Using TENS to Relieve Pain: What is TENS and How Does it Work?

TENS is a contemporary, non-pharmaceutical pain relief treatment. The word "TENS" is actually an acronym for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator.

TENS is a contemporary, non-pharmaceutical pain relief treatment. The word "TENS" is actually an acronym for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator.

Its full name can be a little bit misleading, since many people associate "electrical" with shock and shock therapy. In reality, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator treatment, which is delivered through the use of a TENS unit, delivers a mild pulsing sensation, not shock.

TENS units are devices which deliver low levels of electrical currents topically (through the skin.) The device creates a series of pulsing sensations. The frequency and intensity of the pulses are controlled through knobs and/or buttons. The electrical pulses are delivered from the device to the skin through the use of electrodes. These electrodes are connected by wire to the TENS unit and applied to the skin, directly over the place where the pain relief is needed.

Depending on the nature of the injury or illness, doctors and therapists may start patients on a very low frequency and intensity of pulses. They may gradually increase that level if the patient is comfortable and the condition warrants it. Some units can actually be controlled by the patient, who can adjust the level him/herself to a level that is comfortable and provides the most benefit.

The length of the treatment itself often depends on the nature of the injury/illness. A typical course of treatment for acute pain (i.e. post-op pain or accident injury) lasts for 6-8 weeks, with two to three sessions per week. Individual sessions may last for ten to twenty minutes, and may be adjusted depending on the effectiveness of the treatment and the progress of healing. TENS pain relief treatment for chronic pain (i.e. MS, arthritis) may be delivered on an ongoing and as-needed basis.

This therapy may be prescribed to alleviate pain from a range of illnesses or injuries. TENS therapy may be prescribed for treatment of both chronic (pain that is recurrent, such as pain from osteoarthritis) and acute pain (pain that is the result of an injury that hasn't healed completely.) It has been used to treat tissue and muscle damage (i.e. from a car accident or sports injury), pain resulting from surgery, strains (i.e. neck, back), tendonitis, arthritis and more.

There is conflicting information on the effectiveness of TENS pain relief treatment. Research has only been conducted on a few specific types of pain, and in most of these cases has been shown to be moderately to highly effective. Effectiveness usually depends upon the nature of the illness/injury, and the overall health and fitness of the individual patient.

TENS therapy has become a fairly routine form of treatment for pain and rehabilitation after an accident or operation. A majority of patients who receive TENS therapy report at least a small level of pain relief. Many find the treatment very effective, and most physical therapists agree that it may significantly shorten the duration of healing. It is also an excellent alternative to drug treatments, especially when used on a regular basis during recovery.

TENS units are found in two basic types. They may be found in the form of a home device, which patients can use in their own homes as needed (or prescribed) rather than requiring a doctor's or therapist's visit. These units typically deliver lower levels of electricity and pre-programmed programs of treatment.

The other type of TENS unit is more complex. It usually has the potential to deliver higher electricity levels than home units, and therefore must be administered under the supervision of a doctor or therapist.

Damian@FitnHealthy

Muscle Spasms and muscle knots

Muscle spasms are sudden, violent and involuntary contraction of a muscle or muscle group and may be experienced due to a disease, strain, or injury to the muscle or nearby tissues. Later on, when the basic injury is not fixed, muscle spasms form muscle knots which are painful. Oftentimes, it is this pain from the muscle knots that pushes a person to seek treatment of the injury.

A spasm is an unexpected, violent and involuntary contraction of muscle or group of muscles accompanied by sudden burst of pain which is generally harmless but may interfere with function.  It produces involuntary movement and distortion but ceases after a few minutes. 

Spasms may occur due to disease, strain or injury to the muscle or nearby tissues.  It could also be an impairment of circulation or disturbance of body chemistry which can be confined, severe or fairly generalized.

Painless or localized spasms are called tics. This involuntary movement of muscles, usually of the face, may seem to be a natural reaction or response to a certain stimulus but eventually, it will happen automatically even without any reason at all. 
Spasmodic muscle contraction may also be due to a large number of medical conditions, however, including the dystonias.

 Muscle spasms occur early after an injury takes place.  It is characterized by a tightening of muscles in the area which could be painful at times but not always.  Later on, when the basic injury is not fixed, muscle spasms form muscle knots which are painful and become part of the problem.  

Often times, it is this pain from the muscle knots that pushes a person to seek treatment of the injury. This is the case with injuries to the neck and back.

 Muscle knots, also known as myofascial trigger points in medical term, are abnormal areas within the muscle which cause pain. There is still not much information as to what muscle knots really are. However, doctors made some biopsy test by cutting a piece out of muscle knots and results showed that some abnormal protein deposits seemed to be present in the sample tissue. Some treating practitioners believe that there is excessive connective tissue in these areas, but there is little evidence in the (unfortunately few) studies that have been done to support the idea of excess connective tissue. 

The knots form because the spasm keeps the muscle working continuously around the clock which is beyond normal body function. Generally, our bodies move in normal activities with different muscles working in cycles. Since the muscles are not designed for such continuous work, time will come when muscle work overloads and forms these knots. That is why it is important that spasm is treated to help reduce this problem. 

Treatment of muscle spasms and muscle knots depends on medical professional who is working most closely to you.  

Exercise is an important method to help with muscle spasms and muscle knots.  Another helpful treatment is massage therapy to supplement other treatments. 

However, exercise and massage can become uncomfortable but the patient is expected to feel better later