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Has anyone used a TENS unit for PN?
I have had PN (not formally diagnosed) for years, beginning in my right big toe and progressing to include all of the toes. My main symptom has been "feet on fire," especially at night. When it got to the point where I couldn't sleep, I went to my PCP who prescribed amitriptyline. That worked great but I had to keep upping the dose. When it got to 30mg a night (which I know is still pretty low), I came to this forum and found a lot of people suggesting R-Alpha Lipoic Acid. I have been on that since last November and am just finishing weaning myself off the amitriptyline. Yeah! But here is the new development: I started using a TENS unit for overactive bladder (and I read that it can help with neuropathy). After about two weeks of using it 5 days a week, I am now feeling far more tingling in various points in my calves. It doesn't hurt; it is very mild and just strange feeling. Is it the TENS, which I stopped two days ago. Or could it be something else?
Has anyone successfully used a TENS unit for PN?
Thank you for any information.
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“Tingling” “strange feeling”.
Thats how I describe some of my neuropathy symptoms
I have a TENS unit I bought on Amazon about 3 weeks ago and have used it many times. You rest your feet on the foot pads. I honestly don't believe it will lessen nerve damage. Someone recommended Anodyne Freedom 300 which is supposed to improve circulation and also something called Rebuilder, which has 2 models, a model 300 and a 2407. It is supposed to optimize nerve signal. I have not used either. They are both expensive.
Hello. my first post here, but I feel I must comment on this "treatment". There is a chiropractor in my area who constantly advertises that he has helped "thousands of patients" with his treatment. Finally I decided to give it a try. It was the Anodyne Freedom 300 and the Rebuilder, sold together. In my case, about 3 years ago, the cost was over $7,500.00. In addition to this expense one needed to spend an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening with both of these machines. Part of the package included a vibrating foot massager, a powder of vitamins, and a salve , and a couple chiropractic adjustments. I faithfully followed this protocol for 1 1/2 years, 2 hours/day. IT DID NOTHING to help my neuropathy (Unknown cause). I would caution about buying into this as a cure or even a help. Lots of money and time wasted!!!
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4 ReactionsI tried both of them and they were both a waste of money. Neuropathy is here to stay. No cure is ever coming. Ya just adjust your life and live with it. Scotch does help a little.
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3 ReactionsWelcome @norwalkk, I looked into one of these type clinics before and decided against it. I have idiopathic small fiber peripheral neuropathy but only have numbness and some tingling but no pain so like others have just learned to live with it. I shared my neuropathy journey in another discussion here - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/310341/.
One thing that has helped me is learning as much as I can about neuropathy and what may provide some relief along with how to live the best I can with the condition. A good place to start learning more is the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy (https://www.foundationforpn.org/living-well/). They also have an upcoming free online webinar that you might find interesting:
Shedding light on idiopathic PN: Recent advances in understanding
Tuesday, May 05, 2026, 1:30 PM Central Daylight Time, 1 hour
Register: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/5305746/EEE3CEF81692A3D029C29AA214565BF9
What type of symptoms do you have with your neuropathy?
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2 Reactions@norwalkk
I admire your perseverance and am sorry it was of no help to you. You certainly answered my question. I do hope the chiropractor adjusts his thinking about the efficacy of his machines! Or lack thereof!
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1 ReactionNah-h-h. The chiofracture drives a Maserati.
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1 ReactionI did not expect a cure. I hoped that the devices would keep the neuropathy from creeping up my legs. It started in both feet, progressed to ankles, now at calves and knees. Not exactly pain, but a squeezing, burning, tingling sensation. It is worse at night. No family history, not diabetic, no chemo, none of the usual causes in my case. I will adapt. I am trying acupuncture at the moment.
I cannot understand how this chiropractor (an others) get away with saying they have a "cure". My fault that I did not investigate thoroughly before trying it.
Thanks to all who have commented - your input will save a lot of us a lot of $$$
@norwalkk Same way it started with me, now up to mid thigh, worse at night. My doctor perscribed Baclofen. It has REALLY helped to knock it back.