A huge number of the American populace suffer from chronic pain. But the good news is that there are several treatment options available.
One of them is known as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Health experts agree that TENS is one of the most effective non-drug treatments for chronic pain.
The most common treatment option for chronic pain is surgery or medication. The problem with such treatments is the side effects that accompany their use. Some of them leave you with even more pain and a lot of medication to deal with.
However, TENS presents a better alternative to the treatment of chronic pain. The treatment has been tested and proven to eliminate some of the worst pain symptoms in patients.
What is a TENS unit?
TENS is a nonpharmacological treatment technique for pain relief. It is the use of electrical pulses to alleviate pain in the affected area of your body.
The use of low voltage electrical current is believed to offer much relief to chronic pain patients compared to traditional medication.
Here are five reasons why you should use a TENS Unit:
1. Retraining of nerves
When nerves are destroyed or damaged in your body, they are incapable of receiving or sending signals. This often results in difficulty in moving and excessive pain. It also makes it hard for a patient to move because of the pain when trying to do so.
But with a TENS Unit, the nerves are gradually restored back to life and regain their ability to send and receive signals to and from the brain.
When a TENS unit is used, the electrical pulses trigger the release of endorphins – which are considered natural painkillers of your body. Your brain and nerve patterns return to the normal functioning of the treatment and are used well over a considerable period.
2. No side effects
Most of the drugs or medications used to treat chronic pain come with numerous side effects. It is a life of accepting moderate pain at the expense of relieving extreme pain. Some of the common side effects include the following:
• Drowsiness
• Constipation
• Liver failure
• Digestive issues
• Nausea or vomiting
• Respiratory depression
• Dizziness
It is ironic to use medication that causes pain to relieve pain. In some cases, patients become resistant to certain drugs. But a TENS unit has helped many people to a point where they no longer need to use their pain-relieving medications.
3. Reduced inflammation
Inflammation is always likely for chronic patients and that means more pain. The more you use different medications to treat the pain, the higher chances of getting inflamed. The good news is that nonpharmacological treatments such as TENS cause very minimal cases of inflammation.
Several studies have shown that the use of electrical impulses can significantly minimize inflammation found deep within the muscle fibers.
4. It is affordable
Treating or managing chronic pain is not easy. It can drain your finances if the pain persists for a longer period. Most drugs used to treat chronic pain are super expensive. But with a TENS Unit, you can significantly reduce the cost.
The good thing with a TENS unit is that you only purchase it once unlike traditional medications where you have to buy them more often.
5. Easy to use
Another major reason why you should use a TENS unit is because of the ease of using it. Although it is an advanced gadget, it can easily be used by anyone.
You don’t have to visit a hospital or call a medical professional to help you with how to use the device. All you have to do is follow the simple instructions and you are good to go.
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