So many people are looking for alternative methods of joint and nerve pain management without having to resort to medication or strenuous physical therapy. Historical records dating back to ancient Rome as well as the time of Benjamin Franklin have reported various forms of pain alleviation through minute amounts of electrical shock or stimlus. In the 1970’s, C Normal Shealy patented the very first TENS unit – a small, portable, battery operated device that uses mild, safe electrical signals conducted through the skin to help control pain. The modern day TENS unit has become an effective and widely used method to help manage nerve and joint pain, but there are some facts you should be aware of if you’re considering using one.
What a TENS Unit does
The acronym “TENS” stands for “Trans-cutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation”. It mainly works by sending pulses meant to penetrate the surface of the skin to stimulate the nerve strands underneath. The user controls it by attaching electrodes to the affected area and adjusting the settings that control the voltage and amplitude (intensity) of the stimulus produced by the unit. The resulting current traverses along the nerve strands and specific nerve pathways that have been sending pain signals to the brain and impedes these signals, easing this pain.
There are two main explanations for how TENS units produce these effects. One theory is that the tingling sensation caused by a TENS unit releases endorphins and enkaphalins into the bloodstream that block pain signals from reaching the brain. Another explanation is the Gate Control theory, which posits that a neural mechanism in the spinal cord controls which types of stimuli get transmitted to the brain. The trans-cutaneous current produces by a TENS unit are thought to interfere with these messages and thus alleviates pain as a result. Whatever the cause, the results have consistently been reproduced and medically proven to show a TENS unit being able to manage most joint and nerve pain.
Benefits
TENS units have other benefits beside just easing musculoskeletal pain such as that from carpal tunnel syndrome. The stimulation of the nerve strand and the surrounding muscle tissue have also shown to relax the muscles around an injury and increase blood flow to the specific area being stimulated as well as rejuvenate sensation in areas where ligament injury has affected the nerves in that part of the body. There have even been units approved by the FDA that can help ease the pain from migraine headaches. The additional effects depend on which specific type of TENS units is being used.
Different Varieties of TENS Units
Combination TENS – These types entail both a typical TENS machine and and EMS function, which stands for “electrical muscle stimulation”. This is generally considered the ideal model since it both eases pain and relaxes muscles in the affected area. It’s especially great for sports injuries and is often used in rehabilitative therapy.
Hand Held – These units are meant for smaller body parts like fingers and foot joints and tendons. The sizes allows for more direct current transmitted to a more specific area.
Wireless TENS – Wireless TENS are the newest line of TENS products currently available. A wireless TENS works the same as a handheld TENS but without any wires. The device works by transmitting a signal directly to the TENS device initiation the treatment session.
Who shouldn’t use a TENS unit.
Some patients suffering pain should be careful when using a TENS unit. Those with pacemakers may risk signal interference with them when using a TENS machine. Also, those with weak hearts or suffer from epilepsy, or women who are pregnant should not use a TENS unit as these conditions may be exacerbated by using this device. Using it over open sores and exposed tissue is also not recommended.
Conclusion
Pain management after injury or due to increasing age can make all the difference in the kind of quality of life you can have. If there is a option to improve it that doesn’t include medication that can affect you physically and psychologically, then you should explore such options first. A TENS unit is an ideal and safe solution to deal with such chronic nerve and muscle pain that you should look into if you find yourself in this predicament.
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