Tens Machine
 

I got this gadget from Lloyds pharmacy today at a special offer price of £14.99 - needed another £4 for batteries.
I have used it twice and am quite impressed.
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I am using it for shouder pain which radiates from my arthritic neck, (worsened by hunching over a pc for hours)
The sensation is quite startling - like being pummelled by a masseur - strong enough to make me jolt.
Anybody else here using one?
Does it relieve your pain too?

Re: Tens Machine
 

My girlfriend used one during her pregnancy and it worked brilliantly for her.

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I read up about them before buying - there are 2 types -one for labour pains and one other pain - but dont know how they differ.

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I HAVE USED ONE OF THESE FOR YEARS VERY GOOD WHITH PAIN

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I noticed that pain relief was better second time using
Was this the same for you?

And does it continue to get more effective the more you use it?

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you can get num to it just give yourself a break from it thats what i do

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You can hire them for pregancy and I think they are more powerful.
We sell a lot of them at Boots and ours are more expensive than Lloyds; not sure if the specifications are the same.

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are they any good for lower back pain ? hubby has been interested in getting one for his back , he has lower back pain and he sometimes cant move , will the tens machine help ?

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I think that the results vary from person to person, but at £14.99 there is not much to be lost trying (if it doesnt work for him you could resell on ebay)

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i think i may go and buy one for him , as the docs only give him painkillers and they dont do much good

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They sell out quick - I had to wait for a new stock delivery arriving yesterday - got mine from the Lloyds on Blackburn Rd next to docs.
I thought it was duff and went back with it because I couldnt get the digital read out to show the settings -the salesgirl just peeled off the plastic printed bit which was covering the display and all was well :o

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oh margaret you went all the way back to the chemist, what are you like , its all sorted now then , how often do you use it ?

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Twice a day for the 15 minute programme.
Just happen to be using it right now, before my midday nap, and will use again at bedtime.
There are 8 strengths of setting - find that setting 3 is enough for me - I suspect that stronger would have me jumping off my chair :D

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yes it used to do bottom of my spine

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i bet you felt a right nana lol:D

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The instructions that come with this machine say that the pads should not be used directly over the spine - but either side of it will be ok

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PS I was hoping to scrounge the pads from the duff machine as spares :o

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oh i ment to say that same with neck and chest ionces had it on my shoulder and put my hand in my pocket and cout the button my arm was going all over the place dident put the unit in my pocket again lol

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I had a few TENS sessions under the guidance of a physiotherapist about 5 years ago when I did my neck in during a house move. It didn't work for me as it made my vertigo much worse (i have 2 hernias in my neck which play up fron time to time!). i think it works by getting you used to higher pain levels than you have naturally so you don't "feel" your actual pain level any more. You have to increase it gradually to tune into your own level. i think they can tone up your muscles too!

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I use these a lot at work. They basically work by stimulating your own nervous system to control the pain and block the pain messages to the brain. Depending on where the pain is the pads must be on those nerves which supply that part of the body. Bear in mind that nerve pathways are complex and may not be directly over the site of the pain. If the TENS pads are in the wrong place then you will get very little benefit from it. Also bear in mind that everybody is a different size and shape so the position of the pads needs altering accordingly.
We use them a lot in labour and for most people they work just fine. If you get no relief from your TENS it is worth asking someone to help you to position the pads correctly.

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I have found this which might help - shows a diagram of nerve pathways
Pain mechanism

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I have left instructions for one of these to be placed in my coffin.:D

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LOL....that would 'shock' em!!Attachment 10007

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:D I enjoyed that PMSL :D

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Gosh, that reminded me of back in the late 60's/early 70's I worked for an electronics company and two clever Doctors had approached us to design and build a machine similar to the one you described, it had to be done in secrecy because they were frightened some-one might steal their idea.

The machine was about 2 foot by 2 foot by 1 foot high with large electric conducting rubber pads attached to the machine by large thick cables, it weighed about 50lbs because of all the electronic components that needed to be involved to get this 'wonder' to work.

To make it portable it was built onto a large platform which looked like a crude supermarket trolley.
The whole thing looked like a cross between a defribulator and some sort of supply for an electric chair, so as not to burn the skin the pads could only be used with special jelly applied to the contact points.

How modern technology has changed things over the years. :)