Guide to Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and your TENS Unit
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TENS Treatment-The Answer for Relieving Pain
Have you been suffering from low back pain, arthritis, migraines, rheumatism and other forms of pain? These are indeed discomforts on our part. And eventually we always want to get a relief from all those pain.
Currently, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is the widely used form of electroanalgesia. Medical Conditions Reports show that TENS give initial pain relief in 70% to 80% of patients. The comfort of the patient is the best determinant of the success of TENS treatment.
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation is a non-invasive treatment that has no known side effects. It does not cause drowsiness or nausea. Through TENS, a painless electrical current is being sent to specific nerves. The mild current then stimulates the body to create endorphins, which are the body’s natural pain killing substances. It is used to relieve pain by blocking pain messages to the brain through the spinal cord and other peripheral nervous system. With TENS, the electrodes are situated around the pain area or acupuncture sites.
How does TENS treat pains?
Depending on which kind of treatment, the manner of how the pain is being lessened could be via blocking the pain messages or producing endorphins. With high frequency TENS treatment, the TENS signal being produced is much stronger than the pain messages. Thus, the pain messages are being blocked in the spinal cord before it even reaches the brain. This will produce a buzzing sensation between the electrodes. This creates a longer relief and could be administered for 30 to 60 minutes. It is the quickest way of relieving pain.
On the other hand, with low frequency treatment, the body is being stimulated to create endorphins. There is a visible muscle twitching when TENS treatment is being applied in this manner. The endorphins will act as blockage for interrupting pain messages along the nerves. The result of this treatment can last longer. However, for it to be effective, treatment needs to take longer.
Also, for the treatment to become effective, the site where the electrodes should be placed is important. Usually, it should be directly on the pain area. However, it was also proven that best results are attained when electrodes are placed around the pain site or around or over the acupuncture sites.
What conditions can TENS treat?
Once you experience pain, it is important to have it diagnosed by a medical practitioner. Often times, this is already a symptom of another ailment. There are times that these pains would cause us discomfort, depression and would restrict us with our normal activities. TENS can treat many painful conditions, whether acute or chronic pain.
Here are some common conditions that TENS can treat:
• Ankylosing spondylosis
• Acute sprains, sports and occupational injuries
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Fibrosistis/myofascial pain syndromes
• Labour pain
• Low back pain
• Migraine and headaches
• Neck pain, cervical spondylosis, whiplash injuries
• Nausea and vomiting
• Osteoporosis
• Osteoarthritis of joints
• Peripheral nerve injuries and neuropathy of various causes
• Phantom limb pain
• Post herpeticneuralgia
• Post operative neuralgia and scar tissue pain
• Pain in cancer and other terminal ailments
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Referred pain such as sciatica
• Tendonitis/ bursitis
• Stress and insomnia
• Other pain conditions.
However, TENS is not suitable and should not be administered for these situations:
• Those who have cardiac problems.
• Those with carotid sinus.
• Directly in a wound/cut.
• Over the uterus during pregnancy unless for labour pain.
• Directly over the eyes, mouth, front and side of neck.
• Those with pacemaker.
• Those who are emotionally disturbed or have dementia.
• If pain is not diagnosed by the doctor.
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