What effect has a tens machine had on upper/lower back pain

[Pollyannna]

I have been advised to try a tens machine along with physiotherapy to achieve more movement and less pain in my back, has anyone tried this ? If so how effective was it?

[lowlife]

Tens work differently for everyone. Some people like myself have no relief from it but others can't manage without it so it's definitely worth a try. Get your physio to set it at the right program so that you can try it at it's best.

[Jenharri]

I have a tens machine wireless excellent machine before my ESI injections I used it continuously wearing it all night to give me relief which it did. I would whack the machine on high at times to get above the pain I was in. Being wireless I didn't get tangled with wires at night. I would have the large one on my lumber spine and the other smaller directly taped on the side of my calf where I had severe radicular pain from L5S1 pressing on the nerve.

For me it was a bit of a life saver plus my heat mat which is very good for spinal stenosis heat rather than ice. The Epidual injections took the severe pain out of my legs. Still get it in the right to some degree but by far my most painful area is my lumbar spine so debilitating. Since wearing the Butrans patch I haven't felt the need for the tens machine in fact I'd forgotten about it. If things change then I wouldn't hesitate to use it. Definitely worked for me. My husband tried it without any success he has RA plus DDD etc. So not the thing for everyone. Fortunately the Butrans patch has helped him too.

Hope it works for you

x

[deejames]

I couldn't do without mine. I use it every day on my lumber spine and sometimes on my sacrioilic joint area.

Its so good I bought an expensive wireless model.

Dee

[Roz31]

I have a tens machine which I just bought from Lloyds chemist I find it excellent if I have some pain and you can have it on for as long as you like there are five different settings do try it but I suppose like anything else different things work for different people my pain is not that intense

[Lima6MCT]

I use one but can't use it for very long at a time as even the sensitive adhesive pads give me a rash. If I was able to find an adhesive that I wasn't allergic to then it would be used everyday.

[Raksha1964]

I have used one for years. Was very effective for many years but started to decline, now not much help at all. But definitely worth a go

[Hidden]

Hello,

I have one that I use at home and then a battery one that I take with me when I travel. Both work usually work for me when I need them. Failing that I go an see my osteopath or have accupuncture.

Best wishes,

Dave

[Pollyannna]

Thank you I will give it try

[Julesgettingthere]

Hello Polly

Its Jules here,

I dont think we have spoke before.

I suffer pain from back injury but also a slight bit of brain injury.

I tried the Tenns (at hospital) through the Pain Team. I found it difficult to remember how to use it at first and it can be a bit fiddly when you are tired or you dont have your baggy trousers and shirt on.

But i found the relief (pleasure) it gives when you are in bad pain a brilliant supllement to drug therapy. I too was taking physiotherapy when i first started using it.

I didnt realize, but you have to give them back to the hospital after about 6 weeks. My husband bought me my own, cost about £20 - £30 I think. Today i only get it out if i am having a very bad day with day (say if i have done too much the day before). It does work on settling down increased pain, but didnt seem to have much effect on my everyday level of pain (if you see what i mean). It does also serve as a treat to sooth like a hot water bottle when you are miserable and fed up with your pain.

I would definitely buy another. My mum is about to buy one. I wear a support around my back sometimes (like an elastic brace) and obviously this excludes using it on my back as the stickers need to go where the brace is.

I did learn that when you put the sticky pads on you (I) got most relief when they were placed running down the body rather than across (but i dont know if this is what the instructions advice).

I would normally start off very low on the power pulse, but always ended up turning it up after 10 mins to full power. Its a shock to the system if you put them on on full power - dont do it !

I had to change batteries after about every third session.

Hope some of this helps.

All the best

Jules

[Pollyannna in reply to Julesgettingthere]

Hi jules thank you for your reply I went to the pain clinic this week but have no idea how or when. I will get one, whether it will be at my physiology appointment or whether I should have waited around for a prescription I don't know, I just said thank you and made a quick exit due to being terrified of them hurting me (my back doesn't bend at all without terrible pain) and I was so scared that I just waffled at the doc and didn't tell him half of what I should have.

Kind regards

[Julesgettingthere in reply to Pollyannna]

Oh Polly

You sound so much like i was (still am most the time).

