Does anyone recommend a portable, rechargable TENS unit for pain?

Hi Sunnyflower. The ice packs have a somewhat thick knit cloth covering. Inside is a removable clay slab that doesn't get so cold that it could freeze the skin. It is just the right amount of cold. If it feels too cold you can put it on over socks or pant legs but that reduces the effectiveness somewhat. They start to warm up or defrost within a few minutes and the slab becomes more pliable. These have really been a life saver for me. They can also be heated in the microwave but I have never tried that. Your warning is appropriate nonetheless. Thanks.

@catharbert @all One thing I can say about ice Do you use a towel on your leg first then ice ? You can leave on 15-20 min without fear of ice burn

@bustrbrwn22 Jen, I wrote you a private message about your loss of being able to go to your pain doc. Hope you received it. I know you will find someone in the Milwaukee area, for sure. Have faith! There are docs out there! Lori

Hi Jim! Whew, I am so glad to hear it went well! How is your pain? I have been praying for you. Well, they gave me lidocaine at the site of my IV on my forearm, to make for a painless IV. The sedation medicine for the procedure is called conscious or twilight sedation. They used Versed, a benzodiazepine and propophol which is a paralytic. There may have been another medication as well? I was pretty drugged and went off my diet something awful! You have to have a driver. It was a very good experience for it's kind. The procedure or operating room and the anesthesiologist have to be booked ahead of time if you want the sedation. I only had to pay $100 for everything. I have Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage. I love it! I have a cervical injection in early November. I'm a little uncomfortable about that location but really trust the doctor. Let me know if you have any more questions and know you are in my thoughts and prayers. Let me /us know how it went ok?
I wish you all the best friend. Warmest regards, Sunnyflower

BTW, how long were you or will you be in the hospital assuming it wasn't an outpatient day surgery? Thx, Sunnyflower PS: I too have a "severe" canal stenosis and have been consulting with 2 neurosurgeons about what to do. They can see there is still a little bit of fluid around the nerves so we'll see. The one I am mostly talking to and of course I have seen both, keeps telling me that I am very high risk for surgery bc of infection etc. from my daily steroids and diseases and conditions and history of complications. No one wants to touch me! I am scheduled to see him soon.
Take care, Sunnyflower

@jimhd glad to hear the surgery went well!!

@jimhd I echo the best wishes it went well

Jen, I am positive that absolutely none of us feel that you let us down! Try really hard to get rid of the stinkin' thinkin' and replace those thoughts with truth. That's what I do. Remember I told you that the Bible teaches that Satan is called the father of Lies, and the accuser and that he is seeking to devour and destroy? Well that is referring to the thought life because that's where it takes place, in the mind. I put myself down all the time but I'm now able to capture the thought before I complete it and replace it with biblical truth about myself in God's sight. The Bible says I am made in His Image and that He loves me, that I am forgiven and the list goes on. I think this will be our battle while we're here on earth. We just have to arm up to have victory over it. Recognize it for what it is. Pain does alter many parts of the brain, the emotion center especially. That's why I use the term, "I am fighting for my sanity" when my pain becomes intolerable. I think you need to look in the mirror and talk to yourself as you would a dear person that you love. Speak with kindness and love and encouragement and assure yourself that you are worthy and valid. It's so hard to do, to look at yourself and treat yourself as you would talk to this person that you love. But after doing it for some weeks it really works and you feel better about yourself and treat yourself much differently and think about yourself much differently. Well those are the tools that I use. Let me know if you have any questions or I can help any further. I will be upholding you in prayer dear friend. All of us are fallible. None of us perfectionists will ever be perfect so we can let go of that impossibility. RELINQUISH, it feels so good! God loves us as we are. In Christ's unfathomable love, Sunny 🤗♥️

@sunnyflower Sunny. Thank you for the pep talk. Two days of really bad pain that I really did very little around the house. The pain makes me cry despite the ice and TENS. Happy hippo was a lifesaver today with my new sciatica shaped ice pack. I have to ration the real pain pills so I don’t run out or build a tolerance. I’m going to lie back down for the night. My husband took Murphy with him to visit the farm area he and his friends are building. Used to be for paintball now for gardening. We have an exhausted Doberman now who is getting his pain pills. Why is it ok to give our beloved pets whatever they need so they’re not in pain but not humans? You are so right, fighting for my sanity.

@lorirenee1 Lori. For some reason I didn’t get your private message about my pain doc. Could you send again? Thanks much. Jen