There does not appear to be any reason why you cannot use a TENS machine if you have epilepsy. We have checked this out with a consultant neurologist in the past, to establish if patients with epilepsy can safely use TENS machine and his answer was “Yes!”. Electrical stimulation is not only safely used in TENS machine but is in fact also used to treat intractable epilepsy. However, if you are unsure please contact you medical advisor or Epilepsy Specialist Nurse for further guidance.
Archive for July, 2010
Using TENS with epilepsy
Thursday, July 15th, 2010Using TENS with a stiff neck/whiplash
Thursday, July 15th, 2010
This is another common condition where TENS machines can help with pain control and in addition help to return the range of the stiff neck back to normality. The aim of TENS machines is to reduce the intensity of pain at rest or on movement, reduce the inflammation and promote a gradual return to normal function.
The first step is to place one set of electrodes over the neck as shown in chart 1 on page 8 of our Easy Guide to TENS Pain Relief, taking care not to place them on the front or side of the neck, as detailed in our contraindications that we ask you to read carefully.
This may be sufficient in the first instance, but two pairs of electrodes can also be applied later as shown on chart 2, again taking care not to place them on the front or side of the neck, as detailed above.
The next step is to select the timing, pulse rate, mode and intensity and use as often as needed – this may be continuously during the first day or two at an intensity which may be fairly strong and firm to override the pain as you begin to gently move the neck through its full range of movements. You may feel some mild muscle contractions at first. After a few days it should be possible to reduce the treatment time to shorter sessions of 30-60 minutes and then 30 minutes once or twice each a day as your symptoms improve.
It may also be very helpful to use other treatments at this time in association with TENS machines e.g. analgesics, anti-inflammatories and local anti-inflammatory gel, mousse or spray e.g. ibuprofen or similar and cold or hot packs. Consult your medical practitioner or pharmacist if necessary, Gentle exercise can also be helpful, beginning with passive and then active exercise, including stretching exercises with a full range of neck movements as your condition improves and returns to normal.
Recent Research:
1. Cochrane Database Review, 2009 Oct 7:(4) Electrotherapy for neck pain. Current evidence for TENS shows that this modality might be more effective than placebo but further study is needed.
2. JensenI, Harms-Ringdahl K. 2007. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2007 Feb:21(1) 93-108. Strategies for prevention and management of musculoskeletal conditions – neck pain. For symptom relief this condition can be treated with transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation.
Using TENS with Tennis Elbow
Thursday, July 15th, 2010
This is another common condition where TENS machines can be used to help with pain control and to return the range of elbow movement back to normality. The aim of TENS machines is to reduce the intensity of pain at rest or on movement, reduce the inflammation and promote a gradual return to normal function.
The first step is to place one of the electrodes over the outer aspect of the elbow over the most painful area, if known, and the second one opposite on the inner aspect of the elbow. This can be seen in the diagrams on page 14 in our Easy Guide to TENS Pain Relief.
The next step is to select the timing, pulse rate, mode and intensity and then use your TENS machine as often as needed – this may be continuously during the first few days and at an intensity which may be fairly strong and firm or quite strong later which overrides the pain as you begin to move the elbow joint actively or passively with your other arm – it is a matter of personal preference and trial to see which suits you best!
After a few days, it should be possible to reduce the treatment time to shorter sessions of around 30-60 minutes and then 30 minutes once or twice each a day as your symptoms improve.
It may also be very helpful to use other treatments at this time in association with TENS machine e.g. analgesics, anti-inflammatories and local anti-inflammatory gel, mousse or spray e.g. ibuprofen or similar and cold or hot packs. Consult your medical practitioner or pharmacist if necessary, Gentle exercise can also be helpful, beginning with passive and then active exercise, including stretching exercises with a full range of elbow movement as your condition improves and returns to normal.
Recent Research:
1.Chesterton LS, van der Windt DA, Sim J, Lewis M, Mallen CD, Mason EE, Warlow C, Vohora K, Hay EM. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for the management of tennis elbow: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial: the TATE trial (ISRCTN 87141084). BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2009 Dec 11;10:156. This study is currently underway and ends in 2011.
2. Su X, Wu ZQ Cao XM, Effects of electro-acupuncture of different frequencies for treatment of patients with refractory tennis elbow syndrome. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu 2010 Jan;30(1):43-5. The electro-acupuncture of a pulsed waveform is better than the electro-acupuncture of continuous waveform and is a better treatment for refractory tennis elbow syndrome.
Using TENS with a heart pacemaker
Thursday, July 15th, 2010We and other TENS machine providers state that one shouldn’t use a TENS machine with a pacemaker. This is a precaution just in case the TENS machine stimulation affects the functioning of the pacemaker and provokes an irregular heart action.
Medical literature does not show this having been tested (or experienced before). There is nothing in the literature to confirm this might be a problem, but we nevertheless suggest if you have a pacemaker and want to use TENS machine, that you contact your consultant cardiologist for his/her advice. Your cardiologist may wish to set up a TENS machine for you and monitor your heart tracing to assess your suitability for using TENS machine on a regular basis.
In respect of other heart conditions:
a. If you are suffering with chronic heart failure then you should consult your medical advisor for permission to use TENS machine.
b. If you suffer with a heart murmur again please consult your cardiologist for advice before using TENS machine.
c. While TENS machine is used for angina pain, especially in Europe, here in the UK we would recommend that you consult your medical advisor first before using TENS machine.
d. If you have had a recent myocardial infarction (heart attack/coronary thrombosis) especially if there was any a serious heart rhythm disturbances at the time or even a cardiac arrest, then you must seek advice from you Cardiologist or Specialist Cardiac Nurse before you use TENS machine.
