best TENS machine?

[bladder]

If you have a TENS machine what kind do you have and would you recommend it?

[123456]

I have an EMPI. My insurance totally covered it. Don't forget to get a probe along with the electrodes for internal work.

[doodlebugsmom]

I also have an EMPI and it really helps. I use it 1-2 times a day sometimes. My insurance covered 80%. They are usually around $800. I don't have a probe though. I may ask the PT about that.

[Jocotter]

I am having the worst pain ever with this flare. I am going ask my doctor about the tens unit. It doesn't make sense to me how this could help with pain. So are you saying it does help significantly? Is it potable so you can work or travel with it?

[ICNDonna]

Mine is a Perfect Tens --- I've had no problems with it and it's five years old.

Donna

[Jocotter]

Thanks Donna. is this this something you can wear on vacation and to work? Ihave no idea of the size of it.

[doodlebugsmom]

Jocotter...I take mine everywhere...especially to work. 2 pads go on my lower abdomen and 2 on my back. I could not get through the day sometimes without it. It is portable. The wires can be tucked in your pants and the device can be hung on your pants pocket or waist. I would really recommend PT though, they explain how to use it and where to place the pads to help you. Best wishes!

[Jocotter]

Thanks for the info. I am going back to the urologist soon and will ask about it. My primary care doctor saw me yesterday and she gave me 3 days of Levaquin, which always seems to help for some reason, but she's setting up the appt asap. I would like something portable like that.

[sully02]

TENS unit

I had an EMPI but my insurance would not pay for it. Empi said it was $400 so I found a Tens 7000 on amazon for $34. It feels the same as empi so far. It is portable with long electrodes. At that price I can always buy another one if it breaks. I found it helps with the pain but as soon as you turn it off the pain will start again within an hour or so. But it does help.

sully

[Jocotter]

Thanks, Sully. My doctor called me yesterday and told me she would refer me to pain management to get a TENS. I wasn't hurting yesterday, so I told her I'd wait and see if it came back. So of course, today it did.

So you can buy them on Amazon? Maybe I'll look into those.

[Jocotter]

I read about the TENS unit on Amazon and it sounds great! So, could you tell me if the instructions are adequate? What additional things do I need to order with it? Do I need more pads or electrodes? I think I am ready to give it a try.

I am so over this pain. I feel better this morning, but it feels like it's just teetering on the edge of becoming bad again. I was so frustrated last night that it came back after having about 5 pain free days. My husband gets occasional gout (maybe once a year) and it hurts like ****. I told him to imagine if he got gout every 5 days or so. It was like a light turned on for him. He looked horrified.

[sully02]

Jocotter,
The unit comes with some directions but I am glad I saw a PT that explained some things to me. But, you could use the one from amazon. I will tell you what the PT told me and you could try it. First start at the lowest number and go up very very slowly. I only use it max at 3. Or between 2-3 is most comforable. Put 2 pads on the top of your butt crack (I know there must be a better name for that), one on top of the other. And then 2 next to each other right above your pubic bone on your abdomen. Be sure to wash the area clean first as I found out the pads do not stick as well if you have lotion or body oils on the skin. You can also order extra pads which you will need, at the same time. You could also put them all on your belly but mix them up as far as the electrodes go.........I know confusing..........there are 2 pads with each electrode so you would put one pad on your pubic bone and the other opposite and above it and then do the same with the other electrode. My pt told me they talk to each other that way so it is sorta like crisscross pattern if that helps. Be sure to read the liturature because you should not use it on your head, neck, or over your heart. And you can not use them if you have a pacemaker or any other things like that. Maybe an interstim? Don't use it while driving, or get it near water, while sleeping.......most of this comes with the instructions. The best idea might be to get a PT referral so they can show you how to use it properly. MY PT also said to use it for one hour and then turn off for one hour. My 7000Tens unit has an automatic off on it which is nice, the EMPI did not. Good luck. Some insurances pay for them but mine did not.

I really, really know what you mean about having 5 good days and then being "knocked down" again to only have pain. It happens constantly to me, to the point where I am house bound, bed bound and rarely make any plans. Today I should have been in Arizona, instead of Michigan, on a free trip with my sister and cousins. I am so bummed and depressed all day. I only said no because I knew I would hurt and then I would ruin their fun and I would be more miserable. Sad ain't it??? Thanks for listening.

The TENS unit comes with 4 pads and the reuseable electrodes.

sully

[Jocotter]

Sully, thanks so much for the explanation. I like the idea of the automatic shut off, like my heating pad has. I'm so sorry you missed your trip. I love the chance to travel, but I too worry about pain. My sister in law and I go on a trip each year ( for the past 25 yrs). Last year we planned to go to Disney World, but she got a perforated intestine during a colonoscopy the week we were supposed to leave, so she had to cancel. Now we have a trip planned this May, and that's why I want to try this.
I hope you have lots of pain free days in your future! Thanks so much!!!

[sully02]

Jocotter,
Thanks for understanding the depression I have been feeling all weekend knowing my sister and cousins are laughing constantly and I am home, not laughing and reading non stop about IC. I think I was so stressed about this trip that I made it worse, worrying about food, taking drugs that are supposed to stay cold or frozen, clothes that I can wear when all the clothes have to come off time, but still look OK in front of my male cousins while everything hangs loose, sharing bathrooms with 7 other people when I need it 80% more than anyone else. It is a great big beautiful house in the middle of the desert. Also, sleeping with my sister or cousin..........I get so obsessive about the bathroom,etc.
Sorry about your sister. Is she OK now? I had a colonoscopy in Oct and just as he was starting it, the weather radio in the procedure room said "take cover now, tornado WARNING" he just went on with it and then the adreneline must have taken over because they could not knock me out and I felt it and my bladder felt it BIG time, the nurses were pushing on my stomach to try to get it through, all I could picture was Dorothy flying around in the sky with a tube flying in the breeze:-) Thank God it did not puncture anything.

The size of the tens unit is about 3X5 and it has a clip on it to attach to your pants or shirt. The electrodes are about 30 inches long, maybe a little longer.

Have you had a hydrodestention or spinal injections? Both offered to me but scare me.

Nice talking to you.

sully

[Jocotter]

I totally understand about trip concerns, the bathroom visits, etc. So frustrating. My sister-in-law is back to normal now, but when it happened, she had to have emergency surgery and she couldn't eat for a few weeks except by IV. She lost so much weight. It was really scary.
We are planning our trip for May and I am getting my own hotel room just so I dont have to worry about bothering anyone.
Hang in there!