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TENS unit/ moist heating pad/ weather

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Posted 5/2/2011 4:25 AM (GMT 0)
I was just wondering how many members here use a TENS unit. And where do you get a moist heating pad. I have a heating pad, but there's no moisture about it. I did have a tiny TENS unit before we moved back in September and now it disappeared. I can't find it anywhere. It was maybe i say maybe about the same size as a domino, but that thing worked miracles. I miss it. I plan to get another one next week, but it's going to be bigger, so I can keep up with it. Well, I was just wondering.

It's been raining here today and my back was screaming at me. It has stopped and now it's better. Isn't it weird how the barometric pressure can affect you like that? Not fun.

Well, i'll go for now. You all take care. I hope you're all having a low pain night.

love and double hugs
Loretta

ps. soft hugs lol
Posted 5/2/2011 5:58 AM (GMT 0)
Loretta....

Re: moist heating pad - you can get them almost anywhere, including WalMart, Target and so forth.  I just googled one at Wal-Mart, and it was around $15.  We've had one before...it just comes w/ a "sponge" like pad that can be wet and slips in the pad.

Re: TENS machine, I used one for a long time many years ago.... it worked for awhile.... but then stopped working for me.  I think several people here have used one at different points.  If it worked for you - that's great and I would encourage you to get another ASAP :)

Hope your back feels better....

--Tina

Posted 5/2/2011 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
Loretta for years back in the early years of being a cp patient, i repeatedly asked doctor after doctor if the weather had anything to do with how my back was feeling, i of course knew i was affected by the weather but i wondered if doctors were of the same opinion. i can tell you neurosurgeons in particular looked at me like i was crazy, absolutley not they told by this time i had been to 3 neurosurgeons each one worse than the other,

 i dont know if you had this kind of problem, but what i experenced from these neuros, was they acted as if they were almost god like people, and just asking a question i was met with rolling of there eyes, nodding of there heads, that kind of thing. i remember one in particular (i am cursed with being top heavy) and believe it is a curse. anyway he never took his eyes off my chest, and actually spoke to my chest until i reminded him that they would not talk to him, but if he would reach my eye level, he might get a response. this person told me to swim and walk and everything would be fine.

 i only saw him that one time, and when i told my gp what had happened he became very angry with this neurosurgeon that he had recommened. he assured me he would no longer send anyone to this surgeon, and told me he was sorry, which i really appreciated, the fact was my gp was embarrased that he had sent me there and knew nothing about how people were being treated.

 he knows now and i am sure never sent anyone else there again.  but again i ramble, i finally went to a doctor who specialized in shots, you know epidurals, facet blocks etc., i hadnt even asked him about the weather being a factor in my pain level, he told me that no doubt about the weather make alot of difference and although i knew because i actually felt the increase in pain when it is cold, wet or both.

so even though i knew i did feel vindicated when this doctor said without a doubt the weather makes a difference. i say all that to say i am sorry you are not feeling so good, and will send a blessing out to you for warm, dry weather, hoping you have some good days ahead and thank you for all of your help and sincere concern, very gentle hugs to you, by the way this is kathy, maybe i should have said that first, my children are always telling me i ramble on to much, hope its ok. bless you

 (I have taken the liberty of splitting up you're reply, for ease of reading. Please take note, and do the same in the future) Thanks SE wink  

 Great job on the replies, and we appreciate your contribution to the forum! wink

Post Edited By Moderator (Screaming Eagle) : 5/3/2011 8:28:59 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/2/2011 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Tina. Yes, the Tens unit did help and i'm getting another one this week. I sure hope you're having a low pain day. How are you feeling?

Kathy, it's ok. Ramble all you want. I'm so disgusted to hear what that neuosurgeon did to you. That is disgusting. How stupid. I have been to one neurosurgeon, and I liked him. In fact, I'm supposed to make an appointment with him to go over the MRIs that I had done. Now I don't know what I did with his phone number. I guess I'll have to call and get it again. I hope you're having a low pain day. I feel better today. It's cloudy, but not raining. It was pretty foggy even at noon, but the fog is gone now. That was really weird. Well, i'll go for now

You both take care.

love ya both
hugs
Loretta
Posted 5/3/2011 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
I use to have a little tens unit and it worked great! That was years ago and the company stopped making the replacement pads so that was that. In march I had a temp tens unit put IN my back and when we got it programmed right it worked. Now I'm having the permanent unit put in tomorrow. The only downside is I can't have anymore MRI's or go through metal detectors.
Posted 5/3/2011 2:13 PM (GMT 0)
good am Loretta, this is kathy, and could you tell me what a Tens Unit is i have never heard of it.
Posted 5/3/2011 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi. I'll explain it best I can. It's a machine that's rectangle shaped. It's has wires that come out from it with pads on the end. You put the pads on the place that hurts. They stick to your skin. You then turn the machine on and it starts these little tingly feelings. I used one before, and it really helped. I can't wait to get the money this week, so I can order mine. You can go and google tens unit and all kinds of web pages will come up and your can look at them. I hope this helps you understand what they are. You take care, and I hope you're having a low pain night.

love and hugs
Loretta
Posted 5/4/2011 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
Loretta, I have a TENs unit. It's about the same size as my iPhone, though about three times as thick and runs off a 9v battery. I have two sets of leads, with replaceable pads, though on average I only use one set of leads at a time. I'll position one on the back of my hand, and secure it with a bit of surgical tape and/or put my crafting glove over it, and the second I position at the top of my shoulder blade near my neck. It also gets secured with tape as otherwise those little sticky pads just don't hold on after awhile. It permitted me to dull the pain and work in the past, but these days my pain just laughs evilily in the face of my TENS unit, especially after I did my SCS trial. Stupid pain.

You already got the info about the moist heating pads. Oddly enough I was just looking at those early today. Though with our temps out here heat isn't really an issue this time of year. Stupid desert.

Hope you're having a low pain day. Wish I could say the same.

Posted 5/4/2011 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Loretta for taking the time to answer me.  Tomorrow when I feel better it will take your advice and look into it further.  Hoping you are have very low pain day, and soft hugs to you.
Posted 5/4/2011 3:27 AM (GMT 0)
your welcome Nini. I'm glad I was able to help. You take care.

love and hugs
Loretta
Posted 5/5/2011 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
I had my permanent tens unit put in on May 3rd and it's already helping. I knew it would because I had a temp unit put in and it helped once they programed it right. Anyone who hasn't tried a tens unit really should. I've had the kind that you put on the outside of your body and they're great so why not have one that you don't have to fool with? There are two kind of units, one that you have to recharge and one that you have to replace the batteries by surgery. It all depends on how high your setting is that you will wear out your batteries. The choice is yours.
Posted 5/5/2011 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
Kat1611, I am confused. Could you please clarify? I thought TENs units were only external. What you describe sounds like a Spinal or Neurostimulator, also refered to as an SCS unit. I'm having mine implanted next week.
Posted 5/5/2011 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know about the moist heating pad other than to check your local drug stores, but I got my TENS unit from Amazon. Insurance didn't cover my EMPI unit so I spent $50 on an LG model. It doesn't have the exact same bells and whistles, fancy or not , it get's the job done :)

I use this for Cervical/ Facial Dystonia and for cervical spondylosis
11/2006 original start, most recent flare 11/2010 (still flaring :() )
Botox quarterly
Klonopin 1.5 mg daily
125 mg Topamax daily
Posted 5/5/2011 9:48 PM (GMT 0)
I have used a TENS unit for several years to ease my chronic lower back pain.
I don't like drugs, preferring a more alternative approach where possible.

Just throwing in my ten cents here…
I have the external model with four small pads and use aqueous conductivity gel on these.
I found that keeping the pads in contact with the skin was messy and inefficient so I designed and made a 3" surgical rubber belt, retained by Velcro straps.
Attaching the pads to the inside of this belt, in the appropriate places, made life a lot easier and I even managed to continue working with this arrangement in place.
I find the TENS device very effective, but do be aware that it's possible to suffer quite severe burns if the controls are set too high, and used for longer than necessary.
As a man; I typically ignored the instructions for use and found out all this the hard way!
If you use these machines, I'd suggest you only employ them for as long as it takes to ease the worst of the pain, otherwise one seems to build up a tolerance to the high settings.

Anthony.
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