When I first got my Tens, it was from a PT place that didn't know much about RSD. They told me use it 20 mins every few hours, as strong as I could stand. Pretty much how someone with a back injury would use it.

When I went to Clev. Clinic PT, where they are used to dealing with Stanton Hicks RSD patients... they had a different idea. They said to use it on low, where I could barely feel it, and work up to keeping it on all day long. The unit I have has 12 different pulse types. They said to use either the constant, or the low frequency pulses... but I seem to like the random low frequency pulse. When its a constant pattern - it bugs me.

It's important how you put the sticky pads on. They wanted me to put them in an X pattern - so the pads from one lead were opposite each other... if one is on the upper left, the other pad on the same lead should be on the lower right.

Mine is made by Empi. I called them, and they told me of a web page I could sign in to that gave me a lot of "maps" of body areas showing where to place the pads. When I went to PT, it was for my shoulder, but I have pain from the RSD in many areas, and these maps helped me figure out how to place the pads in those areas.

Unfortunately, the TENS doesn't do a whole lot of my worst RSD areas. But it does help some of the areas. I often use it on my upper shoulders when I am at work (I work at a computer) and it seems to help me keep from getting more painful there from my job. My insurance does not cover the pads, though, and I think they are terribly expensive. 3 packages of 4 are over $125 - and that's the reduced rate after being billed to the insurance. Even though the insurance doesn't cover them, Empi has to accept a reduced rate. Your only supposed to use them 15 or 20 times -- but I use them a lot longer than that. After you use them to long, they get to shocking you a bit when the rubber stuff wears to thin... then you have to replace them.

Good luck with it.

Bobber
I'm a PT student (and also have crps) if you can wait a couple of days I can send you some generic information about TENS with specific programs and also some info my PT has put together regarding patients who have crps and how they should use TENS. My laptop which has all the data on it is currently being fixed lol.
I find that a lot of PTs prescribe TENS without really remembering or knowing the principles behind it, one of my tutors has just had a big paper published on its effectiveness but not specifically to do with crps patients..

Anyhow let me know and I'll pm you some useful information to help you test it out in ways that will test it most effectively for you and fingers crossed actually provide you with some relief!