TENS Unit: Electrotherapy Device for Pain Relief

A TENS unit is one of several kinds of electrotherapy devices that use very small doses of electric current to promote natural pain relief. The word TENS, stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator. The TENS unit is a small electronic device that delivers mild currents of electricity through the electrodes placed on the skin. Unlike drugs, which affect the entire body, electrotherapy targets the pain exactly where it is at and felt. A modern TENS unit is very simple to use and compact enough to take with you to work, or while at play.

TENS Unit are pocket size, portable, battery-operated devices which emit electrical impulses to certain parts of the body to block off pain signals from those areas. Even though the electrical currents that a TENS Unit produces is very mild, it can prevent pain messages from being transmitted to the brain and may raise the level of endorphins which is a natural painkiller created in the brain. A TENS Unit targets the affected spot to stimulate while it emits a series of electrical pulses, which feels just like a tiny tickle of electricity. I was very impressed at how comfortable the device is once it is turned on. The electrical charges are sent out every minute and there is a pulse control switch located on the right side to control the velocity of the electrical surges as I call them. The higher you set the pulse rate the more you feel the surge of electricity. I set mine on the halfway mark, which was comfortable for my own personal satisfaction, but you might have to play around with it for a few minutes to see which setting is most comfortable for you.

This product is a hand-held device and is smaller than a Palm Pilot is. There are two lead wires that you connect to the two electrode pads and these two wires are joined together by another, which has an L-shaped connector pin on each end and this is the part that you plug in to the electrode socket located at the top of the TENS Unit. The electrode pads have a sticky substance on them, which holds them onto your skin. They are easily removed from your skin without feeling that your flesh is being ripped off as it does with a Band-Aid After using the electrode pads for 25 times, the electrode pads loose their stickiness and slip off the skin easily so I purchased a tube of TacGel from my Chiropractor Tac Gel is an electrically conductive adhesive and was not included with my TENS Unit. I personally choose to apply the Tac Gel to the electrode pads once they lose their stickiness instead of purchasing more electrode pads. I apply a thin layer of Tac Gel about the thickness of a matchbook to cover each pad and let each one dry completely before using them again.

When I first turn on my TENS Unit, I turn the pulse control knob slowly and when I first begin to feel that nice little trickle of electricity, then I continue increasing the pulse to where it feels comfortable and good for me. I do not turn the pulse control knob up fast because if you do this, you will fly up out of the bed or wherever you are like a bolt of lightning. It is a very shocking experience and by shocking I mean surprising. TENS Unit does not hurt to use. It just feels really good when I am hurting. The amount of electricity that is going through the electrode pads is not like a giant bolt of electricity that is generated from a light pole. It is just a small current of electricity that feels very soothing and relaxing to sore nerves and muscles.

Tens Units can help back and neck pain which was caused by trauma or strain. Our body responds to pain such as this by tightening our muscles up in an attempt to guard and protect the muscles. Muscle guarding inhibits proper circulation to the affected area. TENS therapy and maintenance therapy can help relieve the pain and can also play a major role in the normal healing process.

TENS units are prescribed by a licensed medical professional for use with acute pain and chronic pain with the following health conditions:

Chronic back pain

Fibromyalgia

Sciatic nerve pain relief

Arthritis

Sources:

Personal Use

DISCLAIMER:

My doctor prescribed a TENS Unit to me when I damaged my Sciatic Nerve and manipulations from my Chiropractor everyday seemed to irritate the affected area so I began using my TENS Unit instead of going to see my Chiropractor everyday. The use of a TENS Unit may not be the adequate approach to everyone's pain they are experiencing. Speak to your medical professional to see if TENS therapy is right for you.