What is TENS?

Your doctor or physiotherapist may have recommended a TENS machine for your pain.

TENS is a 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 cases natural pain relieving substances to be leased, thereby reducing pain.

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 OK for you to use a TENS Machine

Who will show me how to use my TENS
Please note that it is essential that you are shown by a 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.

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:

• Chronic Pain:
  • Neck and Back pain,
  • Headache,
  • Migraine,
  • Arthritis,
  • Post-herpetic neuralgia,
  • Sciatica,
  • Sympathetic Reflex Dystrophy.
• Acute Pain:
  • Childbirth,
  • Post-operative pain,
  • Fractures,
  • Tennis elbow,
  • Muscular Strains.

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 comes (with TENS) will be influenced by the cause of the pain, the patient's psychological state and use of medication.
4. TENS should be kept out of the reach of children
5. Electrical stimulation over the carotid i.e. anywhere over the front of the neck, may be hazardous
6. The safety of TENS during pregnancy has not be established

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

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.

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. Our may pick one up from our office, or we can send it direct to you or your doctor or physiotherapist.

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 company, employer and date of injury. This will speed yup 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, Visa, Mastercard or American Express.

Most health funds provide generous rebates for TENS machines. You will need a referral letter from your doctor. Please check with your health fund.