UCPPS - Prostatitis, Interstitial Cystitis Forum

I bought a TENS gadget. It wasn't very expensive, probably isn't a very good machine, though it does operate fine.

It felt quite beneficial while using it - and quite pleasant too - but I didn't notice any appreciable longer-term difference in my symptoms. Give it a go is my non-medical advice - but go gently..

Here's my report on what I learned with my new TENS.

My PT uses a big E stim machine on me sometimes after a session. Those puppies do everything - high frequency, low frequency, interferential, pain relief, muscle stimulation. I only had it used for pain relief. My PT is very against using muscle stim for this condition.

There are lots of small portable TENS on Amazon for less than $200, but they each do a specific thing, and a lot are stimulations. My PT suspects they are mass marketed because of the demand from body builders. The one I got costs $400 to buy, $40/month to rent. It's 80% covered by my insurance. My doctor had to prescribe it, and I had to go to a PT who is covered by insurance to get it. This PT was about 19, first job, never gave out a TENS before. She spent most of the hour reading the paperwork. Then she read me the manual. Grrrr.

It's an Empi EPIX VT.

I played with it and probably would have taken it back if I hadn't been able to take it to my very competent PT for more help. She helped my locate the pads properly on S2 on the sacrum. There's a nerve root there that will block my mostly rectal pain. One pad each on the sort of bony projection just above the crack, and the other set just anywhere nearby. I'm pretty scrawny right now, so she said not to turn it above 20. If you have more padding, it might need to go higher. More is not better.

There are several 'programs' that determine how the current is pulsed out. You should start with 'Continuous' until you feel relief. Then turn to one of the others, because with Continuous your brain will figure out what's happening pretty quickly and screen out the impulses. You shouldn't feel any twitching.

There is one program that thumps out a big slow low frequency pulse, and it creates enkephalns in the brain, which provide longer lasting pain relief - for hours even. Most other programs are high frequency and create endorphins, which only last 20 minutes or so.

There are 2 kinds of pads. One is for single use and probably sticks better. The others have a sticky gel surface and can be reused. The gel dehydrates so they should be stored in a zip lock bag. When they dehydrate from use, you can pat them with water and let them sit out to rehydrate. They should last a long time.

I feel more pain more than many of you, I think. Perhaps it's the chronic fatigue, but I've been on 2-4 vicodins for months. I'm not wimp, I've had kidney stones and know what real pain is like. A couple weeks ago after a month of chronic diarrhoea, the pain escalated and I hit 10 vicodin one day and have switched to percocet. This makes the TENS a real life saver. I use if for breakthrough pain, and to keep from having to take pills until later in the day. I understand the problem of mast cell degranulation with pain meds and really don't like taking them. Well, I don't understand it actually, but I know it's there! I've just started on Neurontin too.

I've only used the TENS a couple days, but I think it's going to really help me out. Since the colitis is in remission and I'm back to PT, I again have some hope of getting my life back. My PT thinks that the TENS breaks the pain cycle in the brain, something that is becoming a real problem for me. Taking more drugs just reinforces the cycle.