TENS

[ICNJess]

I'm about to go get TENS unit today for my pain. Any advice? Has it worked? Is it expensive? Thanks.

[lalarainbow]

Hi Jess,
I have a TENS unit. I paid about $125. here in Canada... I have used it right over the bladder it did not help..But I get lower back ache when I flare and I put two of the pads on my back and that definately helps.. My Uro showed me a spot on the inner side of calf near the calf bone to put the two other pads.. I am a guessing it is an accupuncture point for the bladder... He thought it was very weird that I had put the pads right over sore bladder.. and he said "I did not tell you to put them there" ..
If you can find out where the best place to put the pads, then that would help.
It sure helped my back.. Not sure if it just helped me concentrate on something beside the pain or what but it did make me feel better.
Hope it helps you.
~~Pam

[tigger_gal]

Hi Jess,
I don't know anything about it. But I sure hope it works and hopefully the ins co will cover the cost.
Brat

[Shelka]

Hi Jess,

I'm from Montreal, & my TENS unit cost around $80 CD -- I bought it about 3 years back. Unfortunately, I don't really feel it helped me at all. Then again, I didn't buy it on advice of my doctor (my nurse just mentioned it), so no one showed me the proper place to put the pads. I used to try putting both of the pads on my lover pelvic area (one on each side, sort of where ovaries are, only lower, and also on my lower back).

However, as is obvious with this friggin illness, everyone is different & reacts differently to treatments...so it might be well worth the try for you.

Best of luck!
Shelley

[ICNJess]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the advice. I am on a trial period, and if I like it I buy it. It'll be 80 bucks if the insurance doesn't cover it, so I hope it will be worth it. So far, it's ehhh.

Jess

[MakinIT]

I have a TENS unit...it works ok for when you have low pain (say in the AM) and you put it on and you use it throughout the day to keep the pain quiet.

I have a large gooey cold patch on my low back, and two small ones that go near my bladder. You can adjust your intesity as need be. I use the pulse choice rather the steady choice. (I just like it better...My nerves don't overstimulated) I've just found that it doesn't help if the pain is severe to begin with.

good luck!!!

Tracey

[Daina]

I still have a TENS unit I would like to get rid of if anyone is interested. Just didn't work for me. Jess best of luck. Hope it helps, even just a little. Any relief is good relief. Daina

[arkitekton]

TENS helped with back, not bladder pain

I tried a TENS unit for the first time ten days ago in my physical therapist's office. It didn't do anything for my bladder-related pain, but it seems to have done wonders for my back pain. I have spinal stenosis and osteoarthritis, and that and IC-related pain can turn my back muscles to stone. The TENS (along with "warm hands" exercises and belly-breathing relaxation exercises) really seems to have helped me break that cycle of tensing up that can make my spine feel like it's on fire.