What is TENS?

1. How does a TENS work?

T.E.N.S. is an acronym for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. With the development of modern medicine doctors and scientists have perfected the use of electric pulses to treat and eliminate pain. TENS units use electro frequency at about 80 to 90 MegaHertz. According to doctors and medical professionals the TENS device is the most highly effective treatments for pain relief. A TENS unit is a device that transmits small square electrical pulses to the electrodes, which transmit this electrical pulse to the underlying nerves. The fundamental components of a TENS unit are the electrodes, a highly advanced computer chip, and an electrical battery source. The small amount of electricity is transmitted through the computer component then to the electrodes, which transmits the electrical waveform to the underlying nerves. The user can personalize the pulse frequency, which is the strength of the electrical current given to the electrode. The strength of electric current is measured in megahertz. The user can also adjust how long each pulse width is. This pulsation effect gives a cycle of higher and lower electric wavelengths. This measurement between the wavelengths is measured in time by microseconds. The strength of the pulse and the width on duration of that pulse are the two main adjustments found on TENS units. Two more features that you can get on a TENS unit are settings for a burst mode and a modulation mode. A burst mode changes the time and duration of the pulse and makes a series of seven quick pulses followed by a rest. This cycle repeats itself two times every second. The modulation mode changes the time and duration of the pulse with but uses a combination of burst and the continuous features that were preset, (pulse strength and with). This setting is often used for long-term users to confuse the pain receptors in the brain so that it cannot learn to ignore these pain-relieving frequencies.

2. How can I get a TENS unit?

You will need a prescription from a doctor – chiropractor, obstetrician, Pediatrician, internal medicine doctor or other doctors.

3. How long will it take for my TENS to help my pain?

It takes approximately 30 minutes or less to feel the effects. Some people Prefer to use their TENS all day or for several hour at a time. Each TENS has an Automatic Timer and  can be used to help you go to sleep. Every individual has different needs. If you have two different areas of pain you may use two sets of electrodes (each have two pads) so that your TENS can treat your pain simultaneously.

4 . How do I use my TENS?

We include directions with your Tens Unit. Using a TENS is very easy. It is portable and may be clipped to a belt, shirt pocket, bra or other clothing. Depending on the level of pain for a certain day the Tens Device may be adjusted for different intensities. Please follow your Medical professionals instructions on how to use your unit that his specific to your needs.

5 . Is using a TENS dangerous?

Absolutely not. Our TENS are FDA (Food & Drug Administration) approved and are completely safe to use when used properly. The only area of restriction for using a TENS is that it should never be used on your head or face area or if you have a pacemaker.

6. Are there side effects?

Definitely not. Unlike prescription or over the counter drugs, TENS are side
effect free when used as directed from your medical professional. Most Pain Control medicines are narcotics, which are highly addictive especially if used for a substantial amount of time. Many people who suffer from long-term pain and are taking pain control medicines have developed a dependence on these narcotic medicines. That is one of the many reasons why people use TENS instead of narcotic medicines. By using our state of the art TENS, you may continue to lead a more active, less painful lifestyle.

7. Will using a TENS hurt or give me more pain?

Absolutely not. If our Tens Units are used as directed your pain may be reduced. You will feel a tiny tingling sensation which is a minor to no discomfort at all. This is because it has a high frequency, which means the stimulation is approximately one hundred times per second. Using our Tens your pain should be lessened or disappear.

8. How do I get additional electrodes or batteries?

The average monthly use of a Tens Units accessories are two packs of electrodes (8 electrodes) and one 9V battery.

If you sign up for the automatic reorder program you will receive a discounted price on electrodes and batteries. This program simplifies the process of replacing your electrodes and batteries. If you are using you unit because of an accident such as a workers comp claim then most insurance companies will pay for this program as long as you are in your recovery phase. If you would like to see if you are eligible for this please contact Dr. Corey Lichtman.The replacement items are sent directly to your home or office.

