EASE PAIN AWAY (TENS Pain Relief Unit)

Member Name: thingywhatsit

Product:	TENS Pain Relief Unit
Date:	20/04/06 (5263 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Less intrusive on the body than medicine.

Disadvantages: None.

About six years ago, I fell down a stairwell onto a concrete floor and damaged my spine permanently. I have had endless treatment, although I believe that over the years, back pain is one thing that never really goes away. I also believe that having suffered a serious injury to the back, the problems of age do exaggerate back problems, and over the past six years, this really has been proven to be true in my case.

I have had many sessions of physiotherapy, chiropractice, acupuncture, and even resorted to different dietry aids, and the problem is still there, although when I was first told about the Tens Machine, I took a look at a friend of mine's machine and I did not like the fact that the electrodes that were attached to the machine were all sticky and had to be replaced too frequently.

The Omron Tens Machine is a little different, since they have recognised the fact that the traditional machine did not please everyone, and one of the problems they tackled was to make the pads re-useable, having a small pad to place them on when not in use.

WHAT IS A TENS MACHINE

A Tens machine is a machine that stimulates nerve fibres through the skin. The machine is easy to use and two electrodes are placed, in my case at the bottom of the spine, and kind of massage the pain away. I have had the process explained to me by experts, who say that the effect is to cut off the signals that tell the brain that you are in pain.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE

The tens machine is like a large remote control unit with wires attached to it, that have electrodes at the end of them (two wires). It is not large enough to be invasive, although resting in one place during treatment is advised. I simply place the unit beside me whilst I use it and it is not difficult.

SETTINGS

There are variable settings for different effects, and the best way to use the machine is to set it to a pressure that you find works for you, although there are guidelines in the handbook that comes with the machine. I found the guidelines a little rough, and also that if I felt very little, then the product did not really do its job, although turned up enough to feel the pulse of the machine, it worked very well indeed.

Here, I would advise users that the most sensational setting doesn't necessarily mean the most efficient. I tried different settings and different times, and found what was best for my body and would advise individuals to do the same.

It's a super tool for body tiredness, and stimulates blood flow and leaves you feeling pampered and pain free which is the purpose behind the whole concept of this machine.

ADVANTAGES

The advantages of using this machine were that I found I had less need for medicinal help. I do not like taking too much medicine, and as opposed to medicines with known side effects, the tens machine has the advantage, in that it treats the area in question efficiently without any digestive problems such as are common with muscle relaxant medicines. I got into a vicious circle with drugs, where I had to take one to counter the side effects of another, and my body was tired of the overload.

This is an easy machine for anyone to use, even those with limited mobility. You open up the pouch, take the electrodes out and attach them each side of the painful area, and adjust the settings for the electrodes, and I like the fact that these can be varied, as in the old days of the tens machine, you could only have the same setting for each pad. Now you can adjust the settings to suit yourself.

Not only is the Tens machine good for pain, it is also very good for the tenseness which many people suffer from in this day and age. Another thing that I particularly liked about this model is that you can see on an LCD screen clearly the settings that you are using and adjust them with ease.

For neck pain this is a particularly good treatment and here I place the electrodes at each side of the back of the neck and the tension that has built up disappears.

DANGER AREAS

I would never use the Tens machine in the region of the Heart. If you are suffering pain in this area, it could be anything from indigestion to hernia problems, and may even be heart problems, and here, I would suggest that the advice of a doctor is better than treatment by the machine.

The idea of the machine is to relieve pain caused by muscles and nerves and most people have the common sense to recognise which are fatigue, wear and tear, and which are not, and the tens machine has also been used in pregnancy successfully, because of its uninvasive relaxation qualities.

GUARANTEE

The machine comes with a years' guarantee against defective parts, rather than wear and tear, and the pads used are not considered to be part of the gusrantee, simply because storage is an important factor, and wear and tear usually the responsibility of the owner.

VALUE FOR MONEY ?

Without a doubt this machine more than pays for itself when you consider the medicines that you would otherwise have to buy. Battery consumption is minimal and replacing the pads a small expense considering the luxury that you are treating yourself to.

There are five main programs for Back, shoulders, arms/legs, joints and soles of the feet although I have never personally tried it on my feet as I believe it would tickle too much !!!

For a price of £57.00, this really is a super little gadget, and what I like the most is that it is so portable that you can use it wherever you are. Frequently if I know I am going to be driving for a while, I take the machine with me because I know that the driving position actually makes the muscles in my back hurt. Having permanent back damage there are many functions that other people take for granted that hurt a great deal, and any break from that pain is extremely welcome.

Worth looking into as well for disabled people, the National Health Service give an allowance against buying a tens machine if they feel that you quality. I did, I am so happy I was able to get the help that I needed. They do not pay in total for the machine, although you do get it at a reduced rate, and the firm selling the machine will let you know if you are eligible.

A pack of new pads for the machine cost as little as £10 although I found that the use of the machine is not every day. It is only when pain is unbearable and I found that the pads lasted me a year based on this useage, provided that I pack them away properly on their protective pads and store the machine in a place that is not too hot.

SO WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE.

I would describe the sensation like pins and needles, but in a pleasant way. You can feel a pulse and make it stronger or lesser according to your requirements, and I like one of the stronger pulses, though not the strongest, as it has proven on me to be the most effective, although this is not the case with everyone. You have to use the machine a couple of times to get to know what strength is best for you.

I really like the tingle that the machine gives, and the kind of massage effect of each treatment.

TREATMENT TIMES

Treatment times vary according to need, although there are preset programs and I use the 20 minute one and find this easily adequate.

TO WHOM WOULD I RECOMMEND IT ?

This is not a gizmo, not a fun thing for massage. It is a serious machine that deals with body fatigue and pain. I bought my mother in law one as well, having been convinced of its effectiveness, and she uses it more frequently than me, and finds it equally as effective, and for those less active people who stiffen up and feel pain more than more active younger patients, this really does improve the quality of her life.

I would recommend it to any sufferer of chronic pain because it is a good tool to combat that feeling of hopelessness that couples hand in hand with constant aches.

To me, this product gets the thumbs up.

Rachel

Summary: Every little helps.