All about TENS Machines

[Retro]

Hi Miffy,

I got my TENS machine as a present too. I got the same one that the physio lent me (it's dual channel). It's fantastic. I bought some pads off ebay and have to admit that compared to the ones that came with the machine, they're rubbish so beware, not all pads are the same I posted a link somewhere to http://www.directfoto.co.uk great for cheap good quality batteries £1.40 for 4 AA/AAA and free postage. I don't buy Duracell any more since I found out (from The Gadget Show) that Energisers are actually better as well as being cheaper .

Lindsey

[Helly Welly]

I always use rechargable batteries personally, i can't help doing my bit for the planet!!

[sparkles]

I see Lloyds are now doing heated TENS which sounds like heaven - I'm a big fan of heat!

Has anyone tried it?

[Flora]

Heated TENS machines?! wow. I so want one, it sounds perfect for my lower back. I am going to look up where I can get one!
Flora

[Blaadyblah]

Yes, bought one of the half price Lloyds ones last week and tried it Saturday night when my SI was driving me absolutely crazy. Very nice, very nice indeed - it did my SI the world of good, the sensation and effect wasn't unlike a hot bath on the area in question. Certainly relaxed the area and took care of the worst of the pain.

Nat05 was here at the time, so we took one channel each and sat on the sofa making appreciative noises for about an hour. My boyfriend found it hysterical! Highly reccomended.

[FaerieFeet]

my mother brought me a TENS machine during her lunch break and brought it over a little while ago, and after the initial issues with positioning of the pads and one of the pads not being quite as stayable as the others we got it working, within about 20 minutes i was feeling much better than the painkillers seem to make me feel so this seems like a permanant replacement *dances*

[lil_miffy]

iv been giving a proper industrial strenthg tens machine (ok not packaged with those words) from my pain management physio.
hes set it up with the pulse method and set all the parameters so i just turn the intensity up and down.
the problme is although the pain does go when im using teh tens as soon as i take it off the pain is back and just as bad.
im supposed to use the tens for an hour and half , 4 times a day. he doesnt understand why im not getting any carry over (pain reliefe after the tens has been switched off.) ideally i should be getting enough carry over to last till the next tens sessino an few hours later but im not getting any.

anyone have any ideas i can go to him with.

its for my SI joint.

[shen]

i got the heated tens from Lloyds pharmacy, i love it! whilst im wearing it, i have almost no pain and once its taken off the pain does return but not as bad as it was . The dual channel is really nice too when im having problems with more than one place, im using it on my ankle and my knee right now and its doing wonders! (just the mains lead is a bit short)

i was skeptical in the beginning, but now im going to buy a portable one to wear around the house and at uni!

[Fiona-Jane]

Hiya all,

I have been lent a tens machine with two outputs from my pain management consultant and i find it much better than my little one from Lloyds Pharmacy. my only question is: does anyone know if there is a maximum use time? I tend to forget i have it on and end up using all day! i'm not worried as my pain management consultant would have told me if it i needed to limit the use to only a few hours etc, but my little Lloyds pharmacy machine limited you to 15 mins which got me thinking!

i've not noticed any adverse effects apart from a teeny bit of itchiness from the adhesive which is so mild that it can be very easily ignored, so i'm gonna keep using like this. i was told to play it by ear and use it as and when i need (apart from the obvious- not in water, or driving etc).

any tips on how to make the most of my tens treatment? i've been thinking about buying some extra large electrodes so i can tens a bigger area- has anyone else used them?

i'm using a TPN 200 Plus, if anyone is curious. and its not that expensive- i saw them on sale on the net for about £30, i was quite shocked as it used to be considerably more expensive. at least the credit crunch has some advantages!

[Elfy]

The instructions on my TENS machine state it can be used 24/7, but it is only a small one.

[shen]

i use mine for however long i feel like until the pain eases, could be 30 mins or 3 hours. I dont think there is really any limit on the time you can use them for.

elfy: i love your signature it really made me giggle!

[EmilyG]

Mine says it can be used 24/7. It's a rather heavy duty one

[Elfy]

I need to know where to put the pads on my body when using TENS as the diagrams don't cover shoulder pain. The pain is deep in my shoulder and I don't know whether the pads should be on the front and back or just on one side of my body. Any body have any clues?

[nat05]

This page should help:

http://www.tensmachines.co.uk/Electrode-Placement_ep_36-1.html

The positions shown are for two sets of pads and I wouldn't worry about the colours.

I play around with the positions until I find the most comfortable/effective position.
xx

[Elfy]

Ooo thats a brilliant link Thank you.