All about Tens Unit and Pain Management

TENS stands for Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. It is a battery-operated device that is mostly used to treat pain. The electrical pulses move through your skin straight to the nerves, blocking out the cells to send pain signals to the brain. It acts as the body’s natural pain killer.

We will go through the details regarding a TENS unit and inform you of everything you need to know about it.

TENS unit uses

A TENS unit is commonly used to treat different kinds of pain in our bodies. Some of the following are –

  • One of the most useful devices to reduce Period pain.
  • It treats labor pain.
  • If you have arthritis or any joint pain, then this is your device.
  • It is mostly used in people for the most common neck pain, knee pain, and back pain treatment.
  • Any sports-related injuries.
  • Spinal cord injury.
  • Fibromyalgia or muscular pain at specific parts of the body.

This device comes with a dial pad to adjust the intensity of the electrical pulses according to the pain. The frequencies are displayed on the screen for you to customize. These electrical pulses range from 80 – 120 cycles per second and are referred to as High frequency. On the other hand, the pulses ranging from 1 – 20 cycles per second can be called as Low frequency.

If your pain has reached an extreme level, then adjust the device at a high rate before using it. For mild pains, low-frequency electrical pulses are enough.

Benefits of Using TENS Unit

The TENS unit has tons of benefits for your body and mind. You should know about the benefits of this device, which are mentioned below.

Drug-free pain relief

The device will cure your body pain without the use of drugs. It is a natural pain reliever with very little or no side effects. This is a well-known fact that pain medications have drastic side effects. If you are looking for a drug-free solution, then this is it.

Produces endorphins

Endorphins are hormones that are produced naturally by our nervous system to fight pain in our bodies. They are released when you experience discomfort. Using a TENS unit provides your body more endorphins than it naturally produces.

Blocks signal to the brain

TENS unit blocks the pain signals from reaching the mind so that you do not feel the pain. Studies have shown that this method of relieving the pain works perfectly.

Useful for different pains

Researches have shown that a TENS unit can be helpful for various pains in our body. If you are experiencing knee pain, this device has a different setting with a frequency ready for you. At the same time, if you’re neck or back is paining, the device can provide you with the needed rate, and settings can be adjusted according to your pain.

Suitable for chronic and acute pain

This device can treat both chronic and acute pain, respectively. Many professional therapists recommend TENS unit therapy for chronic and acute pain because they are useful as well as natural.

Use at home

This is one of the best benefits of this device. It is not an expensive one nor a large one that you cannot buy or fit into your house. This is a small, affordable device. You can use it at your home whenever you feel like you need it while doing other things.

Side effects of TENS unit

The side effects of the TENS unit are almost non-existent, and most of the people won’t even experience it. However, there are a few side effects that you must know about:

The electrical pulses

The electrical pulses that this device uses to cure the pain may cause some people a little buzzing in the head or feel tingling at some point.

Allergy

Some people may be allergic to the pads that come with this device. If your skin starts to irritate or become reddish, then know that you are allergic to it.

When to avoid TENS unit

This pain treatment device is safe for most people. In some cases, it is not entirely safe for some of the people, which we will discuss down below.

Pregnant women

Never let pregnant women use a TENS device in the pelvic area. It is not suggested nor safe for the baby. The electrical pulses can harm the baby.

People with a heart condition

If you have a heart condition and have a pacemaker placed inside, then never use this device. The electrical pulses will mess with the pacemaker, and it may stop working eventually. It is strictly prohibited.

Conclusion

TENS units are the most effective drug-free way of pain relievers. They work well if you place them on acupuncture points. They are inexpensive as well, and most of the people can use it very easily. Make sure to set the frequency accordingly. Also, go through our article to know more about it.

Megha Kothari
 

Megha leads the content strategy and oversees an amazing team of writers, editors, and designers, all having one goal in mind – to create brilliant content that helps people make the right purchase investment. When she is not working, you can find her enjoying making delicious food and planning her next travel.

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