Anyone use a TENS unit?

[TripleB]

I've been having some arm, shoulder, and neck pain a few weeks now and am looking for some relief. I thought about getting one of those Shiatsu massagers but remember a tennis instructor once telling me about a TENS unit he used that helped his tennis elbow a great deal.

Has anyone here used a TENS unit to try and get rid of pain? If so, how well did it work?

Not necessarily this unit but something like this: https://www.amazon.com/truMedic-TENS-Electronic-Pulse-Massager/dp/B00DCEBLP4/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=hpc&rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1482106425&sr=1-1&keywords=TENS+massage&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011%2Cp_36%3A2000-5000%2Cp_6%3AATVPDKIKX0DER

Thanks for any help or advice!

TripleB

 

[mikeler]

They work OK. Ultrasound is more effective if you are looking to invest in a machine but you need to learn how to properly use it.

 

[Sirius Black]

They work OK. Ultrasound is more effective if you are looking to invest in a machine but you need to learn how to properly use it.

Ultrasound is most certainly not more effective. Its efficacy is highly questionable.

 

[mikeler]

Ultrasound is most certainly not more effective. Its efficacy is highly questionable.

Ultrasound is more effective for me. The clinical unit worked especially well. The TENS unit does provide some relief and the price is reasonable.

 

[shindemac]

I've been having some arm, shoulder, and neck pain a few weeks now and am looking for some relief. I thought about getting one of those Shiatsu massagers but remember a tennis instructor once telling me about a TENS unit he used that helped his tennis elbow a great deal.

Has anyone here used a TENS unit to try and get rid of pain? If so, how well did it work?

Not necessarily this unit but something like this: https://www.amazon.com/truMedic-TEN...5:2470955011,p_36:2000-5000,p_6:ATVPDKIKX0DER
https://www.amazon.com/truMedic-TEN...5:2470955011,p_36:2000-5000,p_6:ATVPDKIKX0DER
Thanks for any help or advice!

TripleB

I don't have any good specific advices, but I thought I'd chime in. I'd discover the secret to pain since i've dealt with injuries to the shoulder, broken wrist, and so on. It caused stiffness, esp. wearing a cast for several months, etc. Then when i dislocated it, more tightness around the neck, shoulder, back area so pain, tightness, etc. I was not even aware I was developing something until someone informed me on here, and it was called "locked shoulder" or "frozen shoulder" or something like that. I don't remember exactly so you can look up the offending thread. Anyways, long story short, it's important to get rid of the tightness so that healing can begin. Let me explain my theory. Muscle tightness causes your muscles to contract and this in turn can impede the blood vessels in the offending area. Blood flow is the key since it is the life force that contains all the nutrients and other goodness for healing.

 

[Crocodile]

My Physio uses the tens unit a lot, especially on the lower back in conjunction with massage, traction and heat along with prescribed exercises and swimming and the results have been very good. I had pretty painful sciatic pain down my leg ( Probably pinched nerves from bulging and degenerstive disks).

 

[ollinger]

instructor once telling me about a TENS unit he used that helped his tennis elbow a great deal.

let's be clear here: A TENS won't "help tennis elbow" unless you mean brief symptomatic relief and it's worn while playing. If TENS do anything at all, and the evidence is pretty meager, it's brief symptomatic relief only while it's being worn. The TENS has no effect on the underlying condition that causes the symptoms.

 

[Mongolmike]

I have a home TENS unit... use it occasionally. When I was in recovery from knee replacement, the PT used it every session and I brought my unit in and had him set it to the settings he thought best. I now use it for occasionally back tightness. It works ok.

Smartest thing the PT told me... if it works for you, keep doing it. If it doesn't work for you, stop. Some people a chiropractor works well, others not. Same as a massage, PT, TENS, accupunture, Chondrotin, etc., etc. If it works, keep doing it. IF not, stop.

 

[frank52]

I have a unit and it seems to work OK for pain. For a few dollars more consider getting a combo unit that has tens, interferrential, ems, and microcurrent. Two models are the Ultima Neo and Intensity Select Combo. You can get one at otcwholesale.com with no medical prescription necessary. I have the Intensity Select Combo and its worked fine for me for several years. Another electronic gizmo that I haven't tried due to cost is PEMF (pulsed electro magnetic). See one at micro-pulse.com where model a9a is $379 using $50 coupon code (code is PEMF).