For those suffering from chronic pain, one may feel that his life has become nothing but popping pain relief medication. However, constantly taking pills may not be appealing or others need something more than just pills. A TENS Unit is a way to alleviate pain without the use of pills and it a great alternative option.
A TENS Unit, also known as Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, is a device that sends small electrical impulses through the skin to the nerves. Two electrodes are placed on either side of the area where you feel pain. You then set the frequency of the impulses. A higher frequency will block the pain signals and a lower frequency will cause the body to produce endorphins, our natural way of reducing pain. Where can you use the TENS Unit? It is typically used on the back, feet, shoulders, and neck, but it can really be used anywhere you have pain.
Although many may be inclined to use such a device, the TENS Unit is only for acute or chronic pain. It is not meant for those who have suffered a minor injury that will go away within a few days. Athletes and those in physiotherapy most commonly use the machine. How effective is the TENS Unit? It ultimately depends on the person. For some, it helps a great deal. For others, unfortunately, there is not much of a difference. The amount of relief also differs from person to person. Some users are relieved of their pain long after the stimulation is over. Other people only feel relief during the stimulation.
The devices are usually portable and can be used at home or you can take it with you to a physical therapy session. When purchasing a unit, you may notice that there are single, dual, and quad machines. Two electrodes are used on a single channel, meaning you can only apply the electrodes to a single area. If there is a dual channel, meaning two channels, there are four electrodes, which can be placed in two areas. Finally, a quad channel has eight electrodes.
You will often see different "modes" advertised for the units. Just like you have different preset modes on a treadmill, the TENS Unit can also have specific modes to target different areas of your body. Each mode is already preset to specific pulse rates, pulse widths, and frequencies. A mode already set for neck pain or wrist pain may do a much better job than you trying to figure out what frequency to set the machine.
A TENS Unit may not be the right device for everyone, but it a great alternative that can help with chronic pain. Whether you've suffered from a sport's injury or have post-surgery pain, this machine may prove to be an effective method that doesn't require the use of medication.
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