Tens machine

[Heathkir]

Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone has tried a tens machine for pain control? Thanks, Heather xx

[Ian123]

As with many of these treatments things beneficial for one person are not necessarily best suited in other cases. If you can loan a TENS machine as you asses suitability for your own pain, that you are the best judge of as no one else senses the pain type or severity the same way you do.

On a personal use level, TENS is a matter of last resort for me now, when the level required for pain management produces areas of sensitized skin that feel like burns for around 24hrs afterwards.

My experience should not affect your decision because of the individual pain types and responses.

[J4xx]

Hi, I tried a TENS machine, for a chronic back condition, I wouldn't say it help the pain, I think it just distracted me from it! However my daughter had a serious problem with neck / shoulder muscles, and it worked wonders.

We didn't spend a lot on one about £25 on Amazon.

J x

[Molly1999]

I found Actipatch relieves the pain in my arthritic knee. Not much use for the generalised pain of Fibro but can be good if you hAve 1 or 2 specific painful areas. As was said these things don't work for everyone but They are doing. 7 day trial for Just the p&p of under £3. I negotiated a discount on this amount for members of my local fibromyalgia group. I can give you the code which means the trial will only cost you £1.50. If you want to try it. You can pay by PayPal so you know it's safe.

[budgiefriend in reply to Molly1999]

I would love to try that. Please could you give me the code?

[Molly1999 in reply to budgiefriend]

The code is NAOMI. You can put it in at check-out when getting the trial on the Actipatch website. You only pay - p&p- normally £2.95- £1.50 with the code.

[budgiefriend in reply to Molly1999]

Thank you, Molly. Also, I did not know you can't use a Tens machine if you have a heart problem, but it makes sense. I seem to have one, as I am having pains that fit the description for Angina. Now I just need to find a doctor who cares that I may have a heart condition and doesn't think that too is all in my mind.

[Molly1999 in reply to budgiefriend]

Have a TENS machine but I find the tingling sensation quite unpleasant- but then my skin seems to be hypersensitive. There's no sensation at all with the Actipatch and its natural and can be used with any meds etc. good luck finding a Doctor who takes your symptoms seriously -they are as rare as hens teeth. 😳

[budgiefriend in reply to Molly1999]

I'm finding out how rare. desperate now as I have frequent chest pain and shaking and jerking fits more frequent than usual. 'It's psychological' could kill me at this point.

[Molly1999 in reply to budgiefriend]

There are NHS protocols in place for investigations and short timescales re; chest pain that your GP should be following. If all else fails go to A&E and you'll get the proper tests there. Chest pain shouldn't be taken lightly. Even if it's nothing to worry about you'll get advice re symptom management and peace of mind. Best wishes.

[budgiefriend in reply to Molly1999]

Thanks. I will try to muster courage to try. I have been so dismayed by the disregard and callousness and stupid attempts to placate me while doing nothing, that I have sort of thought, 'Fighting this is not going to make it better.. so far it makes it worse, and I don't need them writing in notes that I am a difficult patient or malingerer. I have kept a low profile since I got that letter. But I am due to get an advocate and I now have a new carer company who are going to work on my behalf to find me a good doctor. It can be frightening when nobody cares.

[budgiefriend in reply to Molly1999]

I tried that on the Boots website and it said invalid code. I could not find any place to buy it on the Actipatch website. Maybe the promotion is over?

[Molly1999 in reply to budgiefriend]

You can't get the trial on the boots website. Can you go onto the Actipatch Facebook page? You shoul be able to order it there. Let me know if the code doesn't work- I had 40 orders approved but I can get that extended.

[Molly1999 in reply to budgiefriend]

tryactipatc.co.uk You can order the trial here

[budgiefriend in reply to Molly1999]

Thanks. I found it on actipatchrelief.co.uk and it did not ask for a code, just gave me 2 free samples at 2.95 each for 7 days

I need one for each leg, as that is where the pain is most.

[Molly1999 in reply to budgiefriend]

Sorry about that. There should have been a box to put a code into at check out. Hope they work for you anyway. Kind regards

Naomi.

[nettybetty]

yes they are amazing x I sleep with mine on and even go to work with it on x

[Jill121]

I have to say yes I found my cheap tens machine worked on my pain for me,

[Hidden]

My hubby has used one for years and he wouldnt be without it.

I cant use them at all. The slight buzzing that everyone else describes when turned onto low is to me electric shocks.

