Posts Tagged ‘tens electrode’
Friday, July 23rd, 2010
Anyone who suffers from migraines and the associated symptoms knows that they can be completely debilitating. Not everyone gets the same symptoms, but the pain of a headache which just won’t go away and wide range of other symptoms that may accompany it can be tackled! Treating migraines is one of the most common uses of TENS machine. The aim of TENS machine is to reduce the intensity of pain associated with a migraine and to reduce the symptoms of nausea and vomiting, promoting a faster return to normal life.
The first step is to place one of the electrodes on the lower neck area and the second one opposite as shown in the diagrams on page 18 of our booklet “An Easy Guide to TENS Pain Relief“. Select the timing to 30 minutes, set the pulse rate to 2 pulses/second and select continuous mode. Then set the output to obtain a firm intensity, and repeat the treatment after a break of 30 minutes between each treatment. You can repeat this treatment as often as needed to obtain relief and recovery or use the TENS machine in continuous mode until relief is obtained.
If you have a Stimplus unit this can be used to provide electroacupncture at the same time as using your TENS machine to enhance the treatment – follow the instructions on page 3 of your Stimplus instruction manual and apply the probe to the points as shown in the chart H headache, migraine treat each point for 30 seconds and repeat as needed.
If you are feeling severe nausea and /or vomiting then follow the instructions on page 21 of the Easy Guide by applying the second set of TENS electrodes to these points on the wrist and treat as described above.
It may also be helpful to use other treatments in association with TENS machines e.g. analgesics, migraine medications, acupressure on the wrist points (if you want an alternative to using the TENS electrodes) and relaxation techniques etc.
Recent Research: Allais G, et al.(2003) Non-pharmacological approaches to chronic headaches: transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, laser therapy and acupuncture in transformed migraine treatment. Neurol Sci. 2003 May;24 Suppl 2:S138-42. TENS, laser therapy and acupuncture proved to be effective in reducing the frequency of headache attacks. Acupuncture showed the best effectiveness over time.
Tags: easy guide to tens, pain relief, TENS, tens electrode, tens machine
Posted in TENS Machine Pain Relief | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
You and your partner are sitting at the table having dinner. All of a sudden she exclaims “What’s that?”, you answer “What?”, she replies “That trickling of water down my leg?”
Her waters have just broken and after 20 minutes her contractions begin. Both of you are excited, nervous and curious of how this labour/childbirth experience is going to pan out.
You notice that your wife goes into organisation mode, getting out the yoga ball, CD player and calming CD, ensuring her water and sweets are at hand and that the TENS machine and electrodes are on the table. She suddenly starts bouncing on the yoga ball, you ask her if she’s practising or having an actual contraction…she doesn’t answer, you reason that she’s gone into that inward focus thing you both heard about in the Childbirth classes.
Midst all this she hasn’t asked you to put the TENS machine electrodes on her, YET this is the crucial time when to get them in place. Once you are sure that your partner has completed the contraction, demonstrated by a relaxation from bouncing on the yoga ball and a general look of ‘I’m not in pain any more’, suggest you put the electrodes on her straight away. The sooner the TENS machine gets to work the better as it takes a little time for it to stimulate one’s own natural pain killing chemicals and the TENS machine is developed to follow the stages of your labour starting from the beginning.
It’s best that you and your partner, prior to labour, have a verbal agreement that you, the husband, are going to suggest early on to put the electrodes on her, therefore if she’s very focussed and you’re getting the feeling she doesn’t want you to interfere then you’ll know THIS was definitely pre-agreed.
Tags: childbirth, labour, maternity tens machine, tens electrode
Posted in Electrodes | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010
TENS machine are fantastic pieces of equipment helping so many women throughout their labour. However, wrong application and re-application of electrodes can result in a less effective experience. Here are a few pointers of how to get the best results from your electrodes:
APPLICATION OF ELECTRODES
- Before applying or removing your electrodes ALWAYS ensure your unit is switched off.
- Clean the area where you wish to apply the electrodes with soap and water, rinse off and then dry well. You should have had the option of buying a pre-TENS application gel when you purchased your TENS machine, if you do not have this you can purchase it separately off the Babycaretens site.
- BEFORE peeling the electrode pads off their packet, remove the wires from the TENS machine and attach the electrode connectors to them. A mistake is to attach the electrodes to you first, this is NOT a shortcut, they will be pulled and stretched and wear away fast.
- Grip the edge of the electrode and carefully peel it off the packet. Retain the packet in a clean bag for storage. Dirty packets will negatively affect your electrodes when placed back onto them.
- Place the electrodes with the wires hanging down to the appropriate area. When applying them, place the centre of the electrode onto the skin first and then smooth down the electrode edges. Attach all electrodes to your skin then attach the wires to the TENS machine.
REMOVAL OF ELECTRODES
- Switch off the TENS unit and disconnect the wires from the unit.
- Remove the electrodes by carefully peeling from the electrode edge.
- Return to the packet, centre first and smoothing the edges, just the same way you placed them on your skin.
- Disconnect the electrode connectors from the TENS machine’s wires.
- Store in a re-sealable bag in a cool place out of direct sunlight.
