By Tracy on Saturday, June 03, 2000 - 12:53 pm:

Hello Everybody, I'd just like to say It has been so great reading about others who have the same problems with something so few people have even heard of. I just
like to ask if any one has tried a TENS machine on their painful hypermobile joints? I used to have a really great physiotherapist, but since he moved away, I have
not found anyone else who can help me, but people have suggested the Tens, but I would like to hear if it has helped anyone before expending my hard earned dosh.

Much appreciated Tracy

By Helen on Saturday, June 03, 2000 - 12:53 pm:

I have just finished a course off TENS therapy and it unfortuantley had no effect at all. Everyone is different however and it may work for you. The treatment is not
painful. It gave me the giggle becuase it made me get pins and meedles in my foot. I was told by my pt that TENS has a 80% sucess rate. I say anything is worth a
try!
Good luck!

Helen

By Nick on Saturday, June 03, 2000 - 12:53 pm:

I have had a TENs for about four months now and I find it really helpful, especialy on my knees. I bought mine in Boots ( I live in the U.K) for about £60, but if you
can get referred to a pain clinic at your hospital then they usually have some for you to try.
I don't find it particularly restricting, I wear it on my belt.
I find I can drive for longer periods wearing it, but you have to be careful and rememebr it is just masking the pain, not stopping the cause, so if you overdo it you
will pay for it when you take the TENS off !

Best wishes
Nick

By Gwen on Saturday, June 03, 2000 - 12:53 pm:

I have a TENS machine and find it is very good for my back but lass effective on peripheral joints, mainly because of the wires restricting other activities. I guess if
you can take the time out to sit with it in place it would be OK but I tend to use mine when I want to be on the go. The electronic stimulation works as a counter
irritant as well as stimulating the area and I find this has a pleasantly anaesthetic effect. Have you considered hiring one for a couple of weeks to see if it is suitable.
Does the physiotherapy department at your local hospital hire them? Some people are unable to tolerate them and it's as well to find this out first! Another option to
consider is acupuncture which seems to work on a similar, although not identical, principle. My mother, who also may have HMS, swears by stick on magnets. Have
you thought about them as an option? Hope you find something that suits.

By Janie on Saturday, June 03, 2000 - 12:54 pm:

Hi Gwen,
What? You walk around with the TENS electrodes stuck to your back? I've been wondering about what to do about my back muscle pain and would love to have a
solution for when I'm on the go!!! Wow! If this is what you meant, please let me know.
Thanks so much,
Janie

By Gwen on Saturday, June 03, 2000 - 12:54 pm:

Must get my glasses! Thought it read "on the golf"! LOL

By Gwen on Saturday, June 03, 2000 - 12:55 pm:

That was exactly what I meant Janie. Have one at the nineteenth for me!

By Jude on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 01:09 pm:

Re: TENS and mobility. I wore my machine for 10 hours during a 12hr shift as a nurse in the E.R. whilst in the middle east, so yes, you can be fully mobile without any probs as long as the electrodes are taped on securely. I have to say I don't know if it did me any good as the pain was beyond its usual intensity and I was using painkillers and anything else I could lay my hands on...well not quite taking into account my environment!! I suggest you give it a try, i'm sure there are people out there with access for you to borrow one. Unfortunately I need mine as I am going back out there soon and daren't leave without it.

By Ruth on Saturday, July 29, 2000 - 01:07 pm:

Try to take my TENS and I'll smack ya!!
My weakened back and vertabrae falling over vertabrae and my miserable right hip have made for at times almost unbearable pain down my right leg. My PT fresh out of school thought I might be a candidate for a TENS unit (naturally it had to be approved by the MD who had diagnosed me in 1995 but never thought of it) and boy am I a new woman(sometimes) or what. Mine is portable and I am blessed that quite often I have a residual effect from it after it is removed. I do not however experience any relief in the actual joints which rather continuously scream at me. Is there a Chat room for us anywhere?

By Rick on Saturday, February 24, 2001 - 06:38 am:

TENS UNITS ARE GREAT LITTLE MACHINES. I've owned one for about 3 years and it does wonders for my back. I've also tried it on my shoulders and it helps some I've tried it on other parts and get some releif but the pain never really goes away but it does help. I got mine from a Chiropractor. My mother let me use hers some years ago and I had to go get one for myself. In my opion it was worth every $. Hopefully it will help with you with some of your stuff. I've also worn mine for long shifts at work and found that it didn't interfear with my work at all I used to cook and had to work long and hard hours.
Hope this helps.

By Mitch on Monday, February 26, 2001 - 07:39 am:

I'm glad so many of you had success with TENS....
I'm afraid I found mine was so annoying it was counter-productive! Still, there are horses for courses, it doesn't work for everyone.

By Kathie on Monday, February 26, 2001 - 01:22 pm:

Hi Ruth

There are chat rooms now on the HMS site... There's usually a scheduled chat every weekend. A list of prearranged chats is posted on the site at http://www.hypermobility.org/forums.htm together with the current local time in the UK so you can 'synchronise watches'.