t.e.n.s. Unit?

[saralee]

I am looking into it and was wondering if most insurance companys cover it?
Is it something you wear when you need to or you just wear all the time? is it small enough that you can fit it under your clothes well? Can other people who dont know about the unit notice that you have it?
I am going to Dr. today for a checkup and was curious. My elmiron i dont see a diff yet even though it has only been 2.5 months i cant take it without putting it in food or i get sick and i know there isnt much else i can take. I still am having probs with sleeping at night and i am hoping things can get sorted out today!
ty sarah

[ICNDonna]

I haven't used a TENS unit for IC, but did use one for a frozen shoulder --- my insurance wouldn't purchase a unit for me, but did cover the rental. I've been thinking of asking my uro to order one for me so I can give it a try. When I used one for my shoulder after my surgery, my unit was about the size of a cigarette package and had a clip so I could wear it on a belt. I wore shirts that buttoned in the front so I could feed the wires through to the unit. Nobody seemed to notice, but I worked in a hospital where lots of people wear pagers on their belts.

Donna

[lalarainbow]

Hi,
I only use my TENS when needed for pain. It is small and fits in a pocket..If I am using it I leave can just stick on pads- put the gadget in pocket and go o with what else I am doing. I am in Canada and pour medical plan did cover 80% of it..I just had to get a prescription from the Dr..
I use mine fairly often for back pain and use it in the car on long trips.. It is a blessing for sure..
~~Pam~~

[applebetty]

I wear mine 24/7 for the pain which helps alot. It clips on the top of my pants. It looks like a pager. No one tell you have it on unless you wear your shirt tucked in. It helps so I can at least lay down at night and not toss all the time. Only thing is you will set off the metal detectors with it. I have to tell them about it before going through one.

[kelly McC]

I wear mine almost all the time. Its tiny and can wear it under cloths. Mine insurance did cover mine. You can call your insurance company and ask them. I called before hand so I knew what it would cover. I had to through a carrier of theres I go there anyway for cath supplies. Mine has been good for far.
Kelly

[cnitzken]

I had a TENS for back pain years ago, started using it tonite after web research for IC... working a bit ALREADY. put it between belly button and pubic hair per web info. I will pray for you. cyndi

[cnitzken]

debbie, what type of pulse are u using ? I have been wearing mine off and on, the stickies are expensive. I went to dr today and he told me to try urspaz - had to be ordered from walgreens so just took a pyridium plus until it comes in tomorrow, i also take 1/2 vicadin if it gets horrible.
cyndi

[cnitzken]

sarah, I also found info about taking tagamet at nite and atarax...
both seem to help sleep and noturia.
cyndi

[Gegatso]

I've had a lot of luck with a tens unit I got online from Canada back in 97. You can still get them without a prescription if you know where to look. I prefer the type that does not require the sticky pads, but one's where you just dampen with a drop or so of water and then place on your skin (really good for back injuries). Had to use mine today for a sudden attack of bladder pain and it went very well. Today I just browsed for a minute and already saw a 4 pad unit that does a tap mode as well as a stim mode for about 180. Not a bad price. If you decide to go this route, just use the units with caution, DO NOT use if you have a pacemaker or any other medical/electronic device inside you, and remember that with the intensity dials, more does not mean better!!

[applebetty]

I get 3 days per battery. Plus I found those really expensive ones last just as long as the cheaper ones and the unit works the same.

[jrowley]

well have you thought about getting the charger and get rechargable batteries get a couple of sets then you have one in the unit and one charging so you have fresh batteries when the other run down

[Gegatso]

I have always used mine with the AC outlet.

[Gegatso]

For those who requested it...one place to get a tens is http://www.debmar.com/ems/bm1004.html

[jrowley]

Dusty do they take regular batteries or a special one cuz if they take regular batteries then you can get the charging unit and the batteries from places like wal-mart, kmart, meijers ect....

[jrowley]

yeah she can i was just there looking at them

[Gegatso]

Yeah...no doctors note for that unit. It runs on batteries or you can get an AC adaptor from Radio Shack. The cool thing about it is the pads are NON adhesive...you just get them a little wet and use velcro straps or tape to hold them in place. I've been using the same pads since 97, so they don't really wear out at all, either...in other words, no future expense! This thing works just as well as one in a chiropractors office costing thousands.

[applebetty]

I'm a little confused. :rolleyes: Do you guys use a 9-volt battery with your unit or somthing else? Mine uses the 9-vold battery.

[jrowley]

they vary betty on who the manufacture is of the unit

[applebetty]

That's a good one Dusty. I just thought we could all hook out units up to the electric fences and charge them up that way. :biglaugh: Had relatives who had farms and I just pictured me standing out there next to the fence waiting for the charge up. What would the cows think? :loco: :biglaugh:

[applebetty]

My relatives had a plain farm. No big ranch. The cows roamed freely inside the electric wire. They did tag the cows ears with numbers. We were told to stay away from the baby cows because the mother would charge and to stay clear at all times of the bull. They had just one and he was a monster! Once he was in the barn and I was trying to get as close as possible to him. See how brave I was. ha He started snorting and pushing against the wooden door so I left. He was just to big. They had pigs too. Couldn't you pickture a group of IC people with tens on running around on a horse with an electric cord yelling yee haw.....

[applebetty]

Not the energizer bunny! :bunny: No not that of all things. :biglaugh: I could never bring myself to pee in the great outdoors. Just can't do it. The thought of all those watching eyes. :shake: And I'm talking about the ones with four legs not two. :cat: I'm out in the country but no where as far out as you are. Wish I could get the nerve up to cath myself but can't. How did you make out at the docs? You know all of us should write books about public bathrooms, where the best and worse ones are and what makes a good public bathroom. How to find one....what do you think? :toilet:

[Sarah05]

My strongest pain is in my urethral area. Does anyone know if a TENS unit can be used on that area or is it more for the abdomen and back?

Sarah

[applebetty]

Not really sure it can be used for there. Sounds kind of painful to me. My tens is a mix of vibartions and pulses.

[Sarojini]

I use 2 placements for my TENS unit electrodes... I have 4 electrodes and for pain, I usually put two on my lower back and two over my bladder. However, for frequency, I put the two on the bladder, but the other two on the very botton of my butt cheeks, almost on the perineal area. This seems to help, at least for me. These were suggested by my physical therapist when I was still going to PT...