RE-APPLYING ELECTRODES
- If the adhesive becomes over-saturated, allow the electrodes to air dry in a refrigerator with the adhesive side up until the gel retains its tackiness and use your spares. To avoid this it is best to ensure that the skin is always fully dry.
- If the electrode adhesive appears too dry, add a few drops of water and allow to rest at room temperature until tacky.
If you have found this helpful or have any questions please feel free to comment.
Tags: childbirth, labour, tens electrode
Posted in Getting the Best Results from your Electrodes | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010
If you have already had a child and had the privilege of using a TENS machine then you need not read further. If this is your first time using a TENS machine then you won’t know how it works and how the different options feel.
“Many studies have revealed that a sense of control is a major contributing factor to a woman’s birth experience and her subsequent well-being.” PubMed, 2003.
It has been discovered that women who feel more in control in labour are calmer, less tense and therefore more comfortable. A TENS machine is a precious unit that can instill a real sense of control and calm yet if one doesn’t know how to use it before labour, some of it’s advantages can be masked.
We therefore recommend to try out your TENS machine before use. One must not use it on the back but can try it on the forearm and get a very good feel for the different pulse sensations and an overall satisfying grasp of their TENS. All one needs to do is place the electrodes on their forearm as opposed to their back, read the instructions manual and start getting familiar. We suggest people buy two packs of electrodes, one for practise and one for the big day.
If you have done this before and felt this experience or article was helpful, please feel free to comment.
Tags: childbirth, labour, maternity tens machine, obstetric, pain relief, pregnant, tens electrode, TENS hire
Posted in Electrodes | No Comments »
Thursday, February 25th, 2010
Upper back pain often occurs as a result of trauma, sudden injury or constant strain from poor posture or carrying heavy loads. Do any of these scenarios echo with you?
The car grinds to an alarming halt, everyone jerks forward, thankfully saved by their protective seat belts. The passengers scramble out of the vehicle to check that they are actually all in one piece. They are, however, you’re struggling to move your neck without extraordinary electric twinges shooting down your upper back. You have whiplash.
Tap, tap, tap, tap go the keys of your work computer…all day…9-5pm, meaning that apart from that brief lunch break where you occasionally pop out for lunch, instead of effortlessly remaining at your computer and checking out facebook or youtube, you are hunched over that screen enhancing that ache that seems to be getting worse in your upper back and neck. You have upper back and neck strain.
You find yourself again in that dark room carrying your baby, walking her up and down singing the same old lullabies hoping she’ll fall asleep quickly. ‘Sleep training is definitely on the cards’ you’re thinking. She is 8 months now and not the same light weight she once was at 2 months. You place her in the cot and she cries. You pick her up again and pang! something goes in your back. You move and a shot of pain goes through your right shoulder blade. Ouch! What was that? You have a sudden upper back injury.
If any of these scenarios resonate with an experience you have had or something similar then you will know the discomfort. There are a few methods to relieve the pain including drugs and osteopathy. However, TENS machines is an effective pain killing alternative. TENS or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation is a non-invasive, drug-free method of pain relief. Pads are placed on or near the area of pain, the user switches on the battery powered small unit and soothing pulses are sent through the skin and along the nerve fibers. The pulses counteract the back pain signals preventing them going to the brain. TENS machines also encourages the body to produce higher levels of its own natural pain killing chemicals called Endorphins and Encephalitis. The pain relief can last hours; the longer and more often you use it the longer the pain stays at bay. A big plus is that you can continue daily activities whilst receiving the treatment and apart from occasional pad replacement it’s a one-time cost.
Share with us your upper back pain relief experiences and any good results from using TENS machines.
Tags: back injury, encephalitis, Endorphins, TENS, tens electrode, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, whiplash
Posted in Upper Back Pain | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
You’ve just done the pregnancy test, it’s face down in your hand whilst you and your spouse/partner count the minutes before turning it over…5, 4, 3, 2, 1 go! You flick it over and there they both are, two lines, as clear as day…you’re pregnant! There is excitement and nerves, cuddles and kisses and already talk about names. The days tick on and the emotions settle with the familiarity of the news but the physical effects begin to kick in…one being nausea. Some don’t suffer from sickness at all, some get it mildly and some are hit with it hard. There are not so many things to ease sickness but acupressure and eating something in the morning that will raise the lowered sugar levels have found to be effective.
Acupressure is pressure most commonly applied by the index finger and the thumb to specific areas of the body called acupoints, which, when stimulated, can decrease a sensation such as pain or ease discomfort.
Here are a couple of points to try out specifically for nausea, each done for 1-2 minutes (should be an aching sensation after the first few seconds):
- Point 1 can be found in that webby bit of skin between the big toe and second toe.
- Point 2 is found on the inner central part of the wrist (you have probably seen those sea/air sickness bands that are worn here)
If you can get someone else to do these to you, even better but certainly not a requirement.
Enjoy and let us know how they go or if any other acupoints have worked for you for nausea.
Tags: childbirth, labour, maternity tens machine, obstetric, pain relief, pregnant, TENS, tens electrode, TENS hire, tens machine, tens machine hire
Posted in Acupressure during Pregnancy, Nausea/Morning Sickness | No Comments »
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