What is electrical nerve stimulation?
Definition Electrical nerve stimulation, also called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), is a noninvasive, drug-free pain management technique. By sending electrical signals to underlying nerves, the battery-powered TENS device can relieve a wide range of chronic and acute pain. Purpose TENS is used to relieve pain caused by a variety of chronic conditions, including: • neck and lower back pain • headache/migraine • arthritis • post-herpetic neuralgia (lingering chronic pain after an attack of shingles) • sciatica (pain radiating from lower back, through the legs, to the foot) • temporomandibular joint pain • osteoarthritis • amputation (phantom limb) • fibromyalgia (a condition causing aching and stiffness throughout the body) The device is also effective against short-term pain, such as: • shingles (painful skin eruptions along the nerves) • bursitis (inflammation of tissue surrounding a joint) • childbirth • post-surgical pain • fractures • muscle and joint pain • sp
