Optimising TENS Machine?

[deafhound]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has any tips on getting the most possible pain relief out of a TENS?

So far TENS is one of the few things that have helped me deal with pain. Today I have had 2 doses of 30mg of dihydrocodeine and my TENS on 150hz/120 pulse at a dial setting of 5 (out of 8), but am still having distracting pain - I guess a 7/10 most of the day. I have just turned The TENS up to flat out 8.

One problem I have is that if I use it on high setting (6-8) all day I get a bad rash which bleeds, and over time I run out of spots to place the pads while I let these areas heal. My abdomen is now peppered in marks! I have tried hypoallergenic patches but that made no difference - I think it is the strength and time that is the trigger as using the machine at 4-5 produces less skin reaction. But on days like today 4-5 just doesn't cut it.

I use a med-fit 3 which automatically varies the pulse slightly which I have found helpful. Most often I place 2 pads 2 iches apart near my left ovary, which is where I get the most pain. I sometimes also use extra 2 pads on left lumbar back area if that is playing up.

Any snippets of advice however small wld be most welcome!

[Hope264]

Hi,

I'm not sure I have any solutions as we may be using diff kind of device but can commiserate with the use of the tens pads so much that the skin gets irritated then I can't put it on that area where the skin is broken and work as an instant pain reliever. I use an tens - sold in my country it has pre gelled pads and 2mm electrodes. I now buy these blue 'sensitive skin' pre gelled pads and can't use the other kind at all. I also use a cortisone cream under the area. I don't know if yours are pre gelled or a rubber type that you apply gel to but if it is a skin irritation thing you might try looking at the conductive gel you apply to rubber pads or for sensitive type pre gelled pads. If your straight up giving yourself electrical tens burns from constant use- which I can also relate, might be time for some more pain relief from another source. Good to hear from another tens 'addict'. Take care

[deafhound in reply to Hope264]

Thanks - It helps to know that i'm not the only one! I do use pregelled pads, but didn't find the blue hypoallergenic pads made much difference. I didn't know that it was possible to give yourself burns, but as the rash only really comes on when I use the machine for 16 hours straight on high, so I suspected it might be some kind of overstimulation/burn type of issue!

I do use hydrcortisone cream which helps the rash - that's a good tip!

My machine has '5 modes' - last night I found that my machine had defaulted to continuous stimulation & I switched mode to one where the intensity varies (over about 15-30 seconds). That helped - I turned the dial up to full and the pain relief from the high strength seemed to work, but the irritation over the evening was less due to the slight variation.

My pads are a 2" square -I might look at the pad options - a slightly smaller size might help.

I think the only other option open to me now is a lap...which I have been putting off!

[Hope264 in reply to deafhound]

Hi,

Yes , it is good to hear from others. Endo pain can be a pretty daunting constant companion.

Yes I read tens could give mild electrical burns with heavy use, but can't quite remember where.

I use mine for hours too but don't know the hertz setting- it just has 3 settings. Given there are permanent spinal stimulators are based on the same principal and it is saving medication and /or pain, I think it's good having access tens. But the skin irritation and the lack of access to getting the tens on the right spot is a vicious cycle I really understand.

Thats a pity to hear the blue sensitive ones were no better. They still irritate me but it does not look like a chemical reaction.

Apart from cortisone another very helpful cream I am prescribed is 'silver sulfadiazine'. Its for burns usually I think and I do use heat, but it works well on tens rash, which might be a form of electrical burn...Which I guess was my docs thinking, it is very soothing.

I do use the tens with a very low heat electric heat pad - actually marketed for pets because the other heat pads for humans were giving me bad 'hot water bottle rash' (EIA?). Again maybe overuse, or falling asleep. I find between the warmth and tens my body finds some non medication comfort at nights.

Sorry to hear lap is only avenue, but its good to have an avenue...Good luck with it all and nice to hear from you.

[deafhound in reply to Hope264]

Thank you Especially for the silver cream info as I had not heard of that.

I hope other ladies can maybe get some useful info from our posts too - I searched and didn't find a huge amount of discussion on TENS, though quite a bit of interest in trying them. I couldn't have got through the past 6 months without mine.

At the pain clinic I went to, I mentioned that the TENS is the most effective option for me so far but they weren't very experienced with usage. But they do recommend TENS and consider it an exciting but side-effect free option. At the time I thought 'uh you haven't seen the scabs all over my lower abdomen.' I will discuss it with them more at my follow up - I'm glad they are suggesting TENS to patients.... my hope is that they will be able to guide other pain sufferers better based on my experiences.

[Hope264 in reply to deafhound]

I'm glad that silver cream might help, it works within a couple of days on me. I hope so too. If your pain journey can help others that is something.

Yes hmmm maybe not completely side effect free but if your turning TENS up to 8 to get your pain down to a 7..well that is something 😊