Will a Portable TENS Unit bring You Relief?

A Portable TENS Unit is a tremendous piece of technology that is used for pain relief.

TENS is short for Transcutaneous (through the skin) Electrical Nerve Stimulation. This type of pain relieving Electrical Therapy has been used by doctors for decades.

In my clinic Electrical Therapy was a big part of the success we had at relieving back pain, sciatica, shoulder, elbow, knee pain, fibromyalgia, arthritis and headaches. In the office we used very large and expensive electrical therapy machines.

But for home use we always prescribed a small portable tens unit. These TENS units are pocket sized, battery-powered, portable devices that send out electrical impulses. These mild electrical currents block pain signals to the part of your body you are having pain in.

TENS stimulation causes a release of endorphins in your body. Endorphins are your body’s natural pain killers that are produced in your brain.

Using a TENS unit is easy. The TENs unit itself is so small it can be worn on your belt all day. It will have two small wires attached to small sticky pads (electrodes) that you place around your area of pain.

TENS units are very safe to use at home but you may get better results if you get some instruction by your medical doctor, chiropractor, or physical therapist in proper placement of electrodes, the control settings, and the length of time you should use TENS for your particular situation.

You could get considerable relief in a short time using TENS therapy. Sometimes pain relief lasts from hours to days. If yours is a difficult pain case TENS may not completely relieve your pain but it should reduce your pain level and the amount of pain medication you need.

You may find your doctor or medical clinic will offer to rent a TENS unit to you for the amount of time it takes for your pain to subside.

I think you will end up spending a lot less money if you buy a good portable TENS unit. You can use it for as long as you feel you need it without worrying about the mounting rental or finance charges.

If you have another painful episode it won’t cost you anymore money because you already own the portable TENS unit you need.

If anyone else in your family requires pain relief you can quickly come to their aid by letting them use your TENS unit.

The cost of a TENS unit ranges from under $100 to several hundred dollars. The most expensive ones offer a large number of different modes. The most basic units only have one mode. You will be best with a unit with at least three modes. The three most important to have are constant, modulation and burst modes. This shouldn’t cost more than $100-$200.