Has anyone ever used a TENS machine for pain? Does it work?

Question

I get headaches quite a lot a don't really like taking loads of tablets. Do tens machines actually work or are they a waste of money?

Answer 1

I have a TENS machine which I bought because of pain in various muscles and joints - it was a BOOTs portable one. It works very differently on different areas of the body.  I find it really good on hips, lower back, period pain, sometimes knees.  

I have tried on neck and shoulder strain though and found that one of the least effective areas for the machine - maybe just me, but I think maybe tense or strained muscles are better treated by changes in posture (at desk etc), massage, and remedial exercises.  

If I were you I would see a physio and get their ideas. They should be able to tell you if Alexander Technique or cranial osteopathy could help. I think it's important as you could get further problems if you keep tensing the area.

Also maybe check with your Doctor to make sure the neck is the cause of the head pain.  I have a lot of neck and shoulder problems which rarely cause headaches.  Best of luck.

Answer 2

TENS would not be my first choice for this sort of mechanism of pain production. The device can be useful in certain circumstances, but too many people buy them inappropriately on spec. If your neck and shoulder problems are stress related you need to tackle this. If they are due to physical activity, physio or appropriate exercises would be more likely to result in resolution of your problem in the longer term.

Answer 3

me and my mum have both used a tens machine - me on my lower back and my mum on her shoulder. it really does help with the pain.

my mum used it for 6 months while waiting for a shoulder operation and she found it meant that it reduced the pain in her shoulder so she could carry on going dancing and worked allot better than taking pain killers.

i used it to help releive the pain relieveack whilst i was at work sitting at my desk.

i would definitely recommend it and would not say it was a waste of money.

hope this helps xx

Answer 4

I may be wrong, but I have only ever been advised to use TENS with muscle pain.

I am not sure they are designed for headaches.

I get headaches a lot and have started to use 4head - it is a stick which you wipe across your forehead, it contains (it says) natural ingredients and it seems to work about 90% of the time!

Answer 5

Not exactly for a headache, I know, but I used one during labor when my son was born and it was the only thing that worked. I'd use one again any day. You can hire them from various places, usually lots of ads in the back pages of pregnancy magazines, so you could try before you buy as they're quite pricey.