The last time i tried it on my hips i got electric shocks in my feet.

But dont let me put you off , i havnt heard of anyone else with this problem.

Sue

[jillylin]

Hi,

yes , and I wouldn't be without it now. Physio showed me how to use it to it's best and it does help.

Hugs

Jillyxx

[Chrisanna in reply to jillylin]

Hi Heather, I can only speak for myself of course but as a sufferer of chronic nerve pain in my back (I have had one RFD which worked and am waiting for another, it is radio frequency sacral nerve ablation) I know I would not have survived the pain without my beloved Tens machine! I am on morphine based medication amongst others and am sure I would have been tempted to overdose when the pain was unbearable. Having the Tens definitely takes the edge off the pain and allows your body to relax thus helping the pain to subside to a manageable level. I'm sure it has saved my life! Regards Christine X

[Micro]

Thanks, U have reminded me I have a Tens ! ...and a small battery driven version.

On positive side I know it really helps many people.

Maybe the degree of pain has an effect on how much use they are. Sometimes distraction might be better than nothing !

I used it on my lower back. For my pain level it was a 'distraction'only. Annoying to use in that place, machine itself kept falling on floor if I walked and a draft of cold up my body cos of the wires coming out from under my jumper ! I am a wuss !

It is worth trying, we're all diff. instructions seen complicated at first read but it's easy really.

[BaffledKaffy]

I used a Tens years ago for my chronic back pain, not Fibro .. Found it useful, of course it is meant as a distraction ... The problem for me is that my back pain moves around and I couldn't easily keep moving the "electrode patches" (not sure that's the name they still use?!) around to keep up ... was going thru supplies very quickly.

Now I have a battery and wires surgically implanted, which is the same "theory" and so much easier for me, now that it is there.

In US, my insurance paid for the Tens unit and supplies, and the surgery later, so I was fortunate to not have to worry about the costs.

Beyond the inconvenience of the Tens, however, if it weren't for my "moving" pain, it would have been very helpful to distract me. There is something to the theory, if you personally respond to it. Everyone is different, of course, as has been said ...

Hoping you were able to find help at your Neurologist ... mine was the one who diagnosed my Fibro. I am so very sorry for your suffering.

[Offcut]

My wife swears by hers, but I cannot use as I have heart problems

[TheAuthor]

Hi Heathkir

I use a TENS Machine on most days, and I find it very beneficial. I want to genuinely and sincerely wish you all the best of luck if you decide to give one a try.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[Heathkir]

Thank you all for your advice and experiences im going to try and borrow one, its mainly for my lower back and shoulder especially when im trying to do housework. It takes me 10 times as long as iv got to keep stopping. Im a single parent with 3 kids so i really hope it will helP. Going to try the actipatch too xxxx

[rosewine]

Do try the Actipatch as even though it did not work for me I know other people have had more success. I think it is very useful for things like knee pain.

I use a Tens on quite a regular basis but I swear the sensation it gives is just a distraction from the pain but sometimes it just takes that horrible edge off it which is especially beneficial at night. I do find in the day it is a pain in more ways than one as the clip that is supposed to attach it to your belt doesn't seem to hold it there and mine goes crashing to the floor and the places i think I would most benefit from it being I can't put it on myself so have to bother OH.

I did have one which is now defunct unfortunately that had EMS and a massage function as well and I found the massage was quite good.

As several people suggested I would see if you could borrow first rather than pay out but there are some simple quite cheap ones out there and if it works for you then you can always upgrade.

Good luck with it and I hope it is successful for you as each of us differs.x

[budgiefriend]

They didn't really provide what I need, as my pain tends to be in large areas or several areas at the same time. The worst areas are usually my legs... above and below the knee. I got two of these and I tried putting them on the back of my legs where the pain is. I found the adhesive strips very fiddly and difficult to use for this purpose, and wound up with them all folded back on themselves in some places. I think the patches did help the pain, but I was unable to reuse them or keep them on when moving about, as the adhesive strips were so difficult to reapply. Even using new adhesive, it was difficult to put on the back of my leg and then lie in bed or sit in a chair with it rubbing against something, making it get displaced or adhesive rolling up.

I also tried it one day on the back of my neck with a bad headache and neck ache. That was a complete failure as I couldn't make the thing adhere to the back of my neck, when I tried to put adhesives on either side. it just kept bouncing off. Probably not the best description, but I was disappointed. I would buy them if my pain was only in certain areas like back or knee, for example.