TENS Unit effecting nerve pain
 

I was rx a tens unit for pain in my right arm after my radial nerve received a 4 inch NeuraGen tube as a graft just above the wrist. 3 months after the surgery while in PT I was given this tens unit to use to help with my nerve pain in my upper arm. I followed the directions the company rep showed me as how to use by moving the pads around my arm and adjust the level the unit would put out and only run for 30 minutes on than 30 off throughout the day. After 3 days using this unit I could not take the pain any longer. When I had it on my pain went up to 10+ throughout my whole arm and ever since I tried this out my pain has stayed at this level. It is as if this flipped a switch in my arm to increase the pain to full and has never gone back down.

Has any else experience this or am I the only one to have this happen to. Ever since my pain meds had to be increased. I know this sounds weird but my wife says I am weird anyway.

It has been 9 months since the surgery should my nerve be feeling some what better by now or will it take more time. My hand Dr. has told me that it is a wait and see before I notice any improvement but how much longer. As time passes the pain throughout my arm is getting worst then before the surgery and to the point that I am at witts end and do not know what to do. I am starting to lose my mind from this. I am sorry I know that there are a lot of people here that are in much worst shape than I am and doing much better then I am as far as coping. I commend you all for that.

I'm sorry to hear about your pain. I've used a TENS unit for years and I have never had it aggravate my pain in the manner in which you describe. Have you contacted the prescribing doctor regarding this? Also, I don't have any experience with this condition, but Complex Regional Pain Syndrome comes to mind (CRPS). Here is a link with some information regarding it:http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/com...ndrome/DS00265
I'm not a medical type, just a chronic pain patient and I've read about this in researching my own problems. Good luck and post when you find out whats going on. Take care

I think that nerve is too raw for a tens. A tens is used on a complete nerve....your nerve is not attached at the distal end.

I would look into nerve regeneration technology....I know in Israel there was a clinic that regrew spinal nerves, and actually got spinal cord injured people walking, perhaps there is something like that available for major nerves being severed.

I would think some of what you are going thru is what an amputee feels, but your part is still there. All that nerve senses is that it is no longer connected to the hand, and as far as it is concerned the hand is gone. If and until it restablishes contact with the hand, my thought is, that it will signal pain, as in an amputee, basically phantom pain, but with you, you have the limb.

Does any of this make sense?

Tens Unit
 

I need to know the correct placement of the Tens electrodes for

You can place the pads anywhere on the arm as long as they are 6 inches apart. I had tried them on the forearm low, mid, upper area then moved the pads to the upper arm. Did not matter where I placed them I adjusted the power to when I felt a little tingle and leave it alone for 30 minutes. Leave the unit off for 30 minutes then repeat on for 30 then off for 30 for up to 6 hours a day as I was told by the TENS rep.

Hope this answered your question.

Dennis