Comments on: Things that make my life easier: TENS edition

By: JH

JH — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:01:36 +0000

Somewhat OT, but since it was briefly mentioned in the post – I used a TENS for pain relief during labor and found it helpful. I wish more people were aware of that use for the TENS – I had to ask my midwives’ group about it after hearing a doula mention it. I had never even heard of a TENS, and I don’t think the midwives had either, but they were very helpful when I brought it up.

By: amandaw

amandaw — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:57:03 +0000

And yeah – for that overall pain that just seems like it’s literally holding you down — the TENS isn’t really much of a help with that. It’s more for severe, body-part-specific pain. It also helped a LOT with the stupid muscle spasms I was getting (likely from the scoliosis, muscles healing to make up for the curvature end up getting spasms) — at the worst point they were coming multiple times an hour, jerking my entire body and shocking my nervous system.

By: amandaw

amandaw — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:54:48 +0000

The skin prep is an additional protectant for my skin. (Did I just make up a word?) It adds a barrier between the gel and the skin. It’s also supposed to help the electrodes adhere, but I use it as one extra step to keep my skin from weakening.

The sensitive skin electrodes come from Empi — they have a range of products (including multi-day electrodes and so forth). I used the normal electrodes for the first short time using the TENS, until the first time I had to go a couple weeks w/o using it because my skin was so ripped up. Then I requested the sensitive skin electrodes — which have a thick blue gel coating, not as thin as normal electrodes — and it helped a lot. The blue gel is very, very sticky, though, which is why I have to be sure to remove all adhesive when I take it off.

By: T @ Fibromyalgia Research Blog

T @ Fibromyalgia Research Blog — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:45:54 +0000

Sorry for the repeat comments – Just wanted to clarify, I remember now that I didn’t end up buying my TENS unit on Amazon – I got it from another online vendor though that had them cheap. All I needed was to fax the prescription I got from my doc.

By: T @ Fibromyalgia Research Blog

T @ Fibromyalgia Research Blog — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:44:41 +0000

PS Can you explain to me why you use a prep lotion? I have never done so. I have had no problems getting the electrodes to adhere or removing them, but I do notice that my electrodes are now starting to be less sticky after a lot of use (some hair has gotten stuck to them, etc) And where do you get the sensitive skin electrodes?

By: T @ Fibromyalgia Research Blog

T @ Fibromyalgia Research Blog — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:41:11 +0000

I find TENS units (no matter how large or small) to be pretty useless for overall control of my chronic pain but decent to distract me from my pain when it’s really bad and I’m trying to avoid taking another pain pill. However, you can get them for very cheap for those who don’t know that – I bought mine for $60 on Amazon. So no need to wait for insurance to cover it, for those who can find a way to swing $60 or $80 for a unit. There is also a wonderful butterfly-shaped electrode available for lower back pain (so you don’t have to attach 4 different electrodes to yourself, just one big one that spreads across the lower back). I highly recommend that one.

By: Interesting posts, weekend of 7/12 « Feminists with Female Sexual Dysfunction

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:07:52 +0000

[...] Things that make my life easier: TENS edition – I have a type of TENS therapy only twice and … yeah it helped me. I can never say if it will help anybody else. If you’ve never heard of it, or are interested in more, this post may help. [...]

By: Elaine Vigneault

Elaine Vigneault — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:59:51 +0000

I’ve used TENS before, but only at the chiropractor’s office. I liked it.

Now I want one of those utility belts! So convenient :)

By: 22state

22state — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 11:11:47 +0000

As a side benefit, it seems like your TENS allows a virtuous circle. You have less pain, so can do the physical therapy and stretching, so then you have fewer flare-up and less pain.

Your story also provides a great example of the savings to be found for a public option. A relatively low cost self-help treatment allows you to work (and pay taxes) instead of being a public charge. But, since the insurance company doesn’t have to bear the exterior costs of you not working (no taxes to the Treasury) + being on Medicare or Medicaid, it has every incentive to increase its profits by denying you the treatment. Obviously, you are a happier, healthier person. But the public also benefits in a quantifiable $$ way from this medical treatment.

By: ahimsa

ahimsa — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 04:38:18 +0000

It’s so true, amandaw, that surgery will not work for everyone with endometriosis. I’m glad you mentioned that in case my comment was not clear. Plus, in addition to the normal risks associated with any surgery, surgery to remove endometriosis lesions has the risk of internal scarring, adhesions, etc. which can cause additional (different?) pain. There are no easy answers for this darn illness. Even menopause does not eliminate symptoms for all women with endometriosis. People on the outside looking on may want simple solutions (especially family members who love us and want us to get well) but the truth is that most chronic, disabling medical conditions are more complex than people realize.

I was very lucky that surgery worked for me (my endo pain is now at a background level, not that bad at all) but I completely understand that all potential treatments for endometriosis (and pretty much every other medical condition!) have their own list of pros and cons. Deciding on a treatment must be handled on a case by case situation.

Sending some {{{cyber hugs}}} your way! (if that’s not too corny)