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Tips and tricks for effective pain relief:

• If you are satisfied with the pain relief you are getting from your TENS unit - then you are using it correctly - so keep using it as suggested.
• If you are having difficulty getting the pain relief you are looking for from your TENS unit - then you are almost certainly not using it correctly - the following tips should help you to maximize the benefits.
• Carefully re-read again the user manual which came with your TENS unit. This manual contains most of the information you need for success.
• Most TENS users get almost instant pain relief after following the manual instructions. Are you following all the instructions as suggested? If so and you are still having a poor response then try the following suggestions - one at a time.
• Some clients find that it takes two or more treatments a day for several days to achieve the pain relief they are looking for. Even professionals do not always get instant pain relief for their clients.
• So do not abandon your TENS treatment after just a few treatments but keep using it for two or more weeks as the effects tend to be cumulative i.e. each treatment builds upon the last one.
• Experiment with different frequency settings bearing in mind the following guidelines:

1. High pulse rate settings should be felt as a tingling sensation and these treatments may need to be applied for at least one hour at a time and sometimes worn for several hours continuously - for at least 1-2 weeks before changing to another setting.
2. Low pulse rate settings should be felt quite firmly - almost like a pulsing sensation at 2 pulses/second and a 30 minutes treatment once or twice a day is usually sufficient once the pain is under control. You might also like to repeat the treatment 90 minutes after the first one for an improved analgesic effect.

• Make sure the electrodes are firmly in place at all times.
• Try moving them to other positions e.g. over the painful area or surrounding the painful area or placed on the opposite side of the body or limb to improve the response.
• If you are treating your back pain try placing one electrode over the most painful area and the other electrodes on the opposite side of the spine equidistant from the midline. Try placing the electrodes at either side of the spinal midline with just 1 inch in between them at the level of the pain.
• Try using different pulse rates during each treatment e.g. 30 minutes on a high rate and 30 minutes on a low rate.
• Try gently exercising of the painful part while you are using your TENS unit and then applying a cold pack (from the fridge NOT out of the Freezer) to the area for 10 minutes at the end of the treatment.
• The most common cause of failure to achieve pain relief from your TENS unit is too few treatments, as mentioned above, so make sure you have given the unit a really good trial and remember, the longer you have had your pain the longer it may take to reduce it and the more treatments it may need.
• DON'T stop taking your usual medications when you begin your TENS treatment, take them as usual, but discuss reducing the dosage with your medical practitioner as your pain decreases.
• Don't be afraid to experiment with the different pulse settings to find the treatment which gives you the best result - but give each change of pulse rate several days to work before changing to another one.
• Enthusiastic tea or coffee drinking may reduce the analgesic effect of TENS - try cutting your intake of tea or coffee down by half and drink water or fruit juices instead.
• If your pain becomes worse, either during or after the treatment, then it is usually due to applying the incorrect pulse rate for your problem - try a different one and if this does not help try moving the electrodes to another position and repeat until you get the pain relief you are looking for.
• Remember: TENS treatment usually works for most people but some of us have to give it a chance to work by ensuring that we give it an adequate trial i.e. treatments once or twice daily or more for at least 2-3 weeks and adjusting the pulse rate and/or electrode placements are usually necessary to gain the best effect.