A home TENS unit is a small, pocket-size stimulator that runs on batteries and uses self-stick pads. It gives you the same pain-easing tingle as the clinic machine, at home and between visits. It helps a sore joint or tendon through flares, including the achy days after an injection, with less need for pain pills.
What is Home TENS unit and electrodes?
A pocket-size unit with leads and self-stick electrode pads. Your physician orders the mode, the length of each session and how often to use it.
How does it help?
When pain spikes during the day or overnight, it dampens the signal, which helps you keep moving and doing your exercises.
How should it feel?
A firm, comfortable tingle under the pads. It should never hurt.
How do you use and look after it?
Put the electrodes around the sore spot on skin that is clean and dry, with an inch or more between them. Keep the pads on their plastic sheet between uses and replace them once they stop sticking. Red or burned-looking skin under the pads, feeling lightheaded, or a racing heart means stop and call us.
When should you call us?
- Electrodes never go on the throat, near the eyes, over the chest or on damaged skin
- Never use it while driving, near machinery, while sleeping, or in a bathtub or shower
- Pacemakers, implanted stimulators and pregnancy need your physician’s clearance first
How long does it take?
Use it as your physician ordered.
Before you go home we fit the item, have you practice putting it on, using it and removing it, and hand you printed steps. Before you leave, you show us you can do it. Call (314) 886-5092 if it hurts, fits poorly or breaks.
What to remember
- Clean, dry skin; an inch or more between pads.
- Never while driving, sleeping or in water.
- Pad skin turns red or looks burned: stop using it and call.
Show us you have it: Set the electrodes in place, switch the unit on and pick a mode as we watch. Anything still unclear? Ask, and we will go over it with you again.
Keep reading: TENS in the clinic, how we think about pain medicine.
Other devices in the program
It belongs to the physiotherapy program for PRP and joint care at PRP STL. A physician orders and watches over every treatment, and nothing starts unless one can step in right away.
Need help with fit or use?
Your physician looks at the joint or tendon, your metabolic health and what you have already tried, then builds the plan around you. Book an evaluation or get the free guide.
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St. Louis, MO 63044