Whether you’ve heard everything there is to know about a TENS machine, or you’re not even sure what we’re talking about, this alternative treatment for pain can be extremely beneficial in a number of different ways. More and more research is being done to prove that a TENS machine is an effective, non-invasive therapy that can make a real difference in terms of proper pain management.
TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, and it means ‘across the skin.’ This means that it can stimulate your nerves through an electrical current that runs through your skin.
It’s an electronic medical device, and it may be able to help you manage pain relief on a short-term basis. As always, any kind of therapy should be used under the guidance of a healthcare professional. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of using a TENS machine.
Natural Pain Relief That’s Drug-Free
One of the biggest benefits to TENS machine therapy is that it’s an effective, yet natural form of pain relief where you can manage pain without using conventional pharmaceutical drugs. It’s a popular treatment of choice for people who are looking for a drug-free option, as they hope to avoid the often negative side effects of taking strong pain medication. You may already know the alarming side effects of pain medication and how it can adversely affect day to day activities.
Produces Endorphins
Endorphins are naturally-occurring painkillers in the body, and they are hormones that our brain produces to release into our body when we are experiencing any kind of stress. They are intended to help us feel a generalized sense of well-being that can combat any pain signals the brain is getting. Studies show that a TENS machine can help produce the necessary endorphins to help manage chronic pain. Endorphins are an important part of any kind of pain management, so the fact that a TENS unit promotes this type of hormone definitely indicates that it’s an effective, natural pain remedy.
Inhibit Pain Signals to the Brain
There are studies that show that a TENS machine can help decrease or even go as far as to block pain signals that are sent to the brain, which is going to go a long way in providing pain relief to someone who is in serious discomfort. This is because a TENS machine stimulates the nerves, which is thought to be the reason why it is so effective at blocking pain signals trying to reach the brain.
It Can Retrain Your Nerves
As well as being able to inhibit pain signals that are trying to get to the brain, a TENS machine is also thought to be able to retrain your nerves, even if the patient is suffering from nerve damage. There are many chiropractors that believe that an alternative treatment like this, if used regularly over a long period of time, can change the behavior of the nerve itself and stop pain signals being sent to the brain on a long-term basis.
Conclusion
Among the many reasons why people use TENS machines for chronic pain is a simple fact that they are affordable (unlike other technologies) and easy to use.
There are a lot of alternative treatments out there these days, which means that it’s difficult to know which are actually worth your time and money, and which aren’t. TENS machines, as you can see, are backed up by substantial research, don’t require a lot of space in your home, and are reasonably priced as well.
If you’re someone who suffers from ongoing pain and discomfort, consider a TENs machine as an effective way to manage the symptoms.
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