Has anyone had success with TENS machines and massagers on the market?

Posted by dougies @dougies, Nov 28, 2023

My neuropathy mostly effects the bottom of my feet (numbness) but slowly has been moving up through my toes and feet. Some clinics offer these TENS units plus a few other treatment modalities at a very high cost. Makes more sense to just buy the machines. Have they helped anyone out there?

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My PN that I have most likely is from having a fractured pelvis & sacro-iliac from a car accident when we were T-boned (i was a passenger, grocery shopping). My doctor never did any testing on me for (wish he had, grrr). So I also have many also other issues from the accident as well now (I'm now 74 yrs old). Have venous insufficiency, Spondylolisthesis at L4-L5 level, Cervical disc & Cervical spinal stenosis, disorder of sacrum, knee replacements, should replacements,sprain sacroiliac region, too many others to list. My problem is burning off feet and pain when walking, sometimes feel like something in shoes, feet hurt in different places at different times. Afraid to use a Tens machine (patches). Have used them on back of body and other places. Also have trouble with right thigh at night have to put ice pack under thigh for burning feeling. Doctors kind of ignore this problem. Rather frustrated with them, don't seem to care about me. GRRRR. Sorry to vent here. Only good for a few hours in the morning to do things, then my ankles swell up some times 3 times normal size and they hurt so bad. Also have arthritis in feet and whole body. Have to spend the rest of the day in bed. Sucks. Any advice. What do you think of Tens if you have hot&cold & burning feet throughout the day. Take Gabpentin and other thing (can't remember the name, sorry). Guess i have too many problems from the car accident.

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@papercutter

My PN that I have most likely is from having a fractured pelvis & sacro-iliac from a car accident when we were T-boned (i was a passenger, grocery shopping). My doctor never did any testing on me for (wish he had, grrr). So I also have many also other issues from the accident as well now (I'm now 74 yrs old). Have venous insufficiency, Spondylolisthesis at L4-L5 level, Cervical disc & Cervical spinal stenosis, disorder of sacrum, knee replacements, should replacements,sprain sacroiliac region, too many others to list. My problem is burning off feet and pain when walking, sometimes feel like something in shoes, feet hurt in different places at different times. Afraid to use a Tens machine (patches). Have used them on back of body and other places. Also have trouble with right thigh at night have to put ice pack under thigh for burning feeling. Doctors kind of ignore this problem. Rather frustrated with them, don't seem to care about me. GRRRR. Sorry to vent here. Only good for a few hours in the morning to do things, then my ankles swell up some times 3 times normal size and they hurt so bad. Also have arthritis in feet and whole body. Have to spend the rest of the day in bed. Sucks. Any advice. What do you think of Tens if you have hot&cold & burning feet throughout the day. Take Gabpentin and other thing (can't remember the name, sorry). Guess i have too many problems from the car accident.

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God bless you. I am sorry for your physical problems! 🙏

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@papercutter

My PN that I have most likely is from having a fractured pelvis & sacro-iliac from a car accident when we were T-boned (i was a passenger, grocery shopping). My doctor never did any testing on me for (wish he had, grrr). So I also have many also other issues from the accident as well now (I'm now 74 yrs old). Have venous insufficiency, Spondylolisthesis at L4-L5 level, Cervical disc & Cervical spinal stenosis, disorder of sacrum, knee replacements, should replacements,sprain sacroiliac region, too many others to list. My problem is burning off feet and pain when walking, sometimes feel like something in shoes, feet hurt in different places at different times. Afraid to use a Tens machine (patches). Have used them on back of body and other places. Also have trouble with right thigh at night have to put ice pack under thigh for burning feeling. Doctors kind of ignore this problem. Rather frustrated with them, don't seem to care about me. GRRRR. Sorry to vent here. Only good for a few hours in the morning to do things, then my ankles swell up some times 3 times normal size and they hurt so bad. Also have arthritis in feet and whole body. Have to spend the rest of the day in bed. Sucks. Any advice. What do you think of Tens if you have hot&cold & burning feet throughout the day. Take Gabpentin and other thing (can't remember the name, sorry). Guess i have too many problems from the car accident.

