A TENS unit may help minor aches and pains, but it is not for severe pain, like neuropathy. An implanted spinal cord stimulator has a lead/paddle that is put in the space next to your spinal cord. The battery is implanted somewhere in the buttock or lower back. The device sends out specific electrical impulses that help block the pain signals. It can be vey effective in relieving pain. I had a Medtronics SCS implanted back in 2018. It worked quite well in relieving my pain. Then, in 2021, it just stopped working. There was thought that either the paddle lead has shorted out or it had moved. I had all the old hardware removed back in May of this year. I will be going for a trial of a new, improved SCS by Boston Scientific in two weeks. That's the plus side of the device... you can do a trial before you decide to do the permanent implant. Hope that helps.