Maximizing Pain Relief | Aug '98 Newsletter

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

Cover Story

Maximizing pain relief with your BioStim™

Use the most effective settings first
Vary the length of treatment
Vary the frequency of treatment
Choose the best Timing
Vary the Intensity of Stimulation
Seek Professional Advice
Combining Therapies
Just Remember

Like all pain management techniques, BioStim™ works to a different extent for different people. Research around the world has continually shown that TENS gives good to excellent pain relief in around 80% of cases. In our own survey of 300 BioStim™ users, we found: 69% continued to use the equipment long term, 76% indicated it was their preferred method of treatment, and 88% achieved satisfactory or excellent results.

If you have not achieved the results you expect when using your BioStim™ for pain relief, it could mean that you are among those people for whom TENS has limited results. However, follow these suggestions to ensure that the effectiveness of treatment is maximized for you.

Use the most effective settings first:

Rate: High- - - - - -Setting: Modulated

This is an excellent all round setting for pain relief. It is good for acute and chronic pain, acts quickly, and offers long lasting pain relief.

(If you own the Analgesic model, you will be aware that it is pre-set to modulate.)

Rate: High- - - - - -Setting: Constant

This is a powerful setting for fast acting pain relief. It is most often used for recent injuries and very strong pain.

Rate: Low- - - - - -Setting: Modulated

This is a particularly useful setting for nagging, chronic problems.

Feel free to experiment to find the settings most effective for you. In terms of pain relief, no setting is actually wrong - but some give better results than others. Take your time to find out what is ideal for you.

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Vary the length of treatment:
It is recommended that you use your BioStim™ for at least one hour per session. It is true that some people get excellent results with only 15 minutes of treatment, but there are just as many who have to use it for two, three or more hours to achieve the same results. Users should be aware that the extended use of BioStim™ does not present any hazards, as there are few complications, no side effects and no chance of overdose or addiction.

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Vary the frequency of treatment:
As the length of the treatment goes up, the frequency of treatments goes down:

For example;

Length	Frequency
1 hour	3 times per day
2 hours	3 times per day
3 hours	2 times per day
4+ hours	once per day

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Choose the best Timing:
The timing of a session can mean all the difference in how it works.

1. If morning pain is a problem, you should begin your first treatment upon rising (so keep your BioStim™ near the bed).

2. If you know there is something you have to do (for work or personal reasons) that will aggravate your pain, you should have a treatment session for at least an hour before the activity begins.

3. Similarly, many people know that their pain will increase at a particular time of day, so should begin using their BioStim™ an hour before it is due to start.

4. Night pain is a significant problem for many chronic pain sufferers, and is the main reason for loss of sleep. In these cases, one should begin stimulation before retiring for the evening. Some BioStim™ users report using stimulation for up to three hours before going to bed to get the best results.

5. If night pain is particularly bad, treatment should continue while sleeping. Make sure that electrodes are held in place securely (using bandages or other pressure garments), and that the machine is positioned so that there is no chance of accidentally altering the controls whilst asleep. This method is also useful for particularly bad morning pain.

Any timing of stimulation that proceeds the onset of pain is called pre-emptive. These treatments are implemented to minimize the 'highs and lows' experienced by those with long term pain. By repeatedly blocking the pain before it begins, it is possible to gradually reduce the overall level of pain experienced.

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Vary the Intensity of Stimulation:
To improve results, sometimes it's as easy as making the stimulation stronger. At higher intensities the impulses spread deeper into the body, stimulating more nerves, and giving better pain relief. But remember, there is an upper limit to how high the BioStim™ can be turned before improved pain relief plateaus.

If the stimulation itself is causing pain, turn it down a bit.

If you are stimulating directly over a muscle, there will be muscle contraction at higher intensities. Of itself, this is not a problem - unless treating a recent muscle tear or bruise, in which case you do not want to stimulate any muscle contraction at all. Also, if you are treating a recent joint injury or a joint or region that is inflamed and irritable, muscle contraction may cause unnecessary pain and even worsen the condition. Use your common sense in these cases.

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Seek Professional Advice:
Many health professionals can give invaluable advice on TENS. Often the best results are obtained with ongoing medical assessment and advice.

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Combining Therapies:
There are, of course, other measures that can be used in conjunction with TENS. It is possible that overall management can be greatly enhanced if TENS therapy is combined with other treatments and therapies. For more notes refer to our therapy Comparisons.

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Just Remember:
1. BioStim™ is not a cure for the condition causing your pain. It can, for instance, reduce your lower back pain - thereby allowing you to get on with the things you want to do. And it can speed the rate at which muscle and ligament injuries heal. But as a general rule, TENS is not a cure for most conditions.

2. For some people with particularly severe pain, the best they can expect from their BioStim™ is that it will 'dull' the pain, or 'take away its edge'. For many of these people, this alone is a great benefit.

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