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I've been using a TENS/EMS unit on my feet and legs for PN and I'm not sure if it's that, the Delta 9 , the Nuphoria, or ??? But i seem to be feeling a bit better.
I also feel like a wimp, complaining about MY problems after reading what YOU have!! Good luck.

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YES, YES, YES!!!! I've used tens units for over 25 years. Each time my insurance (different ones) have paid for it. Please check with your insurance companies and your doctors. They are no longer as expensive like they used to be. Just yesterday I went to rehab for a concussion/vertigo and they used a tens unit with wet heat on my neck, Got rid of the vertigo!!!! yay! Its awesome for whiplash, tight muscles, weak muscles, etc. I've used it on my back and neck, my legs and think it is wonderful for all my0-muscular problems! If your insurance doesn't cover it - it is probably because they are over the counter now. $30 is crazy cheap. When I first got mine they were $250 - and that was two decades ago!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D5ML4HM

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@loriesco

YES, YES, YES!!!! I've used tens units for over 25 years. Each time my insurance (different ones) have paid for it. Please check with your insurance companies and your doctors. They are no longer as expensive like they used to be. Just yesterday I went to rehab for a concussion/vertigo and they used a tens unit with wet heat on my neck, Got rid of the vertigo!!!! yay! Its awesome for whiplash, tight muscles, weak muscles, etc. I've used it on my back and neck, my legs and think it is wonderful for all my0-muscular problems! If your insurance doesn't cover it - it is probably because they are over the counter now. $30 is crazy cheap. When I first got mine they were $250 - and that was two decades ago!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D5ML4HM

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How often an for how long do you use it?

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@mistymom

How often an for how long do you use it?

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You can use it whenever you want. For as long as you want. At a certain point, it fatigues the muscles (wears them out) and they are tired and RELAXED. That might be the goal. So its an individual thing. I've had three tens units over 30 years. They are great for many uses because I have muscles that go into spasm - ALOT. I've had 3 MAJOR auto accidents and work repetitive overuse problems. Just last week I started a new rehab for post-op in my neck, plus a concussion from a fall giving me vertigo (as I said above). They put the unit on my neck, making the vertigo go away for 4 days. I'll be doing it all over again today! Its NON MEDICINAL and there is zero downside... so for $30 you can't go wrong. If you don't like it, you can send it back! I use mine for about 30 minutes a sitting... or if I am watching tv maybe longer. Any time of day!

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@loriesco

You can use it whenever you want. For as long as you want. At a certain point, it fatigues the muscles (wears them out) and they are tired and RELAXED. That might be the goal. So its an individual thing. I've had three tens units over 30 years. They are great for many uses because I have muscles that go into spasm - ALOT. I've had 3 MAJOR auto accidents and work repetitive overuse problems. Just last week I started a new rehab for post-op in my neck, plus a concussion from a fall giving me vertigo (as I said above). They put the unit on my neck, making the vertigo go away for 4 days. I'll be doing it all over again today! Its NON MEDICINAL and there is zero downside... so for $30 you can't go wrong. If you don't like it, you can send it back! I use mine for about 30 minutes a sitting... or if I am watching tv maybe longer. Any time of day!

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Thank you so much.

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@loriesco

You can use it whenever you want. For as long as you want. At a certain point, it fatigues the muscles (wears them out) and they are tired and RELAXED. That might be the goal. So its an individual thing. I've had three tens units over 30 years. They are great for many uses because I have muscles that go into spasm - ALOT. I've had 3 MAJOR auto accidents and work repetitive overuse problems. Just last week I started a new rehab for post-op in my neck, plus a concussion from a fall giving me vertigo (as I said above). They put the unit on my neck, making the vertigo go away for 4 days. I'll be doing it all over again today! Its NON MEDICINAL and there is zero downside... so for $30 you can't go wrong. If you don't like it, you can send it back! I use mine for about 30 minutes a sitting... or if I am watching tv maybe longer. Any time of day!

