Using TENS to Relieve Pain | July '99 Newsletter

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

Cover Story

Introduction

Electrical Pain Relief

TENS Pain Management Applications

Environments of Use

TENS vs Acupuncture

Tables of TENS Use

Effective Pain Relief Without Drugs

Selection of the Stimulator

Selection of the Application Electrodes

Contra-Indications to TENS use

Conclusion

EFFECTIVE PAIN RELIEF WITHOUT DRUGS

DRUGS, DRUGS, DRUGS. TENS is often referred to as an "Electronic Aspirin". It is suitable for treatment of the elderly, and to prevent undesired effects, such as dementia resulting from medication.

Drugs and the Elderly
The elderly are more susceptible to drugs. Dr E. Larson, who headed a team of researchers into the effects of drugs on the elderly, says, "The aged brain is more susceptible to the adverse effect of drugs. If a drug makes you a little 'dingy' at fifty there will be a greater effect at eighty". Dr. Larson explains, "A drug that lasts for 12 to 24 hours in a young person, may last 48 to 96 hours in an elderly person", and "The way to detect whether dementia is a drug side effect is to withdraw medication", which should only be done under a doctor's supervision.

Too Much Medication
Too much medication occurs when people are maintained on drugs for too long, or are prescribed to take multiple types of drugs at the same time. This commonly produces undesired, unhealthy side effects. To overcome these effects, TENS is used to reduce the need for drugs such as tranquillisers, pain killers, anti-inflammatory, and sleeping drugs (and the list goes on).

TENS and Athletes
TENS is used by elite athletes to treat their injuries and pain, as they are prevented from taking many forms of banned medication, which may be used for pain relief and healing. However, they may confidently apply TENS, with the knowledge that they will pass compulsory drug tests.

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