9. Will you accept my health insurance?

YES, we accept certain health insurance companies. 

10 . Will you accept Medicare or Medicaid?

No. Medicare will only pay for a rental tens unit. So do to medicare's strict rules and regulations regarding payment for Tens Units we can not accept payment by medicare.

11. Who should use a TENS UNIT?

TENS should be used only under the continuing supervision of a physician. Some of the most common doctor recommended uses for TENS are: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer, Bursitis, Postoperative pain back pain, foot, knee, sciatica, sprains, carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis, labor pain (not before nine months), and many other types of pain. Non pain uses are for swollen joints, spasms, relaxes muscles, and overall body relaxation.

People who should not use TENS:

According to medical Doctor Chris Wells, 30 percent of North Americans suffer from chronic pain, and many believe nothing can be done to help them. With our state of the art TENS UNIT, pain sufferers can be helped. According to Dr. Patrick D. Wall, “Twenty million Americans are in pain from arthritis; 30 million, of whom are wholly or partially disabled, have endured spells of persistent back pain at some time in their lives; and millions more are in pain from cancer, angina pectoris, and other causes. No single sickness comes anywhere near equaling pain in the sheer scale of incidence. It is a silent epidemic!” (1)

12. I have migraine headaches. What can I use to relieve my pain?

You can use our MICRO CURRENT TENS. This unit is excellent for head, face and neck pain. Please follow your doctors recommendations.

13. Can TENS be used for for pregnant women and during labor?

Yes, more and more expectant mothers are using our TENS unit during their last trimester (full-term) for delivery. Now, thanks to out TENS many women have experienced pain relief during labor. Please check with your doctor for proper treatment during pregnancy.

14. How does Interferential therapy differ from TENS?

Interferential differs from EMS and TENS because it delivers stimulation deep into the affected tissue. Interferential uses the interference of two separately generated sinusoidal currents applied to the body simultaneously. It is a low frequency current treatment that uses two medium frequency currents which "interfere" with each other to produce a beat frequency that the body recognizes as a low frequency energy source. The range of this frequency is usually 1-250 Hz. The body itself produces low frequency currents between 1 and 256 Hz. These currents are produced across the cell membranes by ionic exchange, and they will vary depending upon the tissue involved. By using frequencies in this range, different systems within the body can be stimulated.

Interferential Units are most often prescribed by medical professionals for more serious injuries and for treatment after surgery. Interferentials are much more delicate in the way that they use the low electrical frequencies.

15. How does a TENS differ from a EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulator)?

EMS Muscle stimulators are used to relieve pain, reduce spasms and edema, tonify weak muscles, and assist the healing process, muscle tension, stiffness in joints or back areas, increasing motion restricted from disuse or atrophy and for increasing local blood circulation. EMS Units run at from 1 to 130 Mega Hertz. TENS is designed to help relieve certain types of chronic and acute pain. An EMS is designed to treat more of the muscle area than the nerves. This can help reduce swelling and muscle inflation which can have a negative effect when a strained muscle can pull joints out of place.

16. What other electrical devices use electric current on the body for treatment?

Yes. Muscle stimulators relieve pain, reduce spasms and edema, tonify weak muscles, and assist the healing process, run at from 1 to 130 Hz. TENS units are used to block pain run at about 80 to 90 Hz. Interferential Therapy units are a type of muscle stimulator run at 3000 to 4000 Hz. Bio Feedback instruments used to modify behavior and retrain the nervous and muscular systems, run from below 1 Hz to about 40 Hz. Bone Growth Stimulators, used to heal broken bones, run at various frequencies. Deep Brain Stimulators, which use implanted electrodes to impart electrical pulses, run from between 120 and 160 Hz directly to the brain to control involuntary muscular tremors in Parkinson's disease. Heart Pacemakers use an electrical impulse to regulate the heart's rhythm.

