At my last checkup with my primary CRPS doctor, (I have it in my foot) he suggested that I might want to try a TENS unit. The one in particular that he wrote a prescription for is manufactured by "Sensus". It is obvious that the target market for this particular device is diabetics with neuropathy problems, but my doctor said that he recently read of it being tried with CRPS.

It attaches with a velcro strap just below the knee and once set up, you just press the on button and it automatically runs for one hour, then shuts off. You can have it run every other hour if you like and can tweak the strength up or down a bit.

I have done some research on TENS therapy and CRPS and while some have had some limited relief, what I mostly found is that CRPS is generally resistant to this type of therapy and sometimes can even aggravate the CRPS.

But what the heck, it's non-invasive and I've got nothing to lose as I can rent the unit very inexpensively for up to 2 months; insurance pays for most of the rental. If it helps, my insurance will buy the unit and if it doesn't help, I just turn the unit back in.

If any of you have had any personal experience with TENS therapy, please chime in! I'll keep you posted as to my experience with it.

Below is a link to an overview of the Sensus unit. Click on this link to get to the Sensus homepage, then if you would like to watch a 2 minute video on how it works, click on the link "Watch the Sensus Overview".

http://www.sensusrx.com/learn-about-...nt-system.html

I use a TENS unit mostly for my ankle (the original site of my RSD) but also sometimes for flare ups in my arms if the pain is in a spot that I can surround with the electrodes from the TENS unit. I find it to be one of the most successful means on pain control...but it is limited in the sense that I can only use it when I'm have a flare up in a specific spot vs more generalized all over pain (I get both).

When I use it for my ankle I surround the pain site with the electrodes (about an inch or two away from the pain site on all sides). Then I put on socks or an ankle brace to hold everything in place...and then I run the cords of the TENS unit up my pant leg (so they won't snag on anything) and have the control unit attached at the waist band or pocket of my pants. Then I can wear it all day long.

I find that for me...I have to have the setting set at a constant level (vs a variable one) and I set it at the lowest setting I get relief from. Then...as time goes on I will increase that level during the session (sometimes I have it on for only 15 minutes, usually 30 minutes, and sometimes even an hour). When the session is over I turn it off and when the pain starts to creep up again I do another session. This works VERY well for me.

But the limitation for me is that this works great when my ankle flares up, or my forearm, but when my whole leg flares up at once then the TENS unit doesn't work and only aggravates the pain.

I may check out this sensus one...as it doesn't sound like you have to surround the area of pain with the electrodes...so maybe that would work better over a bigger, more generalized area.

Thought I would give you an update on my Sensus TENS unit. I've been using it now for about 6 weeks. See picture below. Tens stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. TENS machines works by sending stimulating pulses across the surface of the skin and along the nerve strands. The physiological principle is that excitation of normal nerves reduces transmission of pain signals to the brain. This unit is most popular with diabetics that suffer from painful diabetic neuropathy.

The unit is well designed and I've found it easy to use. Simply insert a gel based electrode (replace them about every 2 weeks depending on how much you use it), wrap it around your leg, attach with velcro straps and press the on button. It's small/thin size allows you to wear it under your pants. It's the only TENS unit that is FDA cleared for use during sleep.

It runs for an hour and then automatically shuts off. On first use, you "characterize" it to your body and the power level you feel comfortable with. At any time, you can either increase or decrease the power. At any time, you can stop the unit. You can even set it on "continuous mode", where it runs for an hour, is off for an hour, then runs for an hour. The continuous mode is what you would use during sleep.

I find it most valuable to use it later in the day when my the pain level in my foot is always higher, or when I'm having a flare. I can't honestly say that it substantially reduces the pain level that I am experiencing, but I will say that it distracts me from the CRPS pain and the feeling of the electrical current changes my perception of my CRPS pain and makes it more tolerable.

Best part is that my insurance completely covered the cost of it after I met with my primary CRPS doctor and he verified that it is of value to me in managing chronic pain.

Please understand that this unit has absolutely no curative value and doesn't make that claim; it simply is another "tool in the toolbox" to manage my CRPS pain. Tens seems to work for some people with chronic pain, but may not work at all for others and may even aggravate your condition, so results vary widely from what I've seen. But the way I look at it, the more tools we have to help manage this condition, the better off we are. Gotta throw everything including the kitchen sink at CRPS!

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Thanks for the update. I was really interested in hearing how this worked out for you. I may ask my dr about it since I do get relief from the TENS unit I have...but its a little more complicated to wear with all the wires and everything.

Hey Birchlake-I'm wondering if you are still using your SENSUS. If so, approximately how many hours/day? Does it seem as helpful as when you were initially using it?

BG

Hi BraveGirl,

Yes, I am still using my Sensus Tens unit. I use it most every day for my foot CRPS, usually later in the day when my pain level is higher. Cycles last an hour and I usually run only one cycle, but have run two cycles back to back at times.

I also use it for my knee on the other leg as I am suffering from serious osteoarthritis in 2 of the 3 knee compartments. Helps with that too!

It is working just about exactly as I thought it would. It helps take the "edge" off the pain. But I'll take that.

It's simply another tool in the toolbox I guess. With CRPS, we need lots of tools!

I had zero luck with Tens units or Spinal Cord Stimulators. Yet, from what one of my pain management doctors told me, things such as these can provide some relief to at least 85% of CRPS / RSD patients. For that reason, I gave it a try and have encouraged other CRPS patients to do the same. I like the way you put it, it is non invasive, so why not! I love your attitude. I hope that it works for you.

-Spike-

I am using something that is very similar. Called a WINS (wearable intensive nerve stimulator) it is by a company called quell. www.quell.com I have had for over 2 weeks and it takes the edge off for pain as well.

Also FDA cleared for sleep. It's useful to me and was only $250.

Very interesting and yes, very similar to the "Sensus" TENS unit that I use. I'm using my Sensus unit right now as I compose this message! Both Sensus and Quell are wearable, which increases utility greatly in my opinion. I like the ability that the Quell unit has to be controlled by your smartphone too, something my Sensus unit does not offer.

As for price, my Sensus unit is being offered on the internet for $330, although I got mine at no cost as it was prescribed to me by my Podiatrist and my insurance paid the entire cost. All I pay for are replacement electrodes which are around $3.00 each, also covered (partially) by my insurance. Electrodes last approximately 2 weeks. So it's really cheap therapy and I use it daily.

On the Quell website is an interesting article called "Science Behind Quell™ Wearable Pain Relief Technology for Treatment of Chronic Pain" It is pretty detailed, but it gives you an idea of how these devices work. Here's a link to the article. There is some pretty complex science behind these devices.

https://www.quellrelief.com/files/sc...hind-quell.pdf

The Quell and the Sensus are actually sold by the same company. The basic technology is basically identical and the electrodes are the same. The Sensus came out 1st and was/is available by prescription only. The Quell came out later and you can buy it without a prescription. It's been a while since I looked at the two units, but if I remember correctly, the only difference between them is that Quell has the additional ability to be controlled with your smart phone (I think that's right-someone please correct me if I'm wrong). I think the only reason to go with the Sensus over the Quell is it if you can get your insurance to cover it, which is what I also did for my daughter. She (my daughter) also reports that it is a nice distraction from the pain. Definitely no magic bullet, but another nice resource to help cope with flareups. It is certainly an improvement over a typical tens unit, in that you can wear it all day (and even at night) and there are no wires to deal with. The downside, is that you can only use it to treat your leg. I wish they had one for the arm!