What is TENS?
TENS - Transcutaneous Electrical
Nerve Stimulation
PAIN RELIEF WITHOUT DRUGS
What is TENS?
Your doctor or physiotherapist may have recommended a TENS
machine for your pain.
TENS is battery-powered unit which sends electrical impulses
through electrodes placed on or near the painful site. This causes a tingling
sensation that reduces pain, even pain that hasn't responded to other treatments.
Usually though, TENS is used with other treatments prescribed by your doctor,
and may help reduce the amount of pain killers required.
One theory on how TENS works is that it blocks pain in
the spinal cord. Another is that stimulation with TENS causes natural pain
relieving substances to be released, thereby reducing pain.
Will TENS help my Pain?
In clinical trials, TENS has been shown to be an effective
and safe method for the treatment of acute and chronic pain.
Some conditions for which TENS may help include:
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Chronic Pain: Neck and Back pain, Headache, migraine, Arthritis,
Post-herpetic neuralgia, Sciatica, Lumbago
-
Acute Pain: Childbirth, Post-operative pain, Fractures, Tennis
elbow, Muscular Strains
Are there any side-effects?
Unlike drugs, TENS does not cause nausea, drowsiness, limited
activity, personality changes or addiction. TENS may sometimes cause skin
irritation or redness. Usually this disappears quickly or can be prevented
by using alternative gels or electrodes.
Contraindications
Except in the case of certain individuals using pacemakers,
there are no known contraindications for TENS. The use of a TENS with a
pacemaker may prevent the pacemaker from working. If you have a pacemaker,
you must get a clearance from your consultant cardiologist that it is O.K.
for you to use a TENS machine.
Precautions:
-
1. TENS devices should be used with caution where the cause
of the pain has not been established.
-
2. TENS stimulation is of no curative value. That is, TENS
does not do anything to the underlying cause of the pain.
-
3. Treatment outcome (with TENS ) will be influenced by the
cause of the pain, the patient's psychological state and use of medication.
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4. TENS should be kept out of the reach of children.
-
5. Electrical stimulation over the carotid sinus, i.e. anywhere
over the front of the neck, may be hazardous.
-
6. The safety of TENS during pregnancy has not been established.
How do I get a TENS?
All you need is a referral from your doctor or physiotherapist.
It is important to seek professional advice from your doctor or physiotherapist,
you may have a medical condition causing your pain best treated another
way.
Contact us when you want a TENS. You may pick one up from
our office, or we can send it direct to you or your doctor or physiotherapist.
Who will
show me how to use my TENS?
Please note that it is essential that you are shown by health
professional how to use your TENS. The reason for this is that only a qualified
health professional can instruct you properly in the use of TENS. You will
be more likely to get a benefit from the TENS and less likely to experience
any problems. Usually, your doctor or physiotherapist will instruct you,
though they may refer you to one of Masters Medical's health professionals.
Instruction usually takes about forty to sixty minutes. It is necessary
to make an appointment and a fee is charged for this service.
Rent or Buy?
Before buying a TENS, we recommend that you rent one for
a month. It costs no more to rent a TENS from us for a month and then buy
it, as to buy it immediately. The advantage of this is that you make sure
the TENS works for you before committing yourself to buying the TENS. We
encourage you to try the TENS first before deciding. We will send you an
invoice before the end of the first month, giving you the option of either
buying, continuing to rent, or return the TENS.
How do I pay?
Compensation Cases: We will bill insurance companies for
you if they have accepted liability, that is, they have undertaken to pay
on your behalf.
All you need to do is to give us details of your insurance,
claim number, contact person at insurance company, employer and date of
injury. This will speed up approval by the insurance company, which we
can usually get over the phone.
Private: If you are paying yourself, we accept cash, personal
cheque, money order, Bankcard, Visa or Mastercard.
Most health funds provide generous rebates for TENS machines.
You will need a referral letter from your doctor. Please check with your
health fund.
Which TENS Machine
to buy?
We have a large range of TENS machines and accessories to
suit your requirements. However, to simplify your choice all the TENS we
supply are high quality machines and we give you the option of trading
up to more advanced TENS at a later stage.
If you are not familiar with TENS, talk to your doctor,
physiotherapist or our staff. We find that most people make their choice
on the basis of the physical features of the TENS. Look at the brochures
or come in and have a look yourself. This is in fact an important way of
making your choice as the design of the control knobs, belt clips, carry
case and accessories will suit some people and not others.
Back up Service
Our staff are available to help you with any of your enquiries
or problems.
If your TENS ever breaks down and you bought the TENS
from Masters Medical, a service we provide free of charge is we will supply
you a replacement TENS to use while your machine is being repaired. This
service is provided even outside of the normal warranty period. This will
save you the inconvenience, pain and loss of income that may occur if you
don't have a TENS. |
