I'm interested if any regulars or visitors use TENS machines for back pain, and what kind of results they might get. I regularly lend out TENS units for patients to use between acupuncture sessions, and most people seem to benefit. They do however, need to be set to certain frequencies to get the best results; many people use the factory settings which are not always the optimum ones.
We use electro acupuncture to achieve the same end, and research indicates that 2Hz or 2 cycles per second gives the best long term results, and used regularly can de-sensitize an over sensitive dorsal horn in the spinal cord. 100Hz is also useful for more acute pain, and tends to have a more immediate effect, but not as long lasting, so often a combination of the two can be useful.
The best results seem to come from regular use- something in the order of 0.5 to 1 hour, once or twice daily for a couple of weeks.
I've even used TENS to treat the pain from irritable bladder syndrome, by placing the pads over the sacrum- this is where the nerves that regulate the bladder exit the spine. Stimulating the afferents at this level can act as a pain block for the bladder nerves, which may be helpful in some cases.
I'm interested if any regulars or visitors use TENS machines for back pain, and what kind of results they might get. I regularly lend out TENS units for patients to use between acupuncture sessions, and most people seem to benefit. They do however, need to be set to certain frequencies to get the best results; many people use the factory settings which are not always the optimum ones.
Hiya David.
I can only speak as a patient and can't give any advice on the technical settings.
My Osteopath uses TENS on me to reduce the effects of inflamation and spsams during very bad periods. I find that a 'low to medium' setting is best for this job.
the higher setting, like a strong massage, 'can only' be used when I am feeling very well. This is not often!! LOL
If I am very ill, the use of TENS must be at very low level and used judisiously.
SPINELF
Hi David,
I bought my own TENS unit on suggestion of my physio at that time and used it extensively for around 6 months since my injury, it helped me keep and stay walking as the pain was interefered with it seemed, and the predictable pain from the TENs was accepted and preferred and almost somet imes over shadowed my own. Then I found instead of helping, it aggravated, it was almost too painful too bear as if the frequency or whatever was exacerbating the sciatic pain? Your post has made me wonder if the settings are wrong?
I loved the warming buzz it was soothing and then like massage. Any tips?
Hi Cassie
TENS shouldn't be painful- the "volume" should be set below the pain threshold, and increased a little as the body gets used to the signal. Make sure you're using a "Bi-phasic" unit, as monophasic signals can make the pain worse for some people.
Off-the-shelf units often don't allow settings for individual wavelengths. 100Hz in a "burst" pattern is usually best for acute pain, and I'd follow up with 30mins of 2Hz, as these 2 wavelengths are known to trigger the release of pain relieving chemicals. Machines with too many cycle patterns often don't stay for long enough on the ones that do the actual work. I use these ones- [url]TENS Machine Pain Relief and TENS Accessories[/url] These allow individual wavelength setup, which used regularly for an hour at a time can give better long term benefit.
Sometime TENS can be a bit trial and error, but these 2 patterns should be a good place to start. The pads need changing fairly regularly, as once the gel wears, they can create "hot-spots" that get painful
PS There are other suppliers as well as the one mentioned in the link
PPS For sciatica, I'd place the pads over the PSIS, either side of the sacral area
Wow thanks,
.. now, showing my complete ignorance how do I know if its mono or bi? is that one cable in or 2, I have the choice of two bits in and 2 or 4 pads? Sorry to be such a complete ditz but if you can get my TENS back being nice to me I will be very thankful 🙂
I read the instructions ( female here lol) and it seemed fine but some do clash and hurt, in fact some can trigger the sciatica too. My physio showed me where to place the pads but at the moment the pain is all on the righ side, so can I place both there a little apart or does it still have to be either side?
Sorry but I had written off my machine, now you have given me hope 🙂
Hi Cassie
You should be able to check the handbook to see the phasing- most modern units are Bi-phasic, but some change when you switch programme.
You can use 2 or 4 pads for sciatica I'd place one pain across the sacral area, and one pair on the back or side of the thigh, depending where you feel the pain. You can cross the spine at the lower levels, and stimulating the nerves from both sides of the body at the sacral level can increase the effects. We often do this with acupuncture, treating the affected side with needles on the unaffected side. The sciatic nerve exits the spine at around L5-S1, so you could place the pads on one side of the body either side of this area. It pays to experiment.
Sciatica can also occur from a tight piriformis muscle. If it goes away when you stand pigeon toed (like this / ) it could be tightness in the hip rotator group, which may respond to stretching exercises.
You are a minefield of knowledge. The book, hmmm. will have to go and hunt around.
The sciatica is presumeably due to L3/ L4/L5/S1 impingement seen on mri. The pf seems ok but I do have bi-lateral trochanteric bursitis worse on right, which may be due to no disc height at right of L4/L5 from an old compression injury causing a marked diagonal drop from L2 toS1 if you know anything for that?
Thank-you so much.