This post about electrotherapy pain relief and staying active with chronic pain have been sponsored by Omron but all opinions expressed here are my own.
Several years ago, I was diagnosed with something called Myofascial Pain Syndrome. It’s a fancy way of saying that I get stiff and sore easily and am prone to muscle spasms. It took me quite a long time to figure out what works and what doesn’t when it comes to pain relief. While my doctor prescribed pain medication and muscle relaxers, I started seeking more nonpharmaceutical solutions for my chronic pain like physical therapy and my DIY pain relieving salve. I have found that staying active with moderate exercise and using electrotherapy pain relief are two easy ways for me to manage my pain on a day to day basis. I thought I would share some info on electrotherapy pain relief as well as introduce you to Omron, a leader in electrotherapy (TENS or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator) products.
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What is electrotherapy pain relief?
Electrotherapy, also known as TENS, is a drug-free way to reduce and relieve muscle or joint pain. It involves applying electrical nerve stimulation to the surface of the skin near the site of the pain. How does this help with chronic pain? Basically, the electric stimulation blocks the pain message from reaching the brain. It also triggers the body to produce more endorphins (a natural painkiller). The electrical stimulation also increases blood circulation to the area as well. All of these things combined mean that electrotherapy applied to a particular area may help reduce your overall chronic pain issues.
Staying Active and Using Electrotherapy
Exercise is important to keep muscle stiffness at bay. I alternate my gym workouts with yoga, running, walking, hiking and gardening. But some days, that just isn’t enough. When I started using electrotherapy pain relief for my chronic pain, there was a bit of a learning curve before I got things right. I thought I would share a few tips to help make things easier for you.
- Make sure your skin is clean and dry. You don’t want it sweaty or recently moisturized with lotion.
- Take good care of your adhesive electrotherapy pads. Proper storage will keep the adhesive pads clean and free of dust and debris that will interfere with the electrical impulse.
- Proper pad placement is important. Read the directions that come with your unit. In general, the pads should never touch and should be at least, 1 inch apart. Details of exactly where to place them will vary based on your unit and your particular pain issues.
- Avoid joint areas. Do not to place the pads directly over a joint such as the knee, elbow or ankle.
- Try different pad placements. You can alter the flow of the electrical sensation if you change the distance between the electrode pads and/or the direction of the pads. Pads can be placed vertically, horizontally, or at an angle around your area of pain.
Chronic Pain and OMRON Electrotherapy
Staying active helps reduce muscle pain and stiffness but that doesn’t alleviate all of my pain. On days when I am particularly sore, electrotherapy really helps. I cannot stress this enough, the quality of your TENS unit is incredibly important! OMRON has been around since the 1930s and makes an assortment of healthcare devices that range from personal fitness to monitoring your blood pressure to helping alleviate aches and pains.
Omron Healthcare is the #1 Doctor recommended consumer brand. Medical professionals have used their TENS units for pain relief for more than 30 years. You used to need a prescription for a TENS unit but now you can buy Omron’s Pain Relief TENS Unit at select retail and online stores without a prescription. Their TENS units come with 3 pre-set programs (arm, lower back, leg/foot), each with 5
intensity levels. That allows you greater control over your electrotherapy experience.
The great thing about OMRON TENS units is that they are small! It will comfortably fit in your hand or pocket so you can use it discretely anywhere you go. They also come with long life pads that are reusable up to 150 times with plastic holder for storage. I know from experience that quality pads are important when using a TENS unit!
Want to give OMRON a try?
Purchase a TENS unit for yourself for only $49.99!
You can buy an OMRON electrotherapy pain relief unit at OmronHealthcare.com, Amazon.com, Drugstore.com, Walmart.com, Walgreens.com, CVS.com, Walgreens, CVS
Diane is a professional blogger and nationally certified pharmacy technician at Good Pill Pharmacy. She earned her BS in Microbiology at the University of New Hampshire and has worked in cancer research, academics, and biotechnology. Concern over the growing incidence of human disease and the birth of her children led her to begin living a more natural life. She quickly realized that the information she was learning along the way could be beneficial to many others and started blogging and freelance writing to share this knowledge with others. Learn more about her HERE.
I use these things for my lower back pain all the time. My pain is always muscle-related, so it’s such a relief to lay down with the tems unit softly working on the mischievous muscles.
I have one of these devices and I was surprised at how helpful it is. It really does work the muscles in my back. I love that I can take it with me, too.
That is a good price to try one of those devices. I Can see it really being helpful to those who need it!
It really is beneficial for pain management!
My sister has been raving about this, she loves hers. I’ve been debating one also, and your post really gives some great info about it.
I have never heard of this therapy before, I don’t suffer from chronic pain but I know others who do. I will have to share this electrotherapy pain relief to see if they are interested in learning more.