I got a TENS unit for shoulder/neck pain from the base of my head to my bra line. I was wondering if anyone had an relief from a tens where MUSCLE tension/or spasm was the biggest culprit.(I was told the spondy, loss of lordosis and herniation at C5-6 weren't bad enough to cause pain). I know it works great on so many different types of pain, but I am beginning to think it isn't good for this kind of pain. I still have pain in my arms (shoulder to elbow), when I look up suddenly something catches and snaps and hurts like I mean, well, bad. and sometimes when I turn my head a certain way my arm will tingle and go numb just for a second. The D.O. said the tight muscles will cause that-and since my pinched nerve has resolved, that isn't the culprit.
What other things have helped for this? I have a script for manual therapy, incl. specialized yoga, deep tissue massage, myofacial release (I NEED that) and I might even look into accupuncture. But, back to my question-TENS for muscle pain?
Hi mel.i too just got my TENS and am trying it on different areas.i have been having some good success.although I am sure the TENS would help your current muscle problem what you really need is to break down those nasty globs of muscle to really get to the source of your pain problem.I had some hidious wads of muscle and tissue all over my upper back and under my blades after my last surgery.I actually had two very large "wads" of muscle on both sides of my incision site at the back of my neck that were,I kid you not, about the size of softballs.God these sucked.And of course these started every other muscle up there to also go insane.Besides the wonderful hands of my therepist, I was also using a tennis ball inside of a sock to help get rid of these and the ongoing spasms and trigger points that they created.place a tennis ball(don't take your dogs ball, he gets really ****ed!)and place it inside a sock(the sock gives you something to hang onto when the ball suddenly pops out from behind your back).Then put it behind your upper back and the wall.move your body around while pressing the ball into your back.This really really helps alot as you can roll it into the right spots and just wiggle it into the wads and when you find a real bad trigger point, push into it and kind of wiggle it into the glob for about 30 seconds and sometimes the point will actually dissolve somewhat.I do this practically every day as the dang globs will keep coming back because of the contant inflamation up in my C spine.This is by far the absolute best thing I have ever tried for my upper back nightmares.This should give you at least some relief from the pain.I hope things get better for you soon Mel, I know you have been through hell and back with your back.let me know how it goes if you decide to try it.Marcia
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3-22-01,herniated C-6-7
11-20-01,placement of hardware for failed fusion
9-22-03,removal of cavernous hemangioma that was inside spinal cord. Neuro damage to L hand L leg and R leg.
Hi marcia, thanks! I actually already had two tennis balls inside a sock, and I think I used it one time before the dog found it Then I lost it and forgot. Lately I'll bug hubby for a rub or find a hard corner on a wall and push against that. Man, it is a hurts but feels good, ya know? I am glad the tens is working for you, maybe I just need to give it a longer try. My only problem: I put them on one spot then another starts hurting. heck, I'd have to move them every hour just to get all the spots that hurt! And, of course, I can barely reach many of those spots. It is worse at work, and looking down, or sitting upright looking ahead and not moving much (like driving a long distance). Anyway, I'll keep working on it then Thank you!
I went to therapy and they used the tens and the ultrasound, it felt good while they were doing it, but as soon as I got in my car to drive home my pain was back within ten minutes, i have fibro and arthritis of the neck and spine. Now they want me to get one to use at home which i wll once i have the energy to go pu the script but I think it is a waste. My brother got the same treatment for a long time he also said the pain came right back. Maybe it helps for some but not me. Good luck
Hi mel, It sounds like you already know a doc can't tell how much pain something is causing by lookink at an Xray. It's an amazing ability that I guess impresses the pull my finger crowd. :rooleys:
THat's just so rediclous. Anyway, If yur doc calims to a be a pain management doc or not, the methods he is using are the same a Pm doc would try off the bat. Marcia did a great job describing acupressure, If your lucky enough to have someone that can actually do the acupressure with their thumb or one of those jacks or other hand held plastic knobby things, you can actually feel the muscle knot release after about 30 seconds of firm pressure, but as long as your spine is out of whack, the muscles will be a contious thing you have to work on.
Tens can help muscle pain but it's temp, and you will eventually be able to crank that Tens unt all the way up and not feel squat as far as the Unit or pain relief. You have mechanical problems and the muscles are trying to compensate for the change in structure, they also tighten to brace an area that's unstable and causing pain.
Every doc you see wil probably have a diferent veiw of pain mnagement and what they think works, aside from trial and error of meds, It's trial and error with docs.
Trigger point injections can be very effective and give longer relief than acupressure, but like acupuncture, the doc has to have that touch. Anyone can learn to place needles from a diagram, whether they find that right spot doing trigger point injections or acupuncture is an entirely different matter.
I have had TP from a half a dozen different docs, the ones that can't hit the broad side of a barn, simply pepper the entire area and you end up with a dozen puncture and injection sites. A good needle man will feel around, find that exact trigger point and zap it with an anesthetic and an anti inflamatory. The diference between 2 docs can be night and day or cause more pain from a dozen holes Vs giving relief. Findng a good needle man is important too. Aside from TP injections, they use Botox on my wifes neck, "same reversed curve, some disc problems" and another more sererious problem where her brain sits in her skull. But all this creates extremely tense muscles from her skull to her shouldr blades. Using a multi faceted aproach, more than just opiates or just acupuncture, is likely how you will get the best results, The massage and myofacial releae sounds good. You can also find a PM doc or group of docs that will work with you through all the different modalities for your problem. Occipital blocks have helped my wifes headache, Botox helps her shoulders , neck and headaches, TP injections help, muscle relaxers, PT, and pain meds. Even using all these, she still has some bad days but she has those options from one clinic that can pretty much do it all. She's even done Robaxin infusions, ESI and nerve root blocks.
The ideal thing about the clinic we both ue is they can offer just about any modality there is too treat pain. From the procedures she has plus medication to a the pump they implanted and manage in me after trying all that stuff which simply won't make a failed fusion fuse or stabalize my spine or hardware. So they suite each treatment method to each patient.
A doc that only does acupuncture and thinks it's the absolute answer for everyone, although it may be something you want to try, means that's about all he's ever going to be able to offer.
If you can find a group of docs or clinic that really offers a multi faceted aproach to PM, that is where you will find the most relief.
You can't push one modailty on everyone and expect the same reults, just like you can't tell how much you hurt by an Xray. I hope the TENS helps, but no method is a cure all, Not even morphine pumps. So the more tools you have to manage things, the better off you will be. But you have to recognize when a doc can only offer a couple modalities. Give em a try, keep what works and move on if your not satsified with the level of relief.
All docs are different and have different opinions, so don't let one doc convince you that this is all there is to offer and learn to live with it, if you know there are many things you haven't tried.
Then I lost it and forgot. Lately I'll bug hubby for a rub or find a hard corner on a wall and push against that. Man, it is a hurts but feels good, ya know? I am glad the tens is working for you, maybe I just need to give it a longer try. My only problem: I put them on one spot then another starts hurting. heck, I'd have to move them every hour just to get all the spots that hurt! And, of course, I can barely reach many of those spots. It is worse at work, and looking down, or sitting upright looking ahead and not moving much (like driving a long distance). Anyway, I'll keep working on it then 
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