Until it connects to somewhere it's a push button to nowhere. Where does I connect?
I remember trying a tens, it was annoyingly like self induced static electricity shocks. It worked on the distraction principle. By hurting you some other place you aren't so aware of the back pain.
Yes, that was the intent. It was recommended by a pain doc who himself used one to help him sit through an otherwise boring movie or to get to sleep.
For some chronic pains, just the practice of day to day living can serve to distract from the discomfort; but then, quiet moments come when it's suddenly noticeable. Like sitting through a boring meeting or movie, or trying to relax before sleep.
I think TENS fell from favor when Medicare stopped funding them. Or maybe demanded more documentation and proof of the medical necessity. It's when the price for the units dropped from $500 to $29.95. Big price drops are not uncommon when insurance stops covering the cost :)
In hindsight, it probably worked for the doc because he had found the good settings and electrode placements. For that, his awareness of how all the body parts fit together and worked served him well. But for us lay-people it became either a shock/torture device or a nothing-burger.
No. what I meant was "how and where does it connect?" In a world where shoulder pain can be the result of a pinched nerve at the spine, and a headache can be all the fault of an abused sciatica muscle, I'm always curious about how therapies and devices help people escape or reduce physical pain and discomfort.
@Heartlander This is not that. I don't know if it works. It's not intended (I think) to treat serious pain.
The understanding I have, which is wildly incomplete, is that it subtly relaxes the user to help with sleep and interrupts the focus on anxiety to help lessen panic attacks.
I too often find myself still wide awake until the next morning comes knocking. Like mulling over an assortment of issues until I find the trip-wire or trigger point that gets me past the stumbling blocks. At times, it's like my best thinking comes when I should instead be sleeping.
@Mamapolo2016 Understandable. Alone in the middle of the night, the conversation you are having with yourself can be mild to moderately confrontational :)
