urgent tens unit question

[Portia17]

I know that you can walk around with a tens unit but how long can u leave it on during the day like hours or minutes

Thanks

[ICLori]

Hi, Mary - not sure if I know the answer but when I got my TENS unit, they didn't caution me about not wearing it too much. So I kind of assumed it was safe to wear it as much as I wanted to. The only thing they told me was never to put the leads near my heart or head, to just put the leads where they showed me or on my lower back.

I did read about one IC'er on the boards here though who developed a sensitivity to the adhesive used on the TENS pads, and that wasn't a good thing.

I hope the TENS unit works great for you.

Blessings, Lori

[Portia17]

Lori

Thanks I put them near my bladder and pelvic area where my pain is? you think that is okay?

[ICLori]

Hi, Mary....they showed me how to place the leads...the physical therapist I mean - didn't your physical therapist show you the best placements to use?

I know you can't get a TENS unit without a prescription, and if the docs are doing things right, they send you to a PT to help you learn how to use it...

Blessings, Lori

[Portia17]

My pain mgmt doctor said I can use my husbands and said to put it that area but u said back and now i am wondering

thxsk

[massagedoula]

Yes, you do put the pads in the area between the belly button and pubic hair. Your instincts were correct. You can also alternate and sometimes put them on the lower back over the sacrum.

[Portia17]

thanks massagedoula and lori. i have it on bladder and pubic area now

thanks again

[ICLori]

My PT had me use a unit with four pads. One set, I put the "positive" one on the left side above my pubic bone almost where the pelvis meets the thigh, and the negative one on my right side in the perineal region. Then the other set, I repeated on the opposite sides. So it kind of made this big figure 8 of electricity going through me, if that makes any sense.

But I actually felt like it worked better if I targeted my lower back sacral nerves, on each side of the spinal cord.

There's a little room to play in that general area or areas - as long as you don't go up too high on the lead placement you won't hurt anything that I know of....

Blessings, Lori

[2flyingdogs]

When I received mine, I was told that I could wear it 24 hours a day (if I wanted to). The only exceptions they gave me were when I was in the shower or swimming. They also warned me that the wires and pads should not be close to the front part of my neck or my heart. I did not originally get my TENS for IC or PFD, so I have not had a physical therapist tell me where to put it. I just put the pads where I am feeling the most pain.
Hope you feel better soon!

[applebetty]

I wear mine 24/7 and was told not to drop it in the toilet if it could be helped. ;) The one electrode I put right on the pubic bone. I found out when I first did this it was best to shave there. I bet they can still hear me screaming on the other side of the world when I tried taking the electrode off. :biglaugh: The other one I put right above that one to the side. They have to be right there to help me out.

[momw/ic]

My doc told me it is safest to use the unit for no more than 30 minutes each hour. Basically 30 on and 30 off for as long as needed. Mine is really powerful, too so that could be why.