A TENS by any other name.....

[Calceolaria]

I'm on my second TENS unit, both have been from Lloyds Pharmacy. The first one was very simple and delivered 15mins of whatever. It was cheap at about £12 and Pete you acceptable in terms of therapy. The second I bought as the first broke. It is more complex with four electrode pads and many programmes. It cost about £20 and runs 30 min programmes. Somehow I preferred the first one! Do you think there is a difference in the outcomes of different TENS? If so, which is the most effective in your opinion?

[missrat]

I certainly think so! The latest Boots one is heavier and is very prone to 'PADS' error which, although not stopping it working, makes it less effective. My favourite is the Ultima TENS - only available online - it's effective, compact and prone to errors.

Must get off to church - will write later.

Ann

[blacky000]

hello there I use a tens machine its the med fit 1 its got four pads so you can use four or just use two .I at the moment are just using two,1 hour on 1 hour off and it does seem to be easing my pain a bit more,you can get these from the internet click on the med fit homecare and it will come up tens machine med fit 1 dual core this was advised by my phisho she told me its the best they use it all the time in the hospital and its as good as any more expensive ones the price is only £20.47 and its next day delivery just have a look on the site and see what u think,hope you find this helpful .

[Calceolaria]

Thanks blacky. I will take a look. I am satisfied with the Lloyds one but wondered if because it was cheap, that there might be something more effective! Always looking for less pain!

[Calceolaria]

Blacky, does your model have a clip so you can attach it to your waistband or belt?

[teadrinker]

I bought a 200 plus model from JPM Products on the internet about 4 years ago.It was about £36 but I got my money's worth. You could have it on for as long as you needed, and it did continuous impulses and short bursts. It did have a clip on it.

I bought some extra electrodes as I'm allergic to the standard ones. Also found that investing in a battery charger and rechargable batteries was worth it.

I haven't used it for a long time - it was a bit of a faff getting it on in the mornings and I pulled a muscle the last time I used it! But for a long time it was very helpful.

Getting the right model seems to be tricky. I hired one for a month via my local pharmacy from a company that specialised in maternity products when I had my son 10 years ago, but I haven't seen similar schemes for pain. I ended up going with the JPM machine because I'd borrowed one from the pain clinic beforehand. I did buy one from ASDA but couldn't get the right setting for me. It's a shame there aren't try-before-you-buy schemes.

[Calceolaria]

Thanks Teadrinker. I agree about the hit and miss aspect of purchase. I don't want to start a collection of tens units!

[blacky000]

Hi calceolaria yes mine has a clip on it ,I only bought this one because like I said my physio advised me she said it was the best on the market that it does everything the more expensive ones do,so why waste money ,but it does seem to ease my back a little unless it's all in my mind that it does I hope not, but I would just keep trying your own out like you said you don't want to be wasting your money if there doing the same thing,blacky.

[Calceolaria]

Thanks blacky. I think they do work by breaking up established pain pathways and by stimulating the chemical called endorphin, which is the body's own natural pain killer. I know they don't work for everyone but I wonder if they have the frequency too high. I can't take it above three, depending where I place the pads. Happy days!

[tettridge]

Hi

I have been looking for a TSE machine by Acticare, the company does not make them anymore unfortunately but I have read they are really good with chronic pain.

So. if anyone has one to sell please let me know,

I have four TENS machines that I use but they just don't really stop the pain but give a different feeling to the pain, perhaps it is just me but I feel sometimes that having the power up so high takes the mind off the pain.

Take care

Terry