Tens Machine

[Pipster25]

Has anyone had any success at reducing their tinnitus with a tens machine. I read 2 hours a day for 2 weeks with the pad placed just next to the ear is the way to do it.

[Happyrosie]

that’s an intriguing one. I do have a tens machine for pain, though it’s pretty ineffective for me, so I read up on the. HS website.

it says, amongst other things,

“Never place pads over

the front or sides of your neck

your temples

your mouth or eyes

your chest and upper back at the same time

irritated, infected or broken skin

varicose veins

numb areas”.

So according to NHS it shouldn’t be used near yours ears.

Saying that, why not ask Tinnitus UK, the specialist charity? I couldn’t find anything on their website but you could give them a ring.

[Beesmac]

Hello - I too have a Tens Machine and mine says exactly the same as HappyRosie. Please tell us where you read about using it for 2 hours a day for Tinnitus. Intriguing!! x

[Pipster25 in reply to Beesmac]

If you google “tens machine for tinnitus “ you get lots of info. Some people have even fixed their tinnitus with it .

[TinnitusUKPat Partner in reply to Beesmac]

I believe Pipster is referring to a search result from a Treble Health guide to Somatic Tinnitus: treblehealth.com/somatic-ti....

There is an immediate caveat here in that the Treble Health post refers to Somatic Tinnitus, which is a specific sub-type. There may be some relevance in this context, but the unnamed study quoted shows that 46% of participants reported improved or resolved tinnitus.

It's interesting, but we'd all benefit from knowing the parameters of the study being quoted before we begin to view this as an overlooked way to manage tinnitus.

[Beesmac in reply to TinnitusUKPat]

Thanks Pat. I may mention it to my audiologist who I will be seeing mid-March to see whether she has any views. It would be the answer to all our prayers!

[Philip6]

I have a TENS machine, but I wouldn’t put the pads anywhere near my face or ears. You can buy massage pens that working similar way, maybe they are safe around ears, I don’t know. I’d be wary.

[TinnitusUKPat Partner]

What a lot of bimodal stimulation devices to is to try and draw our mind's attention away from a problem by providing stimulus in other areas of the body.

With that in mind, would it possibly be more effective to not use a TENS machine in the way that you've read about, as this would be likely to focus attention on the buzzing/ringing?

Without knowing where you've seen this suggestion about TENS use, it's difficult to give more than a general comment.

[Pipster25 in reply to TinnitusUKPat]

Google tens machine for tinnitus you will see plenty of info