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There is a much better treatment than a tens machine. I have been using the Sanexas treatment with wonderful results.
The Sanexas treatment machine looks like a big TENS unit, but it is much more than that! A TENS machine is like a X-ray and RST SANEXAS neoGEN device is like getting a MRI. More powerful frequencies and over 20 different treatment programs designed for acute and chronic painful conditions.
It has lots of electrodes that send electrical impulses through the skin with the goal of regrowing nerves. It was not at all painful, just a soothing electrical massage to my arms and legs. I am 95% neuropathy pain free.

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@duquer

There is a much better treatment than a tens machine. I have been using the Sanexas treatment with wonderful results.
The Sanexas treatment machine looks like a big TENS unit, but it is much more than that! A TENS machine is like a X-ray and RST SANEXAS neoGEN device is like getting a MRI. More powerful frequencies and over 20 different treatment programs designed for acute and chronic painful conditions.
It has lots of electrodes that send electrical impulses through the skin with the goal of regrowing nerves. It was not at all painful, just a soothing electrical massage to my arms and legs. I am 95% neuropathy pain free.

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How would you know?! You compared a TENS to Senexas machine?! I'm not sure that makes any sense. What does an MRI have to do with a Sanexas or a TENS? A TENS is not like an Xray either. So not sure you know what a TENS unit is. You are probably just a plant.
I'm glad you got relief. But you might be the exception. The Sanexas has a lot of sponsored hype. The details are hidden. It probably costs a lot more. The OTHER stuff included in the therapy might be the reason you are having success.
TENS units have programmable settings. And TENs units can stimulate nerve growth. TENS units are not painful. They do not use other things like lidocaine or vitamin B (which could regrow nerves) and dextrose -- Sanexas shouldn't be used by people with diabetes.
There is a thread on this here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sanexas/
I don't think you can compare a $30 TENS to the costs of the Sanexas. If one's doctor recommends it, then fine. but there are so many companies and people waiting to take desperate people's money to relieve them of pain I'd suggest everyone check with their doctors and a trusted pain management clinic....kinda reminds me of the hype from those personal ultrasound machines. Supposed to be healing... just money-wasting! TENS are also soothing and massaging.
Most importantly here's the NIH paper on the success (tried and true) for the TENS unit: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537188/
There is NOTHING for Sanexas.
That tells us something.

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@loriesco

How would you know?! You compared a TENS to Senexas machine?! I'm not sure that makes any sense. What does an MRI have to do with a Sanexas or a TENS? A TENS is not like an Xray either. So not sure you know what a TENS unit is. You are probably just a plant.
I'm glad you got relief. But you might be the exception. The Sanexas has a lot of sponsored hype. The details are hidden. It probably costs a lot more. The OTHER stuff included in the therapy might be the reason you are having success.
TENS units have programmable settings. And TENs units can stimulate nerve growth. TENS units are not painful. They do not use other things like lidocaine or vitamin B (which could regrow nerves) and dextrose -- Sanexas shouldn't be used by people with diabetes.
There is a thread on this here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sanexas/
I don't think you can compare a $30 TENS to the costs of the Sanexas. If one's doctor recommends it, then fine. but there are so many companies and people waiting to take desperate people's money to relieve them of pain I'd suggest everyone check with their doctors and a trusted pain management clinic....kinda reminds me of the hype from those personal ultrasound machines. Supposed to be healing... just money-wasting! TENS are also soothing and massaging.
Most importantly here's the NIH paper on the success (tried and true) for the TENS unit: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537188/
There is NOTHING for Sanexas.
That tells us something.

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@loriesco and @duquer, I'm glad that both of you have found devices that have provided relief for your pain. As we all know, everyone is different. What may work for one person may not for another. That is why forums like this one are useful. People can learn about different treatment approaches, coping strategies and more.

@loriesco, you raise a good point about cost factors which can be an important criteria. Evidence-based information substantiate personal experiences.

I understood that @duquer was making an analogy when he mentioned x-ray vs MRI. I believe for him this means Saxenas was a higher grade pain relief than a TENs unit as an MRI produces a clearer image than an x-ray. That may not be the case for everyone.

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