lower back pain treatment

How Does a Tens Unit Work For Lower Back Pain

“TENS” or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation is a system that’s portable, pocket size and battery-operated. It’s a device that sends electrical impulses to the part of the back where there’s pain to block pain signals from reaching and registering with the brain.

A Tens Unit works on lower back pain by producing mild electrical currents through pads on the tens device (with the help of conductor gel) to the spine. These mild electrical currents are powerful enough to prevent pain messages being transmitted to the brain from the spine and so the feeling of pain decreases.

Tens units also work on lower back pain sufferers by raising their endorphin levels in the blood. Endorphins are our body’s natural pain killers. Endorphins not only decrease pain but also elevate the mood and make you feel better.

I found this to be one of the major bonuses of how a tens unit works for those in pain, that after a few minutes (10 or so) you feel lighter and more relaxed! It’s almost that feel good feeling after a workout at the gym and all through sitting still! This is great because as you know, when you’re suffering from sharp lower back pain, the default position isn’t always cheeriness!

Tens Unit For Back Pain

When we strain our lower backs, our body reacts by trying to self protect the muscles and nerves in the spine, so it immobilizes them by tightening the muscles and lowering oxygen supply to the nerves. This causes pain sometimes quite severe or the milder symptoms of nerve numbness or pins and needles in the legs.

TENS helps to break the muscle and nerve immobilisation pain cycle by intercepting the pain signals being sent to the brain.

Tens Unit Side Effects?

Most modern TENS have different adjustable settings that are required to control the amplitude (intensity) of electrical stimulation by controlling the voltage output. Beleive me, if you have the settings too high for comfort you know in an instant! All you have to do is turn the setting down as the tens unit machine runs and it will correct itself.

It’s very useful to use a small amount of conductor gel on the pain area and then place the tens electrode pads on the painful spinal area.

Through the electrodes, the current travels into the skin stimulating the specific nerve pathways producing a tingling or a massaging sensation this sensation reduces the perception of pain.

The side effects of a tens on a normal healthy adult are minimal.There may be a slight discomfort feeling the pulsing sensation.

For healthy adults, a TENS unit is therefore a safe, drug-free solution for pain.

It’s also reliable and a noninvasive lower back pain treatment.

(please note if you have underlying heart or health conditions please consult with your Doctor before using tens-see medical disclaimer page for this blog’s medical terms and conditions)

lower back pain treatment