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549511 tn?1271775930

Is this the place to be?

I have a TENS machine which helps,now my doctor wants me to go to a pain management clinic.Has anyone here been to one and is that a drug free deal? Or is it something else ?
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547368 tn?1440541785
Hey Brian,
A TENS unit (Trans-cutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) produces low voltage electrical pulses to the nervous system by passing electricity through the skin via electrodes. You attach the "pads" that contain the electrodes to the area where you experience pain. The thinking is that these impulses with confuse pain receptors.

Chemical synapses are specialized junctions through which neurons signal to each other and to non-neuronal cells such as those in muscles or glands. Chemical synapses allow neurons to form interconnected circuits within the central nervous system. They are thus crucial to the biological computations that underlie perception and thought. They provide the means through which the nervous system connects to and controls the other systems of the body.

I am not great at teaching but I'll do my best. In simple terms this is how pain is "felt" by your brain from your body. It's an electrical impulse that happens at the pain site (neurons, synapse and all that jazz)  and says to your brain..OWCH!  And the TENS unit works on this process to relieve pain by confusing or changing the electrical impulses/action so that you feel less pain. Or at least that is how it works in theory. It didn't work for me. I found it more painful. I hope I didn't confuse you more becasue as I said I'm not a good teacher.
Be well, Tuck
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518031 tn?1295575374
pleas could someone explain a TENS machine thank u....brian
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549511 tn?1271775930
My doc suggested it,i thought it was some type of therapy......... how dumb is that!! Have been on and off endone for 3 years but can only take half of a 5mg tablet,and it does kill the pain but it also makes me really sick but not all the time.So i decided to stop it 5 months ago found out it was a narcotic and dont want to become addicted to it or any other drug for that matter.I have like you all tried just about everything to no avail,
fentanyl is not a drug that is available in australia.....Thanks now i know what P/M is.........
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535089 tn?1400673519
Hi Kitty.

I'm glad to see you post:) Pain Management Clinics are agreat place for the treatment of any pain you've had and they can kep a close eye on your treatment. It does not necessarily mean that they give you narcotics right off the bat. The Doctors will work with you to see what treatment is right for you.

As Extremski said though, don't let them throw a bunch of narcotics at you, explore all your options first. I'm glad the TENS unit is giving you some relief, it did nit work for me.

Well, I was glad I could finally give you some advise.

Take care and good luck.

PS- I tried to Earth Google your house, must try again :)
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547368 tn?1440541785
Hi Kitty,

I am so glad the TENS unit working for you. PM Clinics differ. The one I went to in WI some years ago was drug free, meaning no one really needed drugs. They had a multitude of approaches. I was not very happy with them and vowed I would never return. However I have heard great news about other pain management clinics and maybe even the one I attended has had some changes.

And I think everyone is different. Some need heavy doses of narcotics to exist. I think the problem comes when you move and are unable to obtain the same drugs..But I am no expert by any means, this is just my opinion and my experience. You can always reject their suggestions if you make it perfectly clear with you PCP that they will continue to treat you as they are now regardless of the outcome of the clinic.

Others will post with their experience's and opinions. I think you have to weight it all and than make your decision. So best of luck. Let us know how you are doing and as always take care. Tuck
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Avatar universal
Pain mgt is where most people go to get narcotics for pain relief long term so it isn't usually a drug free deal at all.  Don't make the same mistake that I did and let them get you hooked on heavy doses of hard narcotics.  I found out that different pm centers ae capable of prescribing different dosages.  When I went to change PM doctors because the guy I was going to left the practice, I went to a different doctor who wouldn't touch me as I was on what was deemed a "high dosage".  I had no idea I just did what they told me.  Anyway I was in no man's land until I could get into a pm center that could handle me, a good 2 months.  So just be careful and if you can stay away from fentanyl!
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