Does a Tens Unit work well for muscle tension

[izazen ICN Member Find all posts View Profile Close izazen]

in the over all pelvic area and can a PFD therapist prescribe one or can it only be prescribed by an MD? Does the therapist make a recommendation to the MD?

I am now getting what I think is a Tens unit for electrical stimulation in PFD therapy and it seems to relax me "down there" very well. She puts two pads on the buttocks and two in the lower abdominal area and leaves them there for a half hour.

I see many people here seem to use them for back pain only.

Thanks!

[**Angie** ICN Member Find all posts View Profile Close **Angie**]

I use my TENS like she did you. My Dr prescirbed it and my PT had it in her office and gave it to me. She also showed me how to use it and kinda where to put the electodes. (sticky pads) After taking it home and playing with it I've found where it works best and at what settings. I also turn it on and off. If I use it continuosly I get real sore. I think it's muscle sore--especially if I have it turned up to high.

[Bethrlk ICN Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bethrlk]

Hi Iz and Angie,

I was prescribed a TENS unit by my uro - it came from a medical supply store close by to me. Not only do I use it for the IC pain around the pubis area, it is great to use on sore muscles ANYWHERE on the body. My only drawback is the sticky pads that come with the unit - if I don't put them back on the plastic sheet correctly, they dry up and don't stick! I've spent more on the electrodes/pads in the last year than on the unit itself!!

Have a great weekend!!! BETH

[tacy99 ICN Member Find all posts View Profile Close tacy99]

I have a tens unit and use it on my pelvic floor but mostly around my SI and it really provides a lot of relief. I have recently had a failed InterStim trial and I am glad I can use my Tens again now that the stim is off.

A suggestion on the pads.........they do last a long time if you put them on the plastic and back in the bag. If they stop sticking or you drop it on something, just rinse with cold water let it dry a minute or so and put back on the plastic. It will be as good as new!

My health insurance pays for my tens supplies.

[Annie2 ICN Member Find all posts View Profile Close Annie2]

My physical therapist prescribed a TENS unit for me and my uro just signed the letter of medical necessity. I have both IC and colitis and, as a result, have severe PFD. My TENS unit, along with PT, helps tremendously.

[Nancy1980 ICN Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nancy1980]

Re: Does a Tens Unit work well for muscle tension

I am in pt now... And I flare after treatments is this normal... Did it happen to you guys??? Please help

[Suzana ICN Member Find all posts View Profile Close Suzana]

Re: Does a Tens Unit work well for muscle tension

I am in pt now... And I flare after treatments is this normal... Did it happen to you guys??? Please help

I have used a tens machine for 4-6 month with 8 pads, not to say it didn't work for me but lower back with all the wires and pads (black/red) it doesn't motivate me to use it as often as I think I need. Anyways found a few laser pain relief products, they are more pricey but no pads and wires. A friend has the handy cure one from Amazon paid something like $700 and I like using it, no wires, easy to use and lasting effect but no way I am paying $700 for handy cure. Anyone knows where I can get one of those products for a reasonable price? I am in Toronto, Ontario but can also order online.

[Suzana ICN Member Find all posts View Profile Close Suzana]

Re: Does a Tens Unit work well for muscle tension

I have used a tens machine for 4-6 month with 8 pads, not to say it didn't work for me but lower back with all the wires and pads (black/red) it doesn't motivate me to use it as often as I think I need. Anyways found a few laser pain relief products, they are more pricey but no pads and wires. A friend has the handy cure one from Amazon paid something like $700 and I like using it, no wires, easy to use and lasting effect but no way I am paying $700 for handy cure. Anyone knows where I can get one of those products for a reasonable price? I am in Toronto, Ontario but can also order online.

I got a pm just now from another forum with a site selling this pain relief product for $419 it is still above my budget, I am looking for this or similar at up to $200 or something close to that please.

[AmyGig ICN Member Find all posts View Profile Close AmyGig]

Re: Does a Tens Unit work well for muscle tension

My insurance covered the cost of my TENS unit so you may want to look into that. I got it through the pelvic floor therapist.

[Suzana ICN Member Find all posts View Profile Close Suzana]

Re: Does a Tens Unit work well for muscle tension

My insurance covered the cost of my TENS unit so you may want to look into that. I got it through the pelvic floor therapist.

In Ontario we have OHIP health insurance (everyone, it is provincial) and they don't pay for this. I am going to check with my parents, they have some kind of private health plan insurance for business if that includes me or not, it is with Benecaid a local company. Anyways my experience with the TENS unit I have is that it works ok but short lasting pain relief is one issue and I need to buy new pads (electrodes) every 3-4 month which makes it pricey as well it is not that easy running those wires...any experience with cold laser therapy?

So I did research a number of products already but all are outside my price range like TERRAQUANT TQ SOLO PORTABLE 15 WATTS W/CASE this is over $2k!!!!! looks exactly like the Handy Cure at $700 still way too much for me, or Laserex 3000 Veterinary Cold Laser System also like $2k. I do like the cold laser option, as I said my friend has one and it is super good but he did pay $700 for it so anyone who knows a shop online that ships to Canada selling cold laser pain relief at ~$200 USD pleassssssssse share, even used!

[ICNDonna ICN Staff Find all posts View Profile Close ICNDonna]

Re: Does a Tens Unit work well for muscle tension

I got a pm just now from another forum with a site selling this pain relief product for $419 it is still above my budget, I am looking for this or similar at up to $200 or something close to that please.

If you have a doctor's order, your insurance may very well cover the cost of a TENS unit. At the time I got mine, insurance didn't cover it, but it only cost $150 so wasn't too bad to pay for it.

Donna

[AmyGig ICN Member Find all posts View Profile Close AmyGig]

Re: Does a Tens Unit work well for muscle tension

I'm not sure what kind of TENS unit you are referring to. The one I have is pretty small. You can get them on Ebay very inexpensively.

[ICNDonna ICN Staff Find all posts View Profile Close ICNDonna]

Re: Does a Tens Unit work well for muscle tension

My TENS unit is (excuse the comparison) about the size and shape of a package of cigarettes. It has wires to 2" square pads. I bought mine with a doctor's order from a medical supply store.

Donna

[AmyGig ICN Member Find all posts View Profile Close AmyGig]

Re: Does a Tens Unit work well for muscle tension

Mine is as well Donna and, although my insurance paid for it, I was told that it wouldn't be that expensive if the insurance didn't cover it. That's why I don't understand these $700 to $2000.00 costs that are being referred to in this post. I thought maybe they were looking at something different.