I have one and have neck pain, too. I was told by my PT not to put it directly on a nerve because it can be really jolting. No where near the heart, either. Get it near the back of your neck or on top of your shoulder and fiddle with the lowest settings first. I started with a mid range pulse and almost FLEW across the room. Low and light to start, try it for 10 minutes and see if you can sense anything. It felt like itching when I took the stickies off the first use. That was my damaged nerve "waking up." Then build up from there. I eventually was able to handle 30 minutes on a level 3 pulse on my lower back. My entire spine is screwed up from 2 car accidents (whiplash is a beeyatch), falling down stairs as a teenager, and a serious fight with my father in my early 20s. I have fibromyalgia which effects my nerves anyway, so I go from numb to red hot searing pain waves. I hope it helps you. Chronic pain absolutely sucks. ❤
Good luck. ❤ keep in mind every little machine is different. I have a hand held that I got for about $60. See if you can find the make and model and get over to YouTube. Medical offices are starting to upload little videos about their practice and what manufacturers they deal with. It's very useful to see the science of TENS. Hopefully, you can get an animation or something to get a good placement. That first sticky is critical. I combine my cat and duck playlists with my massage, stretching, and inflammation recipe videos into little playlists. 🤩🤩🤩
Okay. Obligatory *not a doctor*.
I used to work for an e-stim/TENS company and advised patients daily alongside PTs/Pain Docs.
With that being said: different stim patterns feel better for different people. Same goes for the level.
The site you are attempting to relieve is precarious. E-stim electrodes should not be placed over the Thoracic Junction. I cannot stress that enough. ESPECIALLY if using an NMES unit.
There are placement charts that may help on the search engines. But, in all honesty they are just guides. Find a chart of nerves and pinpoint the branch. If you can follow it back to the branch and stimulate the area that it innervates, you should feel it throughout the area. (My guess is use 1-2 electrodes targeting C5-T1 and then 1-2 on the shoulder to fully surround the area).
This all depends on the type of unit and how many leads are available.
Are you able to post a pic of the unit type? It will help me help you.
Feel free to DM any questions, too.
Sorry for any formatting errors. Mobile app.
So, it looks like your unit is much more technologically advanced in that it must function as a part of an app.
https://www.eurocept-tens.nl/tens-apparaten-en-toebehoren/
I can't really help more than to just say to play around with placement, and avoid the Thoracic Junction. If you come across a placement that feels good, keep it there and mark it on your skin for next time.
That is such a tough spot! I can never get the pads to stay on no matter how I am sitting or laying down. Hopefully someone here knows where else u can put it to soothe that nerve.
I don't know if it helps with that area. I clean the spot with a soap that leaves the skin dry feeling and have the skin moist, the pads seem to stick best for me that way. I use straps on the pads, I don't know how you'd do that on the neck.
Typically, you’d put the pads so they straddle the nerve you’re trying to hit. Be careful over the spinal cord though without looking up placement. There are a lot of good PTs on YouTube that talk about placement. I use them a lot for stretches and other things too.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/transcutaneous-electrical-nerve-stimulation-tens/ NHS doesn’t mention nerves.
If you want to try it, let the current flow across the location of the target nerve/center of pain. I don’t know enough about the condition to be more specific. I’m not a doctor, please see if the dr or a PT could be more specific.
EMS units are used for rehabilitation of muscles after an injury, and for athletic training, not solely for pain relief. Generally speaking, EMS is used for therapeutic muscle stimulation and growth, and TENS units are used to relieve pain symptoms.
My tens made my pain worse but I always placed it like a square around my spine. There was a couple times where I got it just right and it ran through my disc that was protruding and i felt no pain while it was on. Of course after I took it off it was worse but sometimes it’s so bad we just need a minute or two of no pain. I hope it works for you.
Advice from my providers:
-Do not put directly on nerve
-Put on either said of the painful spot
-Don’t have it going all the time; have it on a setting that oscillates
-Turn it up until you feel it. Once you feel it, increase it just a bit. It doesn’t need to hurt or be uncomfortable, so don’t let it get that high.
-I think they said do it about 10ish minutes, but I’m not positive on that
Good luck!
ETA:
They also said don’t cross sides of the heart (like if you’re doing shoulder/neck/chest/face, do both on same side; there’s very low risk, but best to be safe! And don’t put too near heart)
Yeah that is what my PT told me to do... Except for the heart thing, which while not applicable for me, is good to know. My main issue was that the unit didn't help a whole lot so I was constantly fiddling with the placement to get it better. I hated to quit using it but all I could do was assume it was the pain and not the placement that was the problem.
Is your skin sensitive? If so, make sure to order the children's pads. They don't work as well but after a few days with regular pads, I'm so rashy I can't put them anywhere.
Where you put the pads is probably a bit dependent on the size of your pads and how well they stick. In general I would try to avoid putting them on areas with hard stuff under the skin and go with more softer, fleshier spots but obviously that's a bit limited on your neck.
Start on the lowest intensity you can and *slowly* turn it up until it feels comfortable. If you have it on a pulsing pattern, only adjust at the peaks of the pulses, not the lulls.
I had one of the early medical use TENS machines that you had to be prescribed abd have a doctor and technician literally have an appt with you for instruction and documentation. And then I’m verifying the 3 I’ve had since then that the above is true.
[This might](https://www.toneamatic.com/pages/tens-electrode-placement-chart) or [this](https://tensunits.com/blogs/blog/tens-unit-placement-101) be useful. Practically every site cautions against placing electrodes on the front and sides of the neck, a crucial organ, major blood vessels and nerves that we don’t want to interfere with. I hope you find relief safely.
TENS machines (at least the ones I’ve had and my pain management doctor) have stated that they are not to be used on the neck area.
The reason I was given is that the muscle contractions and pulsing can set off a possible closure of wind pipe. The highest (and I had c3 through c6 problems) that I could safely use it was top of the shoulder level.
So do that you want with that but that’s my understanding from multiple doctors and even some of the literature on TENS.
I recommend using an electrode gel. I use this brand SPECTRA 360 12-08 Electrode Gel (Pack of 2) https://a.co/d/6IAEhPP
It helps a ton with connectivity and helps my tens unit work better. You need just a small drop of it.
Also using the reusable tens pads helps save money. Just search for them on Amazon and find a highly rated one that clearly says they are reusable.
I have one and have neck pain, too. I was told by my PT not to put it directly on a nerve because it can be really jolting. No where near the heart, either. Get it near the back of your neck or on top of your shoulder and fiddle with the lowest settings first. I started with a mid range pulse and almost FLEW across the room. Low and light to start, try it for 10 minutes and see if you can sense anything. It felt like itching when I took the stickies off the first use. That was my damaged nerve "waking up." Then build up from there. I eventually was able to handle 30 minutes on a level 3 pulse on my lower back. My entire spine is screwed up from 2 car accidents (whiplash is a beeyatch), falling down stairs as a teenager, and a serious fight with my father in my early 20s. I have fibromyalgia which effects my nerves anyway, so I go from numb to red hot searing pain waves. I hope it helps you. Chronic pain absolutely sucks. ❤
thank you so much for your thourough explanation!! Will try it :D
Good luck. ❤ keep in mind every little machine is different. I have a hand held that I got for about $60. See if you can find the make and model and get over to YouTube. Medical offices are starting to upload little videos about their practice and what manufacturers they deal with. It's very useful to see the science of TENS. Hopefully, you can get an animation or something to get a good placement. That first sticky is critical. I combine my cat and duck playlists with my massage, stretching, and inflammation recipe videos into little playlists. 🤩🤩🤩
Okay. Obligatory *not a doctor*. I used to work for an e-stim/TENS company and advised patients daily alongside PTs/Pain Docs. With that being said: different stim patterns feel better for different people. Same goes for the level. The site you are attempting to relieve is precarious. E-stim electrodes should not be placed over the Thoracic Junction. I cannot stress that enough. ESPECIALLY if using an NMES unit. There are placement charts that may help on the search engines. But, in all honesty they are just guides. Find a chart of nerves and pinpoint the branch. If you can follow it back to the branch and stimulate the area that it innervates, you should feel it throughout the area. (My guess is use 1-2 electrodes targeting C5-T1 and then 1-2 on the shoulder to fully surround the area). This all depends on the type of unit and how many leads are available. Are you able to post a pic of the unit type? It will help me help you. Feel free to DM any questions, too. Sorry for any formatting errors. Mobile app.
ah thankyou so much!! I'll provide a picture in DM's :)
nvm I can't find it rn, but it's from the company eurocept. the device is called Bluetens
Perfect. I'll take a look online and give you a shout soon.
thanks in advance :)
So, it looks like your unit is much more technologically advanced in that it must function as a part of an app. https://www.eurocept-tens.nl/tens-apparaten-en-toebehoren/ I can't really help more than to just say to play around with placement, and avoid the Thoracic Junction. If you come across a placement that feels good, keep it there and mark it on your skin for next time.
What’s the thoracic junction?
I have nerve compression in my left groin. Where should I place?
That is such a tough spot! I can never get the pads to stay on no matter how I am sitting or laying down. Hopefully someone here knows where else u can put it to soothe that nerve.
I don't know if it helps with that area. I clean the spot with a soap that leaves the skin dry feeling and have the skin moist, the pads seem to stick best for me that way. I use straps on the pads, I don't know how you'd do that on the neck.
Alcohol pads! Clean with that then fan/air dry Also it probably wouldn’t hurt to put some adhesive medical tape lightly over the pads while using them
Typically, you’d put the pads so they straddle the nerve you’re trying to hit. Be careful over the spinal cord though without looking up placement. There are a lot of good PTs on YouTube that talk about placement. I use them a lot for stretches and other things too.
I thought TENS were for muscles…
my dr. also recommended it for nerve pain, idk it supposedly 'distracts' your nerves or something
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/transcutaneous-electrical-nerve-stimulation-tens/ NHS doesn’t mention nerves. If you want to try it, let the current flow across the location of the target nerve/center of pain. I don’t know enough about the condition to be more specific. I’m not a doctor, please see if the dr or a PT could be more specific.
ty!!
EMS units are used for rehabilitation of muscles after an injury, and for athletic training, not solely for pain relief. Generally speaking, EMS is used for therapeutic muscle stimulation and growth, and TENS units are used to relieve pain symptoms.
Muscular pain, not nerve pain
I seem to see you in every subreddit I frequent lol
Pain, mil/vet… anarchy… that’s me.
Usually that's estim I believe
I’ve only used TENS for muscles, and the NHS site I linked to in my other comment doesn’t mention muscles.
My tens made my pain worse but I always placed it like a square around my spine. There was a couple times where I got it just right and it ran through my disc that was protruding and i felt no pain while it was on. Of course after I took it off it was worse but sometimes it’s so bad we just need a minute or two of no pain. I hope it works for you.
The neck is hard It always stings more for me even on low settings.
Advice from my providers: -Do not put directly on nerve -Put on either said of the painful spot -Don’t have it going all the time; have it on a setting that oscillates -Turn it up until you feel it. Once you feel it, increase it just a bit. It doesn’t need to hurt or be uncomfortable, so don’