TENS

What is Pain?
Pain is one word, but is used to describe a whole range of sensations of hurt and damage. Pain from a sprain or a strain for example, can immobilise us, to prevent further damage being done to an injured leg or back. The acute pain we feel in these cases is usually sharp, intense and relatively short term.

However there are some types of persistent pain that outlive this warning function and seem to defy any evident cause. This persistent or chronic form of pain, which invariably appears to worsen rather than improve with time, produces a degree of suffering that intrudes and imposes such restrictions on life that it can reach the point of domination. IC is one example where sufferers experience chronic pain for long periods (if not permanently), which has a major debilitating effect on their lives.


Pain Relief
While the body does its best to conquer pain, medicine and science can offer a range of 'supplementary' treatments. In most instances, pain relieving drugs are tried first. Worries over long term side effects of using drugs can lead many pain sufferers to seek other treatments. These may be divided into three main categories - electrical, physical and psychological. They can be used alone or in conjunction with each other or traditional medicines.


Electro Relief
Medical electrotherapy goes back a long way but for today's pain management, the most common form of 'electro' treatment is TENS, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. TENS works by triggering the body's natural pain killing mechanisms by increasing the amount of signals carried by the large touch nerves, encouraging the spinal nerve gates to close and stimulating the production of endorphins, thus numbing the pain signals.


A TENS machine is battery powered and smaller than a personal stereo. Adhesive pads, which carry the electrical impulses, are attached over the painful area and wired to the unit. The sufferer then chooses the level and type of signal required - continuous or burst mode - which is felt as a slight tingling sensation.


Studies have shown that TENS will help relieve pain in 80% of cases. TENS is free from side effects, and is totally self controlled. In some cases the pain relief will continue (perhaps for some hours) after the unit is turned off. In others relief only occurs when the unit is operating. TENS units can usually be borrowed from the Pain Clinic at your local hospital, or may be purchased directly from manufacturers.