Let's Talk About Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

Millions of Americans suffer from chronic pain, including one of the most common types of pain: back pain. Though the level of pain may vary, one thing remains pretty consistent: It can be difficult to find a safe, effective therapy that treats the cause of pain at its source.

At Metro Spine PC, our team specializes in cutting-edge pain management therapies, including transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy designed to target and relieve many of the most common types of pain. Here, learn how TENS works and what to expect from a TENS therapy program.

How TENS works

The sensation of pain begins in our nerves, when sensory nerves send chemical signals to the brain. In turn, the brain receives and interprets these signals as pain sensations — the painful symptoms we actually perceive. TENS works by blocking those signals and stimulating natural pain relief.

A noninvasive pain management treatment, TENS achieves its aims through small bursts of electrical energy delivered through your skin. These electrical impulses are delivered through electrodes placed on your skin. Tiny bursts of energy interrupt nerve signaling, preventing them from reaching the brain — and reducing the painful sensation you experience.

At the same time, TENS also stimulates the release of “feel-good” chemicals called endorphins. These chemicals help relieve pain naturally, providing both immediate and long-term effects to help you manage your pain more effectively and for a longer period of time.

What TENS treats

TENS is used to treat both chronic pain and acute pain, including pain associated with:

• Arthritis
• Muscle strain
• Sports injuries
• Surgery recovery
• Spine-related pain
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Shingles-related pain
• Fibromyalgia and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)

Because it’s noninvasive and works with your body’s own pain-relieving mechanisms, TENS can be a good choice for many types of pain and many patients. Our team will perform an exam and evaluation of your pain to decide if it’s a good option for helping you feel better.

What to expect during treatment

TENS therapy is delivered via a series of sticky electrodes that we apply to your skin. These electrodes feature a special gel on the sticky pads. The gel helps the pads make optimal contact with your skin for better delivery of the electrical impulses. Electrodes are placed in specific locations depending on the type of pain you’re having.

Each electrode is connected via a wire to the TENS device, a small generator that produces and delivers electrical currents. The unit is completely adjustable, allowing our team to provide very precise “doses” of energy based on your needs. For your therapy, we adjust the intensity, duration, and frequency of the electrical impulses for maximum benefit.

As the electrical impulses travel through the electrodes, it’s common to feel some buzzing or tingling sensations. You shouldn’t feel any discomfort during therapy, and most treatments last about 15-30 minutes.

Following your treatment, we remove the electrodes and cleanse your skin. Some people experience minor redness or irritation where the electrodes were located, effects that clear up soon after treatment. 

Afterward, we’ll review your level of pain relief so that we can make adjustments to treatments in the future. Even though you may experience relief with just a single session, most people benefit from a series of sessions tailored to their needs.

Find out if TENS is right for you

TENS therapy can be an ideal pain management therapy for many people with acute and chronic pain who want to avoid or limit the use of pain medication or avoid more invasive treatments. 

To find out if TENS is a good option for helping you relieve your painful symptoms, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Metro Spine PC in Oxon Hill and Clinton, Maryland, or Washington, DC, today.