I used a tens unit for about 3 or 4 years. I had two since I had bilateral TOS. They helped me a lot. Just make sure you don't turn them up to high. Your Dr. will most likely tell you what to set it on but I worked with mine until I got it set to my liking.

I think they work great but some people most likely didn't have the luck I had with them.

Ada

Hi Summertime,

I used a TENS unit before I was diagnosed with RSD and it didn't help me. It was really weird as I had a lot of pain in my leg but I couldn't feel the electrodes anywhere from my knee downwards, not even of the highest setting!!

I hope the TENS unit helps you - i've heard a lot of people who have had some sort of pain relief from them.

Good Luck!!
Alison

Ok this is all I have been told by docs and this and what I have experienced. Again though make sure you follow your treatment program. Anyhow that range of motion,strength training,etc is key to recovery from this. I had went to a day program for pain at Cleveland Clinic and my pain is in my inner ankle/foot/calf. Anyhow I lasted only a few days from my pain being so high and all the activity so that is why they want to do a catheter so I am able to do pt. The last doc said it is like a dog trying to catch its tail. That it is important in the long run to do pt but it hurts so bad that many are unable. Even though I have built up my walking time that is not enough because range of motion etc is key. It is still hard for me to wrap my mind around how that will make the pain go away in the long run. I try to not think of this like a "normal" injury but still it is hard. Good luck.

As you said, everyone responds differently. When I had a tens back in the 80's all that happened was irritation where the electrodes were applied. I am sure that these devices have improved (the 80's was like the dark ages for electronics) since then, but I hesitate to give it a go again.

One of the best things about the TENS is that it can be tried quickly and with no surgical procedure. It is simple to "rent" one, give it a trial and then give it back if you don't like it.

Mike

I have done all kinds of therapy and the most important thing is having a physical therapist who is well educated on RSD and looks at you as an individual patient and does not see everything as black and white. I cannot tolerate contrast baths due to the vasomotor instability of my RSD and any therapist that suggests it is not the therapist for me and I walk out the door immediately. I have found that aquatic therapy is essential and the water has to be 95 degrees or my legs go numb. But I can do exercises in the water that I could never do on land and if I fall, no harm no foul and I do not hurt myself. It has been a lifesaver.

I am still finding physical therapy painful. I went to PT and the burning is increasing. I now have it in the back of my thigh.
I don't know about any of you but this exhaust me to the point I am not just physical tired but emotionally exhausted.
Just thought I'd give you all a little update.
Thanks again for all the support.
Take care everyone.

Summertime,

Are you seeing any benefit from the PT? I endured therapy long enough to see if there was any real physical benefit from it, but once I saw that there was not significant improvement I stopped. Your therapist should be able to clearly explain the goals of your treatment plan

It was strange because I enjoyed the treatments and it actually felt good. However, the pain following the treatments would be horrible. I was recovering from lumbar surgery which triggered RSD in my legs and feet.

If therapy is improving your situation, then by all means tough it out; but if you are not being helped then there is no point in going through all of that pain.

Best regards,

EJ

Hi kejbrew

The only improvement I see is my balance is a little better other than that not much more.

I'll push through it for a little longer and see how it goes. It's frustrating.

Thank you

Hi Summertime, I wrote you last night, but it didn't go thru. I'll try again. Yes, I have a TENS unit and it helped me a lot. It has leads and a patch. You can monitor the frequency and strength of the current. It's like a distraction; The Dr. that diagnosed me ordered it and physical therapy. Insurance paid for it and the replacement patches. I had already had rsd for maybe 4 years but didn't know it and had lots of p.t. for frozen shoulder after breast surgery. Then had hand injury during water skiing. RSD used to be called shoulder hand syndrom. Anyway, I had a lot of therapy on hand and got half of the range of motion back to my fingers and they desensitized my hand so I could bear things touching it. My fingers bend about 1/2 way now. but can cut my own food etc.
Therapy is very painful, but the only way I got use of both arms (frozen shoulder) and use of hand. Was losing my toes, ( I have full body RSD) they were turning upward off the flood. Dr. gave me exercises to do in the swimming pool, and now they touch the floor. I try to stretch and do something everyday. I can't remember, Summertime, but do you have frozen shoulder? I remember how much torture it was, tears falling down my face, while strapped on a table. I took pain meds before treatment and I also had an hour of massage therapy that I paid for. After about 50 treatments, they introduced me to a orthopedic surgeon who wanted to break my shoulder. I said no thank you. Everyone knows surgery is the worst thing you can do for an rsd patient unless absolutely necessary. I called my insurance company and told them about my introduction to surgeon, and asked them did they want me to go that route or pay for my massage therapy sessions, that I had before the p.t.? They said OH we would be happy to pay for the massage therapy. So I feel , for me, that was the best way to go, massage and p.t. After a few more months, we moved out of state. They therapist told me it might move over to the other shoulder and it did. In RSD language that is called mirror spread. I found a great therapist, who had just opened a new office. He was the PGA physical therapist who traveled on the pro golf circuit. He was great and the therapy was not very long compared to the first shoulder. I still use a cylinder styrofoam and lay on it and roll rom side to side. I do other exercises to keep my shoulders loose and straight.
I do agree about too much pain is not good, but I don't think there is a way out of a part of our body locking up from RSD to loosen up without considerable pain. Swimming has been my best helper, but when I was so bad, I couldn't even do that.
I hope the best for you. What part of the country do you live in? Everyone on here is a kind and compassionate person who understands what you are going thru.
I had the electric shocks and shooting pains, spasms and knife like pain, They only stopped when I went on anti-seizure med after I was correctly diagnosed. Take care, Loretta

Hi Loretta

You've been through a lot also. I posted on the spinal forum about SCS. This is the next step. I'm scared though.
I know there's no easy answer and everyone is different in treatment, what works for them might not work another,etc..
I am already having a bad day as I feel my thigh is on fire. This stinks, there's no other way to put, well there is but I don't want to kicked off the site..LOL

I have seen the emotional toll this has put on my family. That bothers me a lot also. I'm very fortunate to have a wonderful husband and caring kids. They help me a lot but I also do as much as I can to keep active until I can not go anymore. About mid day I'm taking a nap because I hurt so much.

Thanks for sharing and being here for me and everyone else. This site is a blessing. I felt so alone and lost,this may sound really dumb but knowing others are going through this helps to know I'm not alone...does that make sense..

to everyone..