TENS machine

[carer999]

I am thinking about a TENS machine to help with neck and shoulder stiffness and aches. There are so many around it's confusing. I have just started physiotherapy and she said it works for some and not for others. Ideally I would like to buy one and have it on a trial basis to see if it works. Are there any suppliers that provide such a service in the UK? Thanks.

[Philip]

Hi, before you rush out to buy one,ask the physio if they one you can try for a week or two,I did this and it definitely help my muscles, I bought one I don't know how much it was.

[carer999 in reply to Philip]

Philip Thanks for the suggestion. She didn't mention that she had any available for loan but it is an outsourced NHS service so perhaps such services are not available. As it's 2 weeks to my next appointment I was trying to help myself.

[waylay in reply to carer999]

I have one through my NHS pain clinic. I think I'm supposed to give it back at some point, but I've had it for over a year now. Having benefits issues, so can't afford to buy one atm, but will do so if I can get the bloody DWP to see reason.

Mine is a TPN 200 Plus, made by Patterson Medical Ltd. It's great. If you find that it works, and you have the money, I'd buy a set of rechargeable 9V batteries and a charger, tho. This thing eats through batteries at an insane rate.

[waylay in reply to waylay]

Also, you can buy the pads online, and several online shops offer money off if you get sickness/disability benefits.

[kiwitaramerlin in reply to Philip]

Hi philip, What kind of machine did you use that help your muscles? Thanks.

[Philip in reply to kiwitaramerlin]

I don’t recall now I’m sorry but it had the the two pads on it lol,I bought mine from eBay and it was in a excellent condition.

I was on a bus and I put it too high lol and I felt I was jumping all over my seat lol.

Best of luck finding a machine.

[kiwitaramerlin in reply to Philip]

Thank you Philips . All the best.

[Cb1963]

Hi carer99, I didn't get on very well with the tens machine, I suffer with neuropathy and have nerve damage, my muscles are constantly twitching, and when turned on it played havoc,I'm a firm believer a massage and try to get the "knots" up from the lower back muscles and pushed out at the tops of the shoulders, and this process cannot be rushed over, it can take weeks to shift them, and this procedure can be painful, and they feel like hard and round elastic bands, but they do sometimes "hide" in the muscles and fishing them out is a bit of a task and they can jump back into the muscle, eventually they can be pushed up and all the time they get smaller, and by the time the hit the base of the skull they are relatively small enough to pop away, and the tension can be released, but you will still feel sore for a few days, afterwards, but obviously seek any professional advice before taking on any sort of "unusual" treatment, I wish you a good result in your quest with your pains, thanks

[ann_martin37]

I got a TENS machine from Tesco pharmacy. It works well for my joint pain. They do a hire service too but the pharmacist told me it was cheaper to buy the machine.

[LCM52]

Hello. I have 3 tens machines and have used them since the 1990's. I keep one of them in my car as I suffer with my spine. I had a spinal operation in 1992, and my pain became spasmodic . I can live with that. Interestingly , last May I spend too long driving to and from the seaside (Don't ask) I have had pain around the S1 region. Sometimes it is unbearable. The tens has been really good, but since then, whilst at Lloyds chemist getting my prescription , I came across a painsgone electronic pen. (This is not a push for the item) now I go out with the pen, and once the pain starts I hold the pen in the area and within about 30-60 seconds I am able to walk with ease. I will still keep my trusted tens machines though. I hope that helps. Sorry the post is so long

[waylay in reply to LCM52]

!!! Thanks! A woman in my pain management programme had one of these, and I had completely forgotten about it. *googles*

[Annieja]

I bought a wireless tens machine, I suffer with myofascial pain syndrome in my abdomen and lower back. It doesn’t fix all pain, there again there’s nothing that does. I find mine confuses the nerves enough to help my pain on a bad day. I class it as another tool in my kit that helps with my pain.

I did a fair bit of research and settled on a wireless one, there are many on the market, this is the one I have amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00...

I feels it’s expensive, I bought it on an offer.

As I said it’s just something else in my go to box to help when things are bad.

As for the rental side, there are lots of companies that offer this service for women going into labour, might be worth a google. Or how about eBay? You could just buy some new electrode pads for it

Wishing you the very best with whatever you decide to do

[Emma2017]

My consultant recommended I buy a tens machine. I got one for £20 from Lloyds pharmacy. It is easy to use and does the job. I find it helps when it is on but when I take it off the pain is back. But at least it gives you a breather.

[deejames]

I would be careful about the placement of the electrodes for neck problems. I believe that they cannot be placed on the neck itself.

Dee

[waylay]

Yeah, TENS doesn't help the condition - it just blocks the pain out a bit.

[McNichols]

Hi I originally had the Tens Machine Patterson TPN200 plus it is the one the NHS use. Tel No. 08448 730035. I found it really good at first before the nerve pain became too flared to use one. I've just sent for a arc4health machine. I'm so flared I shall be too scared to use anything at the moment. I've also started trying homeopathic medicines again. I should like to get off some of my medication as I think gabapentin, amitriptyline gradually make the pain worse. They tighten muscles which is the worse thing for nerve pain.