Doc Tel Boy

Tens Machines Do Not Help "Back Pain!"



Posted: Tuesday, January 05, 2010

by Doc Tel Boy
Back Trouble UK

 
Using a Tens machine – a portable device that stimulate nerves with tiny pulses of electricity – will not help back pain, GPs warn.
Although widely used for pain relief, there is a lack of good scientific evidence that they actually work, according to latest US Health guidelines.

The battery-operated machines are often used in UK pain clinics and for DIY health treatment.

The advice from the American Academy of Neurology is based on an analysis of studies looking at Tens (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) for lower back pain lasting at least three months.

Dr Richard Dubinsky of Kansas University Medical Centre, who wrote the guideline, said: 'The strongest evidence showed that there is no benefit for people using Tens machines for chronic lowback pain.

'Doctors should use clinical judgment regarding Tens use for chronic low-back pain.
'People who are currently using Tens for their low-back pain should discuss these findings with a doctor.'

The research did not look at acute lower back pain or other conditions that have been reportedly alleviated by Tens machines.

Published online in Neurology journal, it examined people with 'unknown' causes of back pain, rather than triggers such as a pinched nerve, obesity or spinal displacement.

'The studies to date show that Tens does not help with chronic lower back pain,' the report says.

However, there is 'good evidence' that Tens can be effective in treating diabetic nerve pain, it adds.

Thousands of Britons use Tens machines, which have been around for more than 30 years and deliver small electrical pulses to the body via electrodes placed on the skin.

They can be bought for just £20 and many pregnant women hire them as a drug-free alternative for pain during labour.

It is unclear how Tens may provide pain relief, but one theory is that stimulating nerves may confuse the brain and block real pain signals from getting through.

Because there are virtually no side effects when using a Tens machine, pain specialists in the UK are likely to support its use when medication and other approaches do not work.

However, they advise against using them if the cause of the pain has not been medically diagnosed to rule out other conditions.

Pregnant women should seek medical advice first, while people with pacemakers or those who have epilepsy or certain types of heart disease should not use them.


Terry has been involved in General Medicine for over 20 years, he is a keen sports player and still turns out most Saturdays on the Rugby pitch, although his body wishes that he didn't!

Dragged up in Liverpool and supporting the BLUE half of Merseyside. Terry went on to study Medicine and initially serve in HM Forces, serving all over the world and completing just over 15 years service.

Terry launched Back Trouble UK, during 2008, however the Therapist Directory did not go online until January 2009. The main reason that Terry launched the website was so that people in the UK who were suffering from a Back Condition. Would have access to quality, clear, jargon free Back Pain Health Information, and online access to UK Registered Back Pain Practitioners.

At www.BackTrouble.co.uk

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