Has anyone ever used a TENS machine for muscle, ligament or joint pain?

have tried it, even got my own home version for not too much money.  but i don't think it made much difference.  for the time spent adhering it--not that it takes much time--i'm better off doing my pt exercises.  the physical therapist agrees.  then again, some people swear by it so give it a try.  j 

I have continual pain all over my body from fibro and other illnesses.  I find tens to give temporary relief but my Mother found it wonderful for back pain.  I find dry needling (different then acupuncture) helpful as well as laser treatments given for at least 20=30 minutes, electrical stim along with dry needling good as well.  Dry needling is not allowed in some states.  It is allowed in NJ.

I'm a big fan of dry needling (have had it done frequently in Chicago).  Covered by my insurance as a part of my p/t coverage.  BUT...the effects seem quite temporary.  It's a bit of a Catch 22 though.  Relief of any sort is a good thing but the needling hurts quite a bit

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I was given a home version by the Chiro that treated me in Fla after my fall.

I found it helps when I am having severe knee or ankle pain...I hook it up while I am having my coffee in the morning so that I can make it up the stairs to get ready for work.

It seems to help me for a while...the only place that I have gotten permanent relief is on the soles of my feet. I was having problems putting my feet down in the mornings when I wake up. It was like walking on pointy eggs...I had my PT use it on them for about 3 -4 treatments...the pain has never come back...At least there is that.

So, I guess that this is not a fix but a treatment.

What is dry needling?

Sharon

Wikipedia describes it much better than I can - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_needling

I recently moved to the UK from the US and haven't researched whether it's available here.  As previously mentioned, it isn't offered in every state in the US.

Might you have plantar fasciitis as well? 

  I personally found that the Wikipedia article on dry needling long winded with factual errors and  confusing. For excellent information on dry needling (and briefer than Wikepedia) I refer you to my physical therapist's website: http://www.northjerseypt.com It has an excellent section on dry needling and I think a video as well. Dry needling is not acupuncture.  The only thing they have in common is the use of needles. Acupuncture uses traditional meridians for needling and is based on eastern medicine.  Dry needling uses trigger points and is based on the  science of fascia, muscles etc. In my experience dry needling should not be painful, most of the time, if done correctly.  Before dry needling is performed, proper breathing is usually taught. So you can breath through discomfort and not feel it as intensely.  Some spots are more sensitive then others.  I have been having dry needling for two years and have had only 3 very painful episodes. I find dry needling more uncomfortable if my body is very inflamed or I have not had enough sleep. When a needle is put in you sometimes fill a twinge or pulsing. Previously it was believed the "twinge" reaction was needed for the needling to work and one of the goals was to have the patient's muscle twinge.  That is no longer thought to be true. As Susan mentioned the effects of dry needling can be temporary.  However, that is based on your condition.  My PT has cured a number of people from their pain after only a few sessions. She works a lot with semi-professional runners as well as as other athletes. If you have Fibro and the pain is all over a "cure" is not really possible. As I cannot take aspirin or any anti-inflammatories, dry needling is all I have.  I view it like a medicine - if I stop taking a medicine the pain will reoccur. My PT also uses lasers or electrical stimulation with the needles or by themselves.  PT's have different techniques for performing dry needling. The dry needling is usually done along with physical therapy so it will be covered by insurance.  By the way, my PT is at the forefront of dry needling and trained under the founders.  So if you live in NJ, I can provide you with more information. You can PM me if you want more info.

Thanks Elyash,

I had never heard of it before this site...They may not do it here (I am in Paris, France) but I will look for it...I work in a sports management school (among others) and there are a lot of semi pro athletes there, they may have heard of it...I will ask. 

Mary, 

Yes, I had plantar fascitis, but somehow, after suffering for 2yrs, the Tens treatments cured it. I had him put the pads on the soles of my feet, while he had me under the lamps, for 10 treatments in all...it was amazing...it never came back...It has been about 2yrs. 

That is why I am hoping for some sort of semi-permanent relief for the knee and ankle...but having the machine at home makes a huge difference...I use it very regularly and I am seeing a major difference.

Sharon

I have read a great deal about low level light lasers for treatments of inflammation and pain,  I have only been able to locate one medical doctor in Canada who does this - but none in the USA and I live in NJ, close to NYC.  But I have heard the Europeans are more advanced in this kind of treatment so you might check around in Paris. Its painless and I have heard results are permanent and it doesn't take that many treatments.   The link below is to the clinic in Toronto so you can see what it involves.  Its very expensive if you are not a Canadian citizen. Its $90.00 per laser per treatment and you might need more then one laser at each treatment.  But if its available in Paris, I would highly recommend you try it. I have corresponded with Dr. Kahn, the inventor of these targeted lasers and he felt he could help me, but it required several 2 week stays and my US insurance would not cover this treatment.  Canadian health insurance does. My treatments would be several thousand dollars so even though there is something out there that might help..its just not affordable for me with all my meds and many are not covered.  But it may be a solution for you - so please let me know if you find it in Paris.  You can also ask Dr. Kahn. His website lists places that have purchased his lasers, but when I called some of the places they just were not trained in what I needed.

http://bioflexlaser.com/toronto_pain_relief/

I have heard of similar laser treatment here in London. I was seeing a podiatrist to get orthotics for my shoes and he said I was not a candidate for it because I am on hormone replacement therapy (for menopause). Seemed crazy to me but I haven't researched it further. 

I don't know if hormone therapy disqualifies you. Sounds strange to me - but you never know about interactions. You could e-mail or call Fred Kahn from the website bioflexlaser listed above to find out.