The patient is receiving transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for back pain.?

Question

Describe how this may work, based on the gate control theory.

Answer 1

Transcutaneous (through the skin) electrical nerve stimulation sends a painless electrical current to specific nerves. The current may be delivered intermittently. The mild electrical current generates heat that serves to relieve stiffness, improve mobility, and relieve pain. The treatment is believed to stimulate the body's production of endorphins or natural pain killers.

TENS is a method of electrical stimulation which primarily aims to provide a degree of pain relief (symptomatic) by specifically exciting sensory nerves and thereby stimulating either the pain gate mechanism and/or the opioid system. The different methods of applying TENS relate to these different physiological mechanisms. Success is not guaranteed with TENS, and the percentage of patients who obtain pain relief will vary, but would typically be in the region of 65%+ for acute pains and 50%+ for more chronic pains. Both of these are better than the placebo effect.

The technique is non invasive and has few side effects when compared with drug therapy. The most common complaint is an allergic type skin reaction (about 2-3% of patients) and this is almost always due to the material of the electrodes, the conductive gel or the tape employed to hold the electrodes in place. Most TENS applications are now made using self adhesive, pre gelled electrodes which have several advantages including reduced cross infection risk, ease of application, lower allergy incidence rates and lower overall cost.

Check this webpage for more informaton: www.electrotherapy.org/electro/tens/tens.htm

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
The patient is receiving transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for back pain.?
Describe how this may work, based on the gate control theory.

Answer 3

I have read on the Internet (not verified) that TENS treatment MAY be linked to ALS and other neurological diseases. This is not meant as a scare tactic because I have no idea if it's true, but it might be worth checking into, especially if considering TENS for long-term treatment.