Has anyone tried a TENS unit?

[Rachaelknatcal]

I was just wondering if anyone has tried using a TENS unit to help cope with pain and what your experience was like? I was suggested this by my doctor years ago when they told me I had ibs, but I never got around to it. I have also read that some people with IC use it and it helps.

[tex]

Never heard of it, unfortunately.

Tex

[Gabes-Apg]

the accupuncturist I used to see years ago used Tens units to support some of his accupuncture treatments
I have also had Bio Impedence assessments and treatments that work on similar concept to Tens.

Yes, things like that can help reduce inflammation. but the best option to reducing inflammation is minimising contact with inflammation triggers (ie remove the root cause rather than treat the symptom)

hope this helps

[hollyweb]

I'm sorry you're having a lot of pain, Rachael!

I have a small, portable TENS unit which I got for a severe back injury in 2012. There have been times when it was helpful; if you do decide to get one, I'd investigate them thoroughly and look for one that allows for multiple adjustments (variations of pulsing, rates, intensity, etc.)

I also agree with Gabes; knowing what I know now, it would have been more effective for me to start supplementing with magnesium and work on methylation, but back then I didn't know I had the MTHFR mutation nor did I have a clue I was magnesium deficient!

Just depends upon your symptoms and what types of tools you'd like to have in your toolbox. The TENS units can help trick the body into not feeling pain in a certain location in the body and there definitely is a place for them IMO for people with severe, chronic pain. Certainly better than taking heavy pain medication (which I also did, for as short a time as possible), or using a TENS unit could help reduce the amount of pain meds needed.

Hope you feel better soon!

~ Holly

[Gabes-Apg]

I should have mentioned, for me alot of the pain faded away within a couple of months once i removed major triggers from my eating plan / lifestyle
prior to that, for over 20 years i had experienced frequent cramping pains, at times so bad I needed to take the day off work.

[crervin]

I just developed IC (i think, haven't been diagnosed yet) during to 2 bouts of a UTI this summer. I go to the Urologist next week. I noticed while googling that was an option. I will talk to the Urologist about it. Please let me know if you decide to get one. This IC is very painful! I can't/won't take any pain pills. This looks like it may help....

Just googled, target and Wal-Mart have them for 50 bucks by aleve. I use a heating paid daily.

[Campagnr]

Yes, I have used a TENS unit and found temporary remission. The trick is to use it to stimulate your Vagas nerve that controls many functions of your colon and also stimulates immune function. I bought a Hidow 18 on EBay for about 100 dollars and it came with an ear clip. It was the most economical way to stimulate the vagas nerve. And oh, so many benefits—-better sleep, less soreness after exercise, less arthritis. I only found temporary remission (2-3 months) but keep on using it at least 3 times a week. I am now starting Chinese herb Qing Dai, but very slowly—one tablet a day. Will increase to twice a day. Lots of good INH research on vagas nerve stimulation and Chinese herbs to reduce colitis.
I hated budesinide because of hoarse throught, and it interrupted my sleep, even when I modified the dose.