...to have a slight crush on my TENS machine?

[MNHubbie]

I've had crippling knee pain for about 3 months or so now and I have to use a walking stick to keep my balance. The knee slips as if it is dislocating if it over extends and stairs are impossible.

The first doctor who saw me claimed it was a torn membrane and I had to rest it. He then gave me the wonderful Zapain to take.

Eventually I got an MRi and then today got the results.

No tear.

So I go into the doctor (my doctor this time rather than the nice polite locum) expecting the usual crap and to be made to feel like a hypochondriac who needs to lose weight (I will eventually change doctors). He starts with it all and tells me life is pain when you get old... I lose it with him and demand to know how I can be running up stairs one day and only able to do them one at a time pausing to get over the pain after every 5 the next day? How the fuck is that a symptom of being 37?

He actually pauses.

I then ask him why it took this for me to get an MRi when I've been telling doctors about my general knee issues since childhood (he has heard bits from me for over 15 years... I really should change doctors). I can't squat or kneel for prolonged periods at the best of times but this is a whole order of pain above that.

He stops.

"oh it could be a pulled or torn ligament on both sides. That wouldn't show up on MRi and is much more painful than a torn membrane"

!!!!!!

Oh you mean the fucking diagnosis I had suggested to the other doctor (and to him when I subsequently saw him) in the first place?

"oh and the worst you can do is rest it. No stairs or jogging but cross trainer or rowing machine. Here are a lot more painkillers. At least you now know that the pain isn't doing any damage"

I'm relieved I don't need surgery but I've been told to go and torture myself and risk codeine addiction.

I do get him to agree to a physio appointment which is a result at least. But to get that I had to threaten to sick Occupational Health on him as it was their idea.

Anyway long story long...

...I go to get my painkillers and I'm chatting to the dispenser lady and she tells me that after she had her knee completely rebuilt she used a TENS machine to overcome the pain rather than just painkillers. They have a few in stock but there is a specialist knee one for £20.

I buy it and wow.

We went out for the day. I walked over uneven terrain. I walked all around Lacock Abbey's grounds without stopping every ten steps or so. I carried a bag of books.

It hurt. The grinding, pulling, popping twisting nasty pain was there but I could cope and when it got too much I replaced it with a mild(ish) electric shock by turning the machine up higher.

This thing is a miracle. I know it isn't for everyone but bloody hell it is for me. Why did it take occupational health to suggest physio and why did it take the dispenser in the pharmacist to suggest the TENS?

This is brilliant. Even sitting here typing this I've got far less of the dull ache alternating with violent stabbing that I used to have.

So AIBU to have a wee crush on my TENS?

Or am I just being unreasonable expecting you to read all of that?

I'm glad it works for you!

I've known so many people say they're crap, so YANBU...good for you.

Excellent! Glad it works.

I was expecting it to be £20 flushed down the drain to be honest but it does actually work. And thanks

Sad to say, I think that TENS is one of those things that many doctors put in the same category as homeopathy. Doctors don't understand TENS and therefore dismiss it. Prehaps it is harnessing the placebo affect, but surely that has to be a good thing.

I used TENS in childbirth and I found it was brilliant. With DD I used nothing but TENS. I don't understand why the NHS doesn't embrace TENS more as a form of pain relief. There are no side affects and it would be nice if people could borrow a TENS machine to see if they got on with it.

I think doctors are careful in terms of what the recommend due to the fact that like you say they are not for everybody, and they are not provided by the NHS, so if he starts recommending stuff its taken as a professional recommendation but he's not able to actually supply you with one and if you then buy one and find it doesn't work you (generic you, not you personally) are then possibly looking for someone to blame if you are that way inclined.

Also, don't know if there is "evidence based" stuff on TENS and doctors tend to stick to evidence based stuff. What the pharmacist gave you was anecdotal evidence and a personal recommendation, not evidenced based research and a professional recommendation, if that makes sense?

So its good to have both hey? Glad its working!

I'm the first one to go on evidenced based and I'm surprised that there isn't a study being done TBH. I can see valid scientific rather than homeopathic or placebo reasons for it to work (disruption of the local electrical signals preventing pain signals getting through) but all I know is it works for me.

Oh... (just checked) according to the NHS clinical site there have been 10 Randomly controlled tests with positive results. They don't, however, say what the size of the studies were or what controls were in place.

Your doctor made me think of the princess bride

'life is pain'

Glad it's working for you. I tried it while in labour with DS3 and I hated it. Much preferred the birth ball.

Thanks. It didn't work for DP either. I'm just glad it does for me.

I agree about TENS - it was fantastic in early stages of labour. Should be used more often. A good way of avoiding the side-effect of medication and probably cheaper in the long run.