Anyone use/recommend TENS
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Anyone here have any luck using a tens unit for muscle knots? |
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No experience withTENS but I have had great luck using peppermint essential oil for the same thing because it targets the nerves. Mix it with lemongrass to get a really good response from the tendon. Peppermint can also be used to calm the stomach so it has many purposes. Also the lemongrass/peppermint combo has helped me with sore throats but watch putting too much of that in your mouth and dont let it sit on your teeth, so rinse your mouth thoroughly and brush. |
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highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion wrote:Anyone here have any luck using a tens unit for muscle knots? I'm specifically talking about using it on my upper back and mid back area. Does it work, is it hype, what is a good brand, how much to spend? And yes, I can probably find someone to stick the pads on my back for me.I have a Rehabilicare EMS+2 neuromuscular stimulator you can have, if you think it would do the trick and you want to try. I used it to rehab a torn forearm muscle years ago and haven't touched it since. I think it still works. Just lmk. |
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highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion wrote:Anyone here have any luck using a tens unit for muscle knots? I'm specifically talking about using it on my upper back and mid back area. Does it work, is it hype, what is a good brand, how much to spend? And yes, I can probably find someone to stick the pads on my back for me.They work edit(for me)... best used with heat pads. They are great at triggering supporting muscles that would otherwise be very difficult to stretch or work in my SI joint when I strain it. |
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JNE wrote:No experience withTENS but I have had great luck using peppermint essential oil for the same thing because it targets the nerves. Mix it with lemongrass to get a really good response from the tendon. Peppermint can also be used to calm the stomach so it has many purposes. Also the lemongrass/peppermint combo has helped me with sore throats but watch putting too much of that in your mouth and dont let it sit on your teeth, so rinse your mouth thoroughly and brush. My first experience with peppermint was using it on a neck cramp: went from unable to look left to a full range of motion with only comparably mild discomfort in about 15 seconds, literally. It has also done the same thing with wrist cramps for me.TENS units can be expensive and have not been clinically shown to provide statistically significant improvement in muscle laxity or tonicity. they may help the patient "feel" more relaxed, yet do little to nothing for the muscle. heat or cold when applicable right on essential oils can also be great but use caution when ingested, not all oils can be applied directly to the skin, dilution with a carrier oil (coconut, etc) will save your nervous system from damage the molecular structure of the essential oils can cross the protective barrier around the human brain and create tiny holes which will allow for future pollutants to enter i.e. do what works for you, essential oils, ice packs, and heating pads or a water bottle of boiled water are WAY cheaper than a tens unit |
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I just had this done on my back, when it went out 2 weeks ago. It feels awesome when it's being used..... but I'm not sold on the actual benefits of it for releasing the muscles.(my dr said unless it plugs in to a outlet it's a waste of your $) I've had the best luck/quickest results with myotherapy/trigger point massage. |
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Luna wrote: TENS units can be expensive and have not been clinically shown to provide statistically significant improvement in muscle laxity or tonicity. they may help the patient "feel" more relaxed, yet do little to nothing for the muscle. heat or cold when applicable right on essential oils can also be great but use caution when ingested, not all oils can be applied directly to the skin, dilution with a carrier oil (coconut, etc) will save your nervous system from damage the molecular structure of the essential oils can cross the protective barrier around the human brain and create tiny holes which will allow for future pollutants to enter i.e. do what works for you, essential oils, ice packs, and heating pads or a water bottle of boiled water are WAY cheaper than a tens unitGreat info and thanks. Here is some more info. |
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Thanks for reminding about the oils. I've run across several people, including medical types, who swear by it. I'll do some research on that. |
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If it's on one side have you considered seeing a movement therapist in addition to your DO? It usually seems that things like that coming from an imbalance somewhere downstream (or up stream in the case of our arm/shoulders).
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Definitely the reason I went to a DO rather than MD. I think we're heading off track here though. |
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Not a oersonal plug at all... but look into chiropractic too. A neuromusculartherapy (NMT) specialist may have some insight |
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Didn't mean to derail your thread there. I don't have feedback on any TENS system, but I can say that self myofascial release with a lacrosse ball has worked very well for my thoracic spine. I work lats with a foam roller. |
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I had TENS for a shoulder injury. Loved it. People may say there is not clinical proof...but sometimes its all about the placebo effect. I am not kidding at all. |
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THEY WORK GREAT!!! I think I got insurance to pay for it (got the doctor to prescribe/recommend it). It has 2 double-wires for a left-side/right-side setup (2 or 4 pads) and has several pre-programmed settings. I put it on and next-to the muscled knots. I do stretching, etc after 10 minutes and take frequent hot showers (alternate hot/cold if a recent injury). I am in a very dry climate, so I use baby oil...but not where I need to hookup the pads. Pads are quite cheap in bulk ($10 for 20 pads?). I can use 1 set of pads non-stop for a week or so (sometimes less). |
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highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion wrote: Mark, expect an email soon.Incoming MP PMs are getting ruthlessly spam filtered, so email me direct or text. If you've lost the address/number, just lmk on the thread. |
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highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion wrote: Anyone here have any luck using a tens unit for muscle knots? I'm specifically talking about using it on my upper back and mid back area. Does it work, is it hype, what is a good brand, how much to spend? And yes, I can probably find someone to stick the pads on my back for me. Used to have them and had a very similar question, but i had major lower back pain and didn't know where to turn. I've jumped on the band wagon looking for a decent Tens device but found out there's a bit of a mix of EMS and Tens Machine, which confused me a little. Came across this brand which has tons of programs on their tens devices - https://tensmachineuk.com/ They seem to have EMS and Tens machines - i bought the Wireless Tens and Premier Combi Tens. Both worked a treat, however i'd advise speaking to their customer service first before jumping the gun. They helped me decide, even when i was looking at expensive machines, they advised against and it wouldn't be necessary. |
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I find that my cheap TENS unit does absolutely relax seized up muscles. I use it on my back, shoulders, hip, and recently my neck after a nasty snowboard wipeout. |