I broke a number of bits of my spine from shoulders to bottom and they put rods in, 6 months later took them out. My back couldnt bend with them in and my muscles seized and became lazy. I used to be as protective over people touching my back as you.

I wasnt sure about how to get the Tenns either (the NHS are not the clearest are they - and sometimes the people that really need the help are the ones that cant speak up.

I know the NHS allow you to use them free but you have to give them back still i think, if i were you and you can find the money, why dont you just order one on-line, i think Boots do them too.

I wish i could have spoken up early after the accident to the doctors, more so, i wish one of them had realized that i probably couldn't. Water under the bridge now.

Anyway, after 5 years my pain relief tablets are about right and the pain is manageable most days. It still prevents me from doing the things in life i wanted, but its what i have been given i suppose.

Good luck with whatever you do

Jules

x

[oldman1952]

Hi Pollyanna and Jules, the tens work by interfering with the nerve impulses that cause the pain. So understanding a little about the way nerves and the brain works just helps you to put the machine into perspective. Call at the library and read an anatomy and physiology book or go online and see how the tens work, look at why the brain and nerve endings send the signals that they do. It does not work for everyone all the time but if you are shown the correct way to apply the pads and how far apart they should go, you would be on to a winner. Great advice Jules . Take care Oldman1952.

[Polly42 in reply to oldman1952]

Hi I have a tens machine now and it's great it work brill on my 'up to 6' pain levels which is most of the time if I don't do anything. Couldn't do without it now, and my meds, someone said to me "aren't they addictive " to which I replied .. if you mean am I addicted to not being in terrible pain.. then yes I am.

Thanks for your input

[oldman1952 in reply to Polly42]

Hi Polly42, many people talk about addiction when they are on very strong analgesic medication and yes it does say in the information paper in the box too. Think of it this way, how long is your pain going to last? 2 weeks, 2 months, 2 years or for the rest of your life? It is a social stigma "Oh he's/she's a druggy and addicted to prescription painkillers. You hear it all the time and I just wish that those people who say it would try to empathise with us who have chronic pain. I say addiction is a bad word as is epileptic, schizophrenic, depressive. Labelling a disease only makes a fool out of someone or they think that because they have a label they can get away with things that others can't.. I prefer to say "That person over there is having a bad day because they are having a problem with there mental health" or "That person has a problem controlling the way they consume alcohol" How many times have you looked in a local paper and seen the police files. The person has committed a crime and says to the magistrate "I'm sorry that I hit that man but it was caused by the drink", Yes and how did that drink get down your throat? Did it by magic fly from the glass into your mouth ugh? Polly I just love to see things from a different perspective and see what reaction I get from people who just see one side of things. You and I will continue to take our pain relief tablets because we need them, like all the other posters who need help controlling their pain. My thoughts are with you all, good night and god bless. Oldman1952.

[Polly42 in reply to oldman1952]

Your post was brill, you really made me smile.

Unfortunately I have no idea how long my pain will last, I have presently put all my eggs into one basket, I am expecting miracles I know, from reading other people's post, I believe that pain clinic is the last glimmer of hope that the pain can be removed, and I have lots of hope, either was, I'm giving it another 6 months then I am giving up trying, I have been in pain now for 2years and 2 months, I haven't a clue how everyone else copes.

[oldman1952 in reply to Polly42]

Hi Polly42, there are other methods of relieving pain. Psychotherapeutic Interventions is a good place to start. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Its a 5 step approach to changing things that make you unhappy so that you view pain in a positive way rather than in a negative way. Look at the Living Life To The Full website it was started about 20 years ago. You start the course as a patient and with the 5 step approach allows you to look at yourself from the inside and the out side. It gives you the skills to change your behaviours. In your case PAIN. Give it a go and you will be amazed. Good luck Oldman1952.

[Polly42 in reply to oldman1952]

I will take a look. I did start (2years ago) using mind distraction and positive thinking, and tried to 'just get on with it, but to no avail, hence I am now at pain clinic and on loads of neuro pain melds and am trying pacing which has helped so far. Although I do suffer from anxiety, and am susceptible to depression, I do have loads of positive things in my life.. to many to mention, I am at the point where I need to get rid of the pain then I can get on with enjoying my early retirement.

Hope your well

[MSTKing]

it didn’t help me but I have heard others say it helped them.