balidey
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| posted on 16/8/10 at 08:29 AM |
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TENS machine (from bad back thread)
I have deliberatly not posted in the bad back thread as 1, its not my back, 2 its not as bad as some and 3, only GP's should offer advice on
chronic back pain..... but....
My wife has been lent a TENS machine to ease back pain. They are often given to pregnant women for labour pains. So I thought I would give it a go.
They only run off a couple of 1.5 volt batteries so what harm can they do right? 
A couple of electrode pads, on the back just under ribs for a quick 'experiment'.
It has 10 settings and it suggests starting at 3 or 4. So we go to 3. Funny little tingle then JOLT then tingle then JOLT then tingle etc etc.
Go to level 4, then 5, then its starting to feel bloody uncomfortable. Wife suggest level 10...... NO WOMAN.
OK I am a big wuss, but I am really amazed that such a treatment (whether it works or not I will not go into) can be produced by such a small machine
from a couple of little batteries. And you can get them from the high street pharmacies. Clever little devices.
If anyone is suffering from back pain then one of these 'may' be a slight help, but as said, only GP's should really offer advice on
their suitability and use.
And when you are using them it feels like they are jumping all over the place, but touch them with your hand and there is no movement, its just your
muscle contractions. Weird.
I'm sure the 'locost' alternative is a truck battery and a set of jump leads on the nipples.
Dutch bears have terrible skin due to their clogged paws
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Peteff
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| posted on 16/8/10 at 08:37 AM |
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I borrowed one for my neck and shoulder. It ran on a PP9 and when turned up you could see the muscle contact and relax and the feeling was weird. I
think a HT lead and spark plug would be more likely to give you something similar
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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smart51
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| posted on 16/8/10 at 08:58 AM |
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My wife borrowed one for when she went into labour. She started off on the lower settings but as the contractions got worse she soon turned it up to
maximum. Once the pain got worse than the machine could cope with we went to the hospital for gas and air.
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mistergrumpy
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| posted on 16/8/10 at 09:11 AM |
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I had a bad shoulder about 3 months ago, I even posted on here for help and I have a TENS machine so used that. I had it on maximum and it just about
took the edge off. Went to a sports therapist in the end in agony and he had a similar thing but was ultra sonic and got right down through the muscle
to whatever depth he needed. You should see that machine in action. Mt legs were jumping and everything
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RazMan
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| posted on 16/8/10 at 10:53 AM |
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I've got one of the Boots TENS machine which I find fairly helpful for small aches and pains but it's no good for my chronic back pain.
When I visit my chiropractor, he uses a combination on accupuncture and TENS - basically 15 or so 75mm needles fully buried in my spinal area, then
each needle is connected to an industrial TENS machine which has very sophisticated programming and is VERY powerful. 30 minutes of twitching later
and I can walk again!...... which is nice
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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alistairolsen
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| posted on 16/8/10 at 03:30 PM |
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Where can one borrow such a thing? It's been recommended to my girlfriend as a treatment for Hyperobility Syndrome but she'd like to try
one before buying her own ideally.
My Build Thread
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britishtrident
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| posted on 16/8/10 at 03:51 PM |
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They can be bought starting from £7.50 up £50.00 from any Lloyds Pharmacy,
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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RazMan
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| posted on 16/8/10 at 05:07 PM |
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Or even less on the bay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mini-Tens-Machine-compact-wireless-pain-relief-/230511497346?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Medical_Equipment_Instruments_ET
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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Daddylonglegs
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| posted on 16/8/10 at 05:08 PM |
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Had one for years for my back injury and it is damned good. Just make sure you don't put the pads too close to the boney areas, 'cos it
doesn't half make you squeel like a girl! (well it did me anyhow  )
I find that the best setting for me is the low pulsing at around level 4-5 (depends how much life is in the battery). My injury gives me serious back
spasms down the one side which can be brought on by something as silly as reaching for something on a shelf at shoulder height, just twist at the same
time and bang!
Only them that has it knows the grief it can cause 
Go TENS
It looks like the Midget is winning at the moment......
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locogeoff
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| posted on 16/8/10 at 07:03 PM |
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Got one, use it!
On full power with 4 pads on the forearm top it can snap my wrist back to the point that it is difficult to flatten out.
You need special ones for the ladies with the babies IIRC.
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richard thomas
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| posted on 16/8/10 at 07:27 PM |
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Gonna look at this - nice one!
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MikeR
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| posted on 16/8/10 at 08:43 PM |
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Having worked for Lloyds Pharamcy's sister company and used the Lloyds shops a lot i can recommend the deals they do. They buy in good quality
stuff and brand it Lloyds.
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