Tens Units

#ffffff;" />come from using a TENS unit. There are certain
Pain management is a growing and changingbody parts where a physician should supervise
industry. A safe, effective, non-addictivethe use of the unit in order to prevent injury. In
treatment seems like the unreachable Holy Grail,cases of pain in the neck and head, the patient
but many patients feel they have found it throughshould first consult with his physician. The doctor
the use of TENS units. Treatments which weremight even have a unit for the patient to use in
once thought to be quack medicine is now provinghis office. In any case, patients should never use
to be as effective and safer than many of thea TENS or portable TENS unit on their face, head,
current drug therapies. There is an increasing needor neck without discussing it with a physician. All
for managing pain as the baby boomer generationof the nerves in your body converge on the brain
begins to age and chronic, age related aches andin your head. Many nerves that control the heart
pains begin to arise. Rather than turning to costlyand other vital body operations run through the
and potentially dangerous pain medications, manyhead, and without a doctor's supervision, the
patients are looking for other ways to alleviatepatient might stimulate the wrong nerve, which
their pains, such as can be found in the use ofcould lead to injury. Additionally, patients who are
TENS and portable TENS units.equipped with pace makers should not use
T.E.N.S. units stands for Transcutaneous Electricalelectrical nerve stimulation since the charge could
Nerve Stimulation. Transcutaneous literally meansinterfere with the pace maker's operation. Those
across the skin. These units work to alleviate painwho are pregnant, nursing, have diabetes, metallic
by sending a mild electrical pulse through the skinbody part replacements or plates, have heart
to stimulate the nerves beneath. The specificconditions or high blood pressure should talk to
nerves targeted will determine the area of paintheir physician before using electrical stimulation of
relief. When using these, the patient should bethe nerves.
sure to use a cream that is designed especially toTENS units are not a permanent solution for
help conduct electricity from the unit through hischronic pain and may result in gradually decreasing
skin. This will increase the effectiveness of thebenefits when used over a prolonged period of
treatment. While the treatment must be repeatedtime. TENS units may also mask the pain while
every few hours for continual pain management,having minimum impact of the treatment of the
there are portable devices to make this moreinjury. TENS units are not recommended as a
convenient for the patient. Portable TENS unitssubstitute for regimented physical rehabilitation
should be lightweight and easy to carry. In manytherapy programs, but may be used in parallel
cases they can be worn next to the skin. If this iswith physical therapy. Most stationary TENS or
the case, the units need to either be batteryportable TENS units require a doctor’s
operated or rechargeable.prescription.
Pain easement in almost any part of the body can