TENS slipped disk

[dustypuss]

any one used one of thees tens machines for back pain . are they any good. Iv just had back surgery to remove a slip disk the pain is not actually in my back but in my foot do you think this will help.Ta

[Lil O'lady]

I expect it would do no harm, and you can try it out and see. If you have pain in your foot it suggests a nerve tunnel coming out of your spine is inflamed and it will take time, constant gentle exercise and maybe anti-inflammatory drugs to make it better.
However I have found the best all-round cure for my own back pain is swimming lengths.

[Scarlett]

How did it go Dusty?!
Do tell.
Are you able to walk yet? When do you go back to work? Tens machines are basically just a buzzy thing, and when you strap it to the area of pain your brain does not recognise the pain symptoms anymore, as it is confused by the buzzy signals. ie- it acts as a barrier. It means you feel the buzz rather than the pain. I would say that it would have to be on your foot though, in order to overwhelm the sensation coming from your foot? Best thing is to try it.
How is your back pain now, in comparison with before?

[brien]

i have used a tens machine for some time and found it very usefull in easing the pain i started off in the lower setting and slowly rose to the max setting i found it easier to use than taking strong pain tablets i have since had surgery and am feeling nearly 100% better i dont think i could have coped without the tens machine as the pain was indisscribable.

[Cheekystar]

i used to use one daily, and found it did help ease the pain,I also used to wear it at work - but had to stop when I gave people electric shocks!

[dustypuss]

pain in my foot is exactly the same as it was before the op I thought it was getting better but I seam to behaving a re laps . early days though only 14 days since op .

[rabbitygirl]

I posted before about foot pain after a disc op. It is probably the nerves settling down or regaining lost feeling. It may go on for a while. Do not put up with the pain thinking it will soon go. Like you I had immediate relief from the back pain but the foot pain was unexpected.

I let myself get quite low before I went back to the doc about it. She sorted the pain overnight. I was prescribed shingle medication with amazing results.

[dustypuss]

i will keep this in mind but i dont know how i would approach my dock with this suggestion?

[jacko50]

my foot has never lost the pain i got in 2003 the only thing that works for me is a tablet called lyrica , it is specificaly for nerve pain, also quinine sulphate for cramp if you get that also.
i had a laminectomt y 1993 and it was fine till 2003, it then decided that i should suffer more so my back went to pot and have been in pain since, when it went it actualy felt like lightening passing through my left leg and leaving through my little toe, it has not improved since. i hope you manage to find relief from it .

[rabbitygirl]

Sorry to hear your story jacko50. I think my laminectomy was about the same time as yours. Apart from the foot pain afterwards (which was a challenge to put it mildly) I have been OK. My foot isn't right, and I dread being caught for long in creaping traffic because too much clutch work makes me lose feeling.
I realise I have been lucky not having further problems (so far). I am careful but not overcautious. Any warning signs that I am overdoing it and I rest completely. Thanks for reminding me that I may not be permanently out of the wood and hope you find something to help with your pain.

[dustypuss]

I have stopped using lyrica as it seems that when I use it the pain gets worse ! . As for clutch work rabbitgirl know what you mean . If you live in a town like York where I live Its hell