Scientific Studies:

Opioid based medications have long been known to be highly addictive, and although they work well in reducing pain, the long term usage usually results in an increased dosage tolerance, requiring the patient to take higher doses more frequently to reduce the pain.  As well, the use of opioid based medications prevents the patient from operating vehicles or operating heavy machinery.

Non-selective Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS), such as Ibuprofen, and Cox-2 selective drugs, such as Bextra, Celebrex, and Vioxx, are associated with a significant risk of serious gastrointestinal events.  Recently, concerns have also been raised about NSAIDS and potential cardiovascular toxicity.  The deleterious gastrointestinal effects, and increased risk of cardiovascular adverse events from the use of NSAIDS and Cox-2 selective drugs, are cause for concern to the consuming public because of the frequency and seriousness of side effects.

Recent scientific studies addressing these concerns are provided for your review:

An Evidence-Based Update on Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs.

The Role of Non-Opioid Analgesic Techniques in the Management of Pain After Ambulatory Surgery.

This section of the Food and Drug Administration website also provides the public with a wealth of information about NSAIDS and Cox-2 selective drugs.

Wikipedia provides a listing of previously approved drugs, which the FDA has now withdrawn from the market due to risks for patients taking these drugs.

Another concern about the use of drugs is adverse side effects when two or more drugs are taken together.  This is called "drug-drug interaction."  Drug-drug interactions can lead to changes in systemic exposure, resulting in variations in drug response of the co-administered drugs.  For example, mixing a drug to help you sleep, such as a sedative, with a drug taken for allergies, such as an antihistamine, can make driving a car or operating heavy machinery dangerous.

In addition to co-administration of other drugs, concomitant ingestion of dietary supplements, citrus fruit, or fruit juice could also alter systemic exposure of drugs, thus leading to adverse drug reactions or loss of efficacy.  This is called "drug-food/beverage interaction."  A common example would be mixing alcohol with some drugs can result in feeling tired or a slower reaction time.  Another example would be the ingestion of certain foods, such as spinach, kale, or parsley, diminishing the effectiveness of a blood thinning drug such as coumadin.  Eating garlic, while taking coumadin, can result in an unexpected increase in blood thinning.

Another concern is drug-condition interactions.  A "drug-condition interaction" may occur when an existing medical condition makes certain drugs potentially harmful.  For example, if you have high blood pressure, you could experience an unwanted reaction simply by taking a nasal decongestant.

The "Drug Development and Drug Interaction" section of the Food and Drug Administration website addresses these concerns.

Drug Free Pain Relief as an Alternative

Some patients suffering from chronic intractable pain can avoid the potential for a "drug-drug interaction," a "drug-food/beverage interaction," or a "drug-condition interaction," by using a GEMS-TENS to eliminate potentially harmful reactions, or to reduce the dosage and frequency of certain drugs.

The American Pain Society has published an extensive study on the history, mechanism, and advantages of TENS: The Basic Science Mechanism of TENS and Clinical Implications.

There are a number of Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) studies supporting use of a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator (TENS) to significantly reduce pain for many common conditions.

For instance, TENS have successfully been used for decades to combat low back pain, as outlined in this study addressing A comparison of TENS and massage for pain and range of motion.

BioMedCentral has published an article addressing the positive benefits of using a TENS for osteoarthritis of the knee:  Short-term efficacy of physical interventions in osteoarthritic knee pain. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials.

The use of TENS has also been proven to reduce the need for opioid based medications after surgery: The Role of Non-Opioid Analgesic Techniques in the Management of Pain After Ambulatory Surgery.

The use of TENS has been found to be simple and safe for the long term:  Long term use of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation at Newcastle Pain Relief Clinic.

The International Association for the Study of Pain recently published an article addressing the benefits of TENS for chronic musculoskeletal pain: Efficacy of electrical nerve stimulation for chronic musculoskeletal pain: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

The International Association for the Study of Pain also published a study on the use of TENS to reduce muscle inflammation: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) reduces chronic hyperalgesia induced by muscle inflammation.