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Posted 3/6/2009 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
I posted this in reply to another thread but I was all over the place so I figured I would post this here (I have since deleted the other portion of that post).

I called the Dr. because they were supposed to call me back about going to see a guy about a TENS unit and they never did. They called today and apologized for it "slipping past them". I have lost most if not any faith in these people. So I got the number from them, waited for them to have time to fax my info to the Dr. and called to make an appointment. They asked when I wanted to come in, I said ASAP and they have an appointment for me at 1:40pm tomorrow.

Do any of you know if this should just be an eval or something? Will I actually get to try this out as soon as tomorrow? It would be really nice to try something new and hopefully helpful. I am familiar with the technology (friend of mine had scoliosis a long time ago) so I know what it is, I just wonder if it could actually help me. Any info would be appreciated.


Skrape
Posted 3/6/2009 2:46 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Skrape I have one and yes mine does help me. Now, will one help you, I cannot say, remember we are all different. Basically tomorrow should be just getting fitted for the unit and showing you how to operate and take care of it. Thats all they did with me. In fact the TENS people came to my drs office. I can't tell you how many I have had. These newer models are much better than the older versions. It feels like E-stim to me when I use mine. Let us know whats happens tomorrow. Susie
Posted 3/6/2009 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
I also have a Tens unit. I received mine at the PT office. There was no fitting or eval. Once my Insurance oked it, the PT handed the unit to me explained in less than 2 minutes how it worked and told me to give it a try. A month later, I received a letter from the company that issued the Tens unit and they stated that the Insurance was refusing to pay for it. So they sent a prepaid box to ship it back. Then my Insurance comp. had another unit shipped to me and all I do is contact the company and they send me supplies

 I need. Once, one of my electrical leads broke and the comapany just sent me another set through the mail. I don't know if I get much relief from it. I try it for awhile and then quit. Then try it again for a week or so. I am hoping to get into a PMS within several weeks and they wanted to know if I had used a Tens unit as that would be one avenue they wanted to look into. Good luck with yours, I hope it relieves some of the pain.   

Posted 3/6/2009 4:56 AM (GMT 0)
Fatherjohn, That happened to me also. I had a TENS for almost 3 months and then WHAM!!! YHou can't keep it anymore, send it back. It was nice too...maybe I can get another one now that I have insurance again..

Me.
Posted 3/6/2009 5:31 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Skrape,
I also have a TENS unit, got mine right at the surgeons office. They had the representative come in there to meet me during my appointment. I went home with the unit, right then and there. Unfortunately for me, if I use it, it drops me to the floor since my spinal nerves are so damaged, so I can't use it. I know that others have used them and gotten great relief from it, so give it a try and hopefully, tomorrow afternoon you will be getting some relief from it.
Sandi
Posted 3/6/2009 5:44 AM (GMT 0)
I have two of them sitting in my closet, one of them I have had for a very long time! The first one I had, I had trouble with the old bag phone I had in my car setting it off, Remember the old bag phones with the big battery pack?, well if the phone was to close to me and when the phone rang the Tens would shock me, I mean big time shock, jump up and press down on with your feet type jolt! ( not good when driving!) I also had the same problem if I wore it and worked around patients on telemetry All of a sudden I am getting an unwanted ZAP in my back! So I quit using it, A few years ago they wanted me to try it again for my shoulder, but since the first I used one I have developed a nasty tape allergy, and most adhesives, make me blister, and give me big welts, and I can't get the electrode patches to stay on without taping them, and the hypoallergenic paper tape is the worst. I know some people report having excellent results with them, I have never had that experience. But everyone is different, so skrape maybe it will work great for you, it is well woth trying!

White Beard
Posted 3/6/2009 7:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,
My PT had units available to take home on a trial basis. Then you could decide if they helped you. Plus he used it on me in the office, although his machine was much more powerful.

I ended up getting a unit that's very similar. It's called an Intraferential Stim Unit. My PT gave me to me as part of a trial, so I got it free, but they bill my insurance for supplies. It goes through batteries like crazy so I had to buy a 9v battery charger and rechargable batteries. I use it at night sometimes, as it goes through batteries too much to wear all day. My PT said the difference with this vs. the TENS is that the TENS is designed only for pain, but the Intraferential Unit is designed for both pain and to stimulate blood flow. It's got to do with the frequency.

I would just ask if there's a unit you could try out.

I admit it's a challenge for me to get all the leads and such on, as I live alone. Sometimes I have to laugh at myself as I stretch in the mirror!

PaLady
Posted 3/6/2009 12:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Skrape,
I didn't know much about these things except my brother had one and showed me how to use it once. As my neck problems got worse, I descided to get one so I asked my doc for a script. I went to a med. supply store and they were real expensive so I didn't get one. Then I tried the internet and found a $500.00 list unit for $99.00. I wrote to them and I didn't think they were a scam so I ordered one. I love the thing! I just don't know how I would have survived the last three weeks w/o it! My neck went crazy after an MRI a little over 3 weeks ago and I have been in agony but when I put on my tens & crank that sucker up, wow! I don't know if it actually stops the pain or it's a distraction but it gives me releif from the constant nonstop pain I've been having from the ruptured disks & stenosis in my neck. I have had it on constantly while not sleeping and have gone throug 4 - 9volt batt's in the last 3 weeks! I never had anyone tell me how to use it, I just read the directions and strapped it on. I change the modes just for some varriety and it seems to help. If you would like, send me an e-mail and I'll send you the website where I got it. Their supplies such as pads and wires are very reasonable and the run sales. Good luck, I hope if you descide to get one, you have as much luck as I have!
Your Bud,
Pete
Posted 3/6/2009 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the info guys, I'll let you know how it ends up. Pete, if I need to get my own (my insurance is the worst) I will hit you up for that website.


Skrape
Posted 3/6/2009 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
White Beard I could not help but laugh reading about how the old phone interferred with TENS. I can visualize you driving along and all of a sudden see this man doing some pretty heavy jerking in the car in front of me,lol.

Sorry, but sometimes we have to look for humor in everything.

Susie
Posted 3/6/2009 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
I got mine through PT. They did a trial that was sent home with me and if I liked it and got relief from it I got mine on my next appt. Mine is made by empi and they call me once a month to see if I need supplies.
Posted 3/6/2009 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
I went in and met with a woman (she told me her name but I cannot for the life of me remember a name until I have seen you a hundred times!) who I liked very much. She talked with me for quite some time and then had me do all kinds of physical things like pushing, pulling, twisting, etc. In the end she told me that land therapy would hurt me, pool therapy might hurt me and that a TENS unit might help. She said that my symptoms reminded her of a lot of patients that have Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Syndrome. I have heard this kicked around before and my mother was diagnosed with both quite some time ago.

She got me up to speed on the TENS unit and I have had it on for a couple of hours now. My back still hurts but this seems to make it less monotonous. I have learned not to get too hopeful too soon but I am hoping this will make it easier to deal with. I am on my last 24 hours of these stupid patches before I can change them so I am hurting pretty bad and having WD as well. I told this to my doc last time and he upped it by 25mcgs to see if it would punch through to the last 24 hours. It has helped a little with some of the pain but the third day is simply hellish. I see him Thursday so I am trying to make it until then. I hope to God he will Rx these things for every 48 hours.

Thanks for all the info about TENS and the support. I will post again in a while to let you all know if it is helping out more.


Skrape
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