TENS for pain relief

Have you ever considered using a TENS machine for pain relief? TENS stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and the technology has been around for for years.

There is a common misconception that TENS machines “block pain going to the brain” however this theory has been disproven.

TENS can however be a very effective method of pain relief, but we now know that all pain is created in the brain, therefore the machine works in a different way. Pain is the brain’s protective response to real or perceived threat, so pain is NOT actually sent TO the brain. TENS machines may help distract, may help descending inhibition, it may be placebo, it may encourage endogenous opiates, it may do nothing at all, or may help activate the large diameter nerve fibres. If it helps reduce pain, or even if you think it helps your pain, go with it!

I often encourage the use of TENS during labour for a non-medical pain relief option. It does not work for everybody, but it is harmless and can be very effective.

There are devices on the market these days that use TENS technology to help reduce period pain and chronic pelvic pain. Talk to your physio to see if using TENS would be a good option in addition to your physio program to help relieve pelvic pain and/or period pain.

If you are interested to learn more about the science of pain then read the book “Explain Pain” created by the NOI group.