by Rachelle de Bretagne

Created on: February 01, 2007   Last Updated: April 18, 2007

About six years ago, I fell down a stairwell onto a concrete floor and damaged my spine permanently. I have had endless treatment, although I believe that over the years, back pain is one thing that never really goes away. I also believe that having suffered a serious injury to the back, the problems of age do exaggerate back problems, and over the past six years, this really has been proven to be true in my case.

I have had many sessions of physiotherapy, chiropractice, acupuncture, and even resorted to different dietry aids, and the problem is still there, although when I was first told about the Tens Machine, I took a look at a friend of mine's machine and I did not like the fact that the electrodes that were attached to the machine were all sticky and had to be replaced too frequently.

The Omron Tens Machine is a little different, since they have recognised the fact that the traditional machine did not please everyone, and one of the problems they tackled was to make the pads re-useable, having a small pad to place them on when not in use.

WHAT IS A TENS MACHINE

A Tens machine is a machine that stimulates nerve fibres through the skin. The machine is easy to use and two electrodes are placed, in my case at the bottom of the spine, and kind of massage the pain away. I have had the process explained to me by experts, who say that the effect is to cut off the signals that tell the brain that you are in pain.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE

The tens machine is like a large remote control unit with wires attached to it, that have electrodes at the end of them (two wires). It is not large enough to be invasive, although resting in one place during treatment is advised. I simply place the unit beside me whilst I use it and it is not difficult.

SETTINGS

There are variable settings for different effects, and the best way to use the machine is to set it to a pressure that you find works for you, although there are guidelines in the handbook that comes with the machine. I found the guidelines a little rough, and also that if I felt very little, then the product did not really do its job, although turned up enough to feel the pulse of the machine, it worked very well indeed.

Here, I would advise users that the most sensational setting doesn't necessarily mean the most efficient. I tried different settings and different times, and found what was best for my body and would advise individuals to do the same.

It's a super tool for body tiredness, and stimulates blood flow and leaves you

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