Can a tens unit make my neuropathy symptoms worse?

Posted by zendragon13 @zendragon13, Jan 10 5:48am

I have peripheral idiopathic neuropathy in both legs from knees down. Mostly numbness and occasional cramping. Using a tens unit ( under the care of a chiropractor) for about a month. Now I wake-up with both legs feeling hot. Is that a good sign? Otherwise there is no change in symptoms.

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How would you even know where to place the electrode pads?

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Nothing I found suggests that the heat is a side effect. On the other hand, everything I found when I looked into this says it only works for pain, and not for any other neuropathy symptoms. And most of what I found said specifically, and pretty emphatically, to not use it if you have numbness, because you might burn yourself. So if you think the heat might be a symptom of internal (???) burning I would definitely stop. In fact, I'm kind of surprised that any responsible medical practitioner would have suggested a TENS unit to someone with numbness symptoms.

If you are trying to target cramps, I know that the only thing that has ever worked for me is stretching the muscle -- sometimes when it gets bad I have actually had my husband do it, because it takes another person to apply enough pressure. Have you tried massage therapy on a regular basis to see if that reduces the frequency of the cramps? I don't get them often enough to try it, but it's another non-drug solution. If you do, let us know how it goes.

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Thankfully, I use my chiropractor as part that help my unbalance. He uses a cold fusion laser. That is a brand-new way to get this. Before this, 9 mths ago, I had a surgery from my back the bottom in my back and very top of my rear-ends. That stopped pain and now adding the fusion to help and add my unbalance on my right middle leg.
Thx,
Greg D. @greg56xx
This

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i have the neuropathy in both legs from the knee down too. no pain, and sometimes its mainly in my ankles and arch of my feet. i play tennis four days a week. i worry that it may get worse. haven't heard of anything to do to stop the dying off of the nerves that cause this. Feels like i have on compression hose sometimes.

any advice from anyone? how to stop progression if that is even possible

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@judypaley

i have the neuropathy in both legs from the knee down too. no pain, and sometimes its mainly in my ankles and arch of my feet. i play tennis four days a week. i worry that it may get worse. haven't heard of anything to do to stop the dying off of the nerves that cause this. Feels like i have on compression hose sometimes.

any advice from anyone? how to stop progression if that is even possible

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@judypaley I've had sensory motor PN for 9 + years, no pain like you, numbness from right below knees to toes. Remain active and as a previous tennis player myself, continue to play and don't stop. I haven't heard of anything that can prevent progression, however, some key words from my doctor appointment at Mayo Clinic was "stay active" which I've managed to do within my range of comfort. Best to you. Ed

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@bajjerfan

How would you even know where to place the electrode pads?

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They teach you it’s not hard

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Tens Unit Hubert’s me very much.it feels like fire.
I had mrsa bacterial spinal meningitis and that caused severe nerve damage. I then ended up with four different types neuropathy.

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@gregd1956

Thankfully, I use my chiropractor as part that help my unbalance. He uses a cold fusion laser. That is a brand-new way to get this. Before this, 9 mths ago, I had a surgery from my back the bottom in my back and very top of my rear-ends. That stopped pain and now adding the fusion to help and add my unbalance on my right middle leg.
Thx,
Greg D. @greg56xx
This

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Just curious, Greg D., are you HLA-B27 positive with ankylosing spondylitis?

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Dear @rach69

The answer of like an arthritic pain some of bone injury inside hands, arms and on? Is that? If so, the answer is NO. There was pain from my rear-ends to the bottom of my feet. That was 3 years ago until my one-doctor knew of my nerve and part of my one. The pain is gone but I have a little part on my right-leg that doesn’t balance as well;but it’s better than before.

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Reason I asked is that there are teeny tiny joints called facets that, when problematic, typically start in the very low back/bum area that is often indicative of HLA-B27 gene that leads to anklylosing spondylitis. Many MRIs miss it as it is so small but causes immense pain and difficulty standing/walking.

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