Bad Back - TENS machine?

[MissDaisy18]

Has anyone used a TENS machine before - for chronic back pain that started a long time before pregnancy but that's previously been managed with lots of pain medication (that can't be taken anymore due to pregnancy). We were just after some advice on results and which machine to buy (if people have had positive experiences of them). 20 weeks if this makes any difference?

Any thoughts much appreciated.

MD

Sorry no advice to give but can you use a tens machine in pregnancy? I hadn't even thought of doing this. I know that you can use a specific maternity one in labour but hadn't even occurred to me to use it for back pain!

My mw loaned me one from the hospital for free!! Even managed to go camping at 32 weeks!!

TENS is safe throughput pregnancy. But please keep an eye on your symptoms, don't let the TENS mask them. A good physio will help with the pain, and prevent the problem getting worse.

I have this one and am happy with it. The only drawback to it is that the electrodes have to be bought online. Not a big deal, they're easily available, just you have to plan ahead. Customer service is good. A part broke and they sent me a replacement straightaway.

Thanks for that info - can I just check, by electrodes you mean the sticky bits?

Meant to add we're also waiting to see physio after midwife referral but this is a long-standing issue (years and years old). Thanks for your help.

Did it make a big difference?

Hi op,sorry to hear you are in such pain.I hope it works for you but the TENS did nothing for me at all.

Electrodes are the sticky bits, yes.

I, too, have a historic back problem. Pregnancy actually helped it (though I developed SPD instead!).

TENS is brilliant as a temporary fix IMO. Essentially, it overwhelms your nerves with tingly messages, so they stop sending pain messages to your brain. It does not solve the underlying problem. But by perceiving less pain youare less likely to seize up defensively, and more likely to keep mobile.

Labour TENS is a different machine, more powerful, I think, but working along the same principles. It would help with backache, but a 'regular' TENS machine probably would not be powerful enough for labour,

I went from barely walking to sleeping on an airbed for a week!! And day time activities not a problem - except when a goat tried to nibble the wires!!

@JellySlice, the machine you mentioned says not for use in pregnancy or labour - but do they all say that? What's the difference? On amazon people seem to have used it for labour.

I think it's probably a CYA. Probably simply not been tested on pregnant or labouring women.

Cya? Cover your arse?