Page 2 of 3
Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 1:53 am
by kpbos
Is that the idea of TENS - that they induce the body to perform Kegels by itself? If so, that doesn't sound like a route I'd want to take, I can't get the pelvis to stop contracting.
A previous post mentions it gets the muscles to massage themselves?
Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 2:08 am
by webslave
Yes, that worries me too. Can others comment?
Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:13 pm
by londoner
I would have thought that the fact that the contraction brought about by the TENS machine is more or less involuntary (and electrically fast) would mean that it doesn't carry the same dangers as Kegel exercises, which I think of as quite laborious and strenuous.
I've often thought that having the muscle contract - and then release, very quickly going from one state to the other, would be a good education for the muscle on what is possible in terms of changing the state of tension within it. All you have to do with a TENS machine is switch it on and off - so your concentration and observation could be focused on the different tensions -whereas with Kegel exercises you have to concentrate on bulding up the tension.
I feel sure that a lot of people have pelvic muscles in perpetual tension - so much so that they've (temporarily) lost the ability to feel that tension, other than in its expression in pain. They/we don't know then the different sensations of 'tensed' and 'relaxed'. Reclaiming the ability to discriminate between tension and relaxation, bringing it into consciousness, could only be a good thing.
However, that is pure speculation on my part. Anyone else?
TENS
Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 6:52 pm
by Howden
I used TENS for awhile, but without effect, ie. no pain relief. In reading here about some of you who have had a good result, I wonder whether I experimented enough. Maybe I'll give it another try.
Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:16 pm
by joehansen12
I am curious to know if anyone has used a TENS unit with success!
Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 7:02 am
by kenn101
In my case with 2 to 5 hours use daily it lessened my pain. You could say it worked as much as I get from plain rest in a prone position, which I also had to do when using the device. Sorry I could not help you any more.
Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 12:03 am
by kpbos
You would sometimes use it for 5 hours in a given day? Thanks for your input by the way.
Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 5:59 am
by londoner
5 hours does seem a long time. I believe you can wear these things and walk around running your multinational or peeling onions etc.
Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 3:33 pm
by scoobysnacks
londoner wrote:I would have thought that the fact that the contraction brought about by the TENS machine is more or less involuntary (and electrically fast) would mean that it doesn't carry the same dangers as Kegel exercises, which I think of as quite laborious and strenuous.
I've often thought that having the muscle contract - and then release, very quickly going from one state to the other, would be a good education for the muscle on what is possible in terms of changing the state of tension within it. All you have to do with a TENS machine is switch it on and off - so your concentration and observation could be focused on the different tensions -whereas with Kegel exercises you have to concentrate on building up the tension.
I feel sure that a lot of people have pelvic muscles in perpetual tension - so much so that they've (temporarily) lost the ability to feel that tension, other than in its expression in pain. They/we don't know then the different sensations of 'tensed' and 'relaxed'. Reclaiming the ability to discriminate between tension and relaxation, bringing it into consciousness, could only be a good thing.
However, that is pure speculation on my part. Anyone else?
I agree with Londoner. My reasoning is because after orgasm I can pee completely normal. After really thinking about this I came to the conclusion that an orgasm make the muscles that are tight on me tense up very strong then relax. This intense tension causes them to say oh yeah we stay tight all the time, but really should be relaxed in this state that occurs after the intense contraction. Therefore, the first time I ever did kegels I had immediate urinary relief, meaning no muscle contraction upon first peeing. I have begun to do them daily, and so far its helping instead of hurting, but its too early to tell. I have thought about going back to the local PT to get another TENS machine and that other machine that tests the resting/tension of the pelvic floor. I used these early on but think I was too tight and too early in my condition to get a huge benefit.
Just my opinion. I may look into this internal one, though I would think that hurts like a biatch.
SS
TENS unit
Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:57 pm
by gifford
It MAY BE GOOD FOR INCONTINENCE BUT WHAT ABOUT PELVIC PAIN?
Also you folks that have a TENS unit and said it has helped - how much are they and what kind did you get? From whom, etc?
Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 4:16 am
by kenn101
Sorry for my late reply. I was testing if using TENS for long treatment times worked any better as short times didn't help at all. I could not tell if the TENS unit or the just time of rest helped me the most.
Because of how the electrodes where placed on the perineum and the inquinal canal it made walking without shifting them difficult. I found that I had to have the unit turned on high to work ( it was not the unit as I tried others with the same result ), if the electrodes shifted even slightly they would stopped working and I would have to move them back into place regeling and taping them.
Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 12:40 am
by lookouth
I think a more scientifically sound reason for muscle-spasm reduction after orgasm or tens usage is that the tens unit or orgasm wears out the muscles in the pelvic reason and thus causes them to relax, totally tiring out the muscles so they no longer have the strength to stay contracted- this was how it was explained to me by my PT, the danger in this seems to be if you don't completely tire out the muscles to the point of fatigue you may be just making them tighter- this seems to be why people are split over the usefullness of kegels, it seems to me the best way to test your fatigue limit, beyond subjective feeling, is to have an internal (rectal) sensor that measures resting tone, and going through these various routines and testing before and after to see if you lower your resting tone. Though this also has been said to be an inaccurate indicator as Dr. Wise thinks resting tone type measurements may only measure the muscles in the immiedate area of the probe and not 'overall tightness'. Just a few things to think about...
Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 1:38 am
by joehansen12
From reading this thread, I believe that TENS units do stand a chance of giving relief. May be just another form of attack on CPPS. Shouldn't hurt I guess. I am seriously considering buying one.
Can someone please give me their opinions?
1) I have intermittent penal pain and muscle spasms and pain around my upper buttocks (no perineal pain). So, should I go for an internal TENS (
minnova ) unit or an
external one (the one with pads)?
2) Can a general physician prescribe it for CPPS? Or even better, can a physical therapist prescribe it?
3) Will the insurance company cover some of the costs, if the physican prescribes it? (just the way they would do when I buy medicene).
4) Can I purchase one without a prescription?
thanks,
Joe.
Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 11:36 pm
by joehansen12
No response yet...
Since my pain is more muscle kinda pain, should I go for an EMS rather than TENS? Also do I need to get a prescription to buy one?
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 2:34 pm
by kpbos
Is anyone still using a TENS machine or some kind of electrical stim? If so, are you getting some relief?
I ask because I finally tried this with a physical therapist last week, they've had success treating men this way and they feel its better than physical therapy. Not sure if I agree, but I felt some difference after being hooked up to the machine. I'm about to rent one and try it out for a few months.