OTHER PAIN TREATMENTS: ARE THERE ANY DANGERS IN THE USE OF TENS?
Treatment with TENS should be totally safe providing a few precautions are taken. There is no risk of electrical shock because the power source is usually a battery with an output of 3-9 Volts only.
The major inconvenience which occurs with TENS is an allergic reaction to the TENS electrodes. Changing electrode types or gels is the major way in which this problem can be overcome. In a very small group the rash can be bad enough to prevent the use of TENS altogether.
However TENS should not be used by a person with a demand-type heart pacemaker. Also:
• Electrodes should not be placed over the front of the neck because of the risk of stimulating the nerve receptors in the carotid arteries which control the blood pressure.
• The electrodes should never be placed directly over the heart because of the almost negligible but slight possibility of micro-electrocution.
• Special care should also be taken in anyone with coronary artery disease.
• TENS electrodes should be applied around the eye with caution.
• Care should be taken when the wearing a TENS unit and driving. The intensity should be decreased as it is possible that changes in pressure on the electrodes can suddenly increase the stimulation.
• The machine and its electrodes should be kept dry to prevent damage to the machine, and to stop the unwanted spread of the electric current over a wider area of the skin than prescribed.
• It is probably advisable not to use the TENS unit during sleep owing to the possibility that pressure on the electrodes may change leading to the stimulus being too strong or unevenly applied.
*110\37\8*
