that type of pain under control especially for the pain that seems to intensify when you go to bed. I found it more effective than tens therapy.

Thanks for sharing. Can you be more specific as far as what settings you used, electrode placement, treatment duration and pain intensity throughout the treatment cycle?

the settings you will have to experiment with. i change the settings depending on how im feeling.

duration of 20-30 minutes.

at first i was treated with a professional unit at a podiatrists office. the placement of the electrodes was above the area being treated, like ankle area for feet, wrist for hands etc. now i use the electrodes in a divided foot bath with one electrode on each side. the reason i do this is that my feet are so numb that i wont feel the electricity if i just attach the electrodes to my skin without the water. its safe, just put one lead in each side and one foot or hand in each side. its the same basic concept as what the rebuilder did as far as using a footbath.

as far as pain intensity, the treatment doesnt hurt if thats what you mean. if you mean how do pain levels react, it reduces the pain while you are using it and longer term treatment leads to permanent reduction of pain even when you are not using it. not elimination but reduction. how much would depend on the person and what type and cause of PN they have.

wether it would work for you i cant say. if you go to a podiatrist or physical therapy place that has it, you could try it. their unit would be stronger than the home unit.