Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

The transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, better under the name TENS known, helps with a variety of acute or chronic pain by means of electrical impulses. These are evenly distributed over the painful areas with the help of electrodes that are stuck to the skin. This stimulation of the nerves is offered in numerous pain clinics and also in practices for physiotherapy. There are now even high-quality devices that can also be used wonderfully at home.

What is Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation?

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation can relieve all of the pain that affects the musculoskeletal system. This popular device primarily treats pain in the muscles and joints. Therefore, nerve stimulation with the TENS device is offered in all good practices for physiotherapy.

More and more practices are lending their devices to patients so that they can decide for themselves at home when they want to carry out the treatment. The transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is prescribed by every doctor, especially of course by the orthopedic surgeon. Renting a TENS device for home use is even covered by some health insurance companies; however, you have to submit an application beforehand. The additional payment for the rental room is then a maximum of ten euros for the patient. If you don't want to borrow this device, you can also buy it in numerous well-stocked online shops. Good TENS devices are available for as little as 100 euros.

Function, effect & goals

The stimulation current, which is generated with the TENS device, is particularly often used for acute and chronic back pain. But the symptoms of other diseases can also be significantly alleviated with nerve stimulation using electricity. The TENS device is used successfully for all types of muscle tension as well as lumbago. Here are further indicators that speak for the use of electrical stimulation of the nerves:

• acute and chronic pain
• Outer ankle ligament injury
• Ball pain
• Overstretched ligaments
• Joint pain of all kinds
• Wrist instability
• Hip arthrosis
• Hip pain
• Sciatic pain
• Rupture of the capsular ligament
• Buckle foot complaints
• Damage to the meniscus
• Migraines or tension headaches
• Phantom pain after amputations
• Post-operative pain
• Bruises / sprains
• Rheumatic complaints
• Bursitis
• Shoulder pain
• Frozen shoulder
• Tendon disorders
• Tennis or golfer's elbow

Incidentally, nerve stimulation is now not only used to relieve pain, the TENS devices are also very popular in the fitness sector. The affected muscles are addressed and stimulated by the stimulation current. The current influences the nerve pathways that lead to the brain and which are responsible for conducting pain. Furthermore, the treatment with the TENS device should increase the release of endorphins and thus stimulate the metabolism.

The use of such a TENS device is very simple and can be operated by the patient alone at home after instruction by the doctor. The device itself is not much bigger than a cell phone; Two to four electrodes are attached to it, which stick to the skin by themselves. Depending on the location of certain pain and acupuncture points, these are attached to the skin. Not only acupuncture points but also trigger points are often selected to attach the electrodes. With an average current strength and frequencies between 50 and 150 Hertz, the current surges are sent; This is said to be particularly helpful in acute pain.

If, on the other hand, you choose a higher amperage and low frequencies between five and ten Hertz, you can extend this pain-relieving effect even further. Although the pain relief does not start immediately at this low frequency, it lasts all the longer. The current is of course not painful, only a slight tingling sensation is felt by some patients. This is alternating current; Doctors also speak of so-called square-wave pulses because the frequency phases change during treatment.

A session with the TENS device should last between 20 and 50 minutes, although several applications per day are quite possible. Two applications of 45 minutes a day are ideal. Longer stimulation is not recommended, as the so-called habituation effect then occurs. Anyone who suffers from acute pain can get rid of it after just a few sessions with the help of electrical stimulation of the nerves. In the case of chronic pain, on the other hand, longer-term treatment is recommended. Since the electrical nerve stimulation is completely harmless, a TENS device can be used for weeks or even months.

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Risks, side effects & dangers

Pacemaker wearers and epileptics should avoid electrical nerve stimulation, as should pregnant women. The same applies to patients who suffer from thrombosis in the arteries or veins. We also advise against using the TENS device in the event of fever or other inflammations.

For all other patients, however, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is unconditionally recommended. This application is medically absolutely safe and, unlike medication, free of risks and side effects. The mobile TENS device for at home is particularly popular, because you can use it to organize your time freely and are not bound by the opening times of the pain clinic or physiotherapy. All in all, the electrical stimulation of the nerves is a good addition to massages, physiotherapy or other physical therapies.