TENS is a short name for “transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.”

It is well-known portable equipment employed for pain relief. The machine generates electrical signals and sends them through the skin to the nerves and muscles to create a reaction, which is normally a sort of contraction of muscles. TENS machines actually work to affect the pain signals that are sent to your brain. These pain signals reach the brain via your nerves as well as spinal cord. The electrical pulses initiated from TENS block most of the pain signals from getting to the brain, and as a result, you feel less pain.

Medical Advice:

TENS is a medical treatment, and you should go for it only when your medical practitioner or a physiotherapist advises. These are not appropriate for every type of pain.

Working of Tens Machines:

There are several brands and types of these machines. The manufacturers supply the instructions with the machine.

A TENS machine generally has four electrodes connected to the four “sticky” pads. The electrodes are applied to the involved areas of pain. The machine has a main hub that is normally battery operated. The machine is set according to the instructions, and it sends electrical impulses through electrodes to be applied to the problematic areas. The user manuals provide the recommendations on the time for which the pulses should be applied.

The positioning of the electrodes and pads is critical, and it needs a careful selection to target the affected areas to obtain the maximum relief from the pain. Although there are guides with the machines to help the placing of electrodes and pads, the physiotherapist or doctor can also decide the most beneficial position to keep the pads. When the electrodes send the pulses, you will experience a sort of tingling sensation.

The TENS machine helps the weaker muscles to get stronger by electrical stimulation and to work well again. At first, you may feel modest vibrations in your muscle tissue. Later, the stimulation goes still deeper, and you may feel if the complete muscle is tightened up. It may take a couple of weeks before you get effective results.

These machines can be operated in various modes depending on the application. Mainly, there are three main groups. Conventional mode is mostly used for relieving the pain fast.  The Burst-mode provides an effect similar to acupuncture as the machine delivers the brief bursts of pulses. This particular mode is generally used for long-lasting relief from pain. Modulation-mode is almost like a burst mode. In this mode, the pulse is continuously sent, and it gives a message like feeling.

Safety:

The use of TENS machine needs to follow a few safety rules. The electrodes must never be applied over the eyes, on the front of the neck, through the chest by using any anterior or posterior electrode positions, or any other transthoracic uses implied as “across the thoracic diameter.”

The electrodes must be kept away from wounds, broken skin areas and malignancy/tumors. Avoid placing them directly anywhere over the spinal column. TENS should also be not used across any artificial cardiac pacemaker as it may interfere with the pacemaker and cause its failure.

Uses of TENS machines:

Tens machines are extensively used for relieving pain in the neck, upper and lower back, shoulders and for sciatica patients. These are also helpful to reduce the pain or discomfort from injuries involving osteoarthritis, postoperative pain and chronic musculoskeletal pain.

It involves a non-invasive method that stimulates nerves to reduce both acute and chronic types of pain. Many researchers have verified its effectiveness for relieving osteoarthritis, postoperative as well as chronic musculoskeletal pain.

TENS machines are also used for temporary relief from pain caused by nerve damage in alleviating care and pain relief medicine. Many patients get the benefits of this care.

These machines have been even tried for reducing labor pain. There has not been much success in post-operative cases, but the trials and studies are still on.

Difference of Opinions:

There are some differences of opinions prevailing on the effectiveness of TENS in a few areas such as back pain.  A few researchers do not support its effectiveness due to the lack of evidence. However, others support its successful use for relieving back pain and recommend getting the benefits.

Despite the controversies in a few areas, many people get substantial relief in pain with TENS.