Advice about TENS machine, please

[Kiki-frog]

I've been using a TENS machine for lower back problems for a couple of years now and find it helps a lot with short-term relief. I generally keep the pads in place for most of the day and then switch it on for bursts of up to an hour or more as and when the pain gets really bad.

Just recently someone told me that it's bad to use it for more than half an hour a day, so I've been trying to find out. I can't find the instructions that came with it, and advice on the internet is vague, although I get the impression that it's ok to use it for as long as you need to. Does anyone have any hard facts, please?

[daffy654]

My hospital physiotherapist advised that I use mine 4 times a day for 1-2 hours.

[Kiki-frog]

Thanks, daffy, that's useful feedback and kind of confirms what I was thinking.

Interesting link, Katie, albeit painting a rather skewed view (as the Wiki eds comment), but I wouldn't say that it suggests that it's all in the mind. And even if it did, would it matter as long as it helps sufferers of chronic pain?

[Kiki-frog]

Katie, do you mean that you have tried using TENS and it hasn't worked for you? I'm not sure what point you're trying to make?

[daffy654]

It does work. There have been many studies as to it's efficacy.

One very biased Wikipedia article against it does not make it fact.

[daffy654]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7514914

[daffy654]

If you say so katie. After all you are obviously an expert who has had many years of education on this subject and conducted many clinical studies.

You are entitled to your opinion but please stop stating it as fact.

[Kiki-frog]

LOL Katie, that's really funny. Give me your mum's phone number and we'll have a chat.

But seriously, why on earth would daffy's physio and my consultant recommend them if they don't work? Of course they work. Even if it's a placebo effect (and I really don't think it is), if it still helps with pain management, then it's working!

[Kiki-frog]

Sweetheart, just tell us what your experience and knowledge is and we'll listen. One iffy Wiki article that has blatant editorial flaws isn't anything to go on.

[daffy654]

If it doesn't work for you that is fine.
I find it provides some measure of relief for my chronic chest wall pain, it doesn't get rid of it completely and I use it in conjunction with opioid pain relief to get more control over my pain. I was given the TENS machine I use by a pain consultant and physiotherapist, I would rather take notice of their knowledge and opinions than some stranger on the internet whose knowledge could be seriously lacking for all I know.

[albaqwerty]

The midwives at my local hospital suggest them to ease the pain in early labour.
In my experience and those of my immediate family with different medical conditions, they do help to ease the pain.

[daffy654]

If you read the article I linked to you will see that TENS doesn't seem to work as well for some types of pain. Your mum was obviously one of those unlucky people whose pain was not eased.

[daffy654]

I give up....

[Kiki-frog]

Ouch, that must have been really painful. Poor lady. Back pain really is the pits. My problem is also with my back, but slightly more complex than your mum's case, so I can sympathise.

I was prescribed diclofenac and it did absolutely nothing at all to help. However, it continues to be prescribed for thousands of people, because for many people it does work. Just not for me. Do you see what I'm getting at?

Pain management is such a complex issue and there isn't one cure-all that works for everyone. But for me, TENS helps. It's not a cure, but it does help.

I hope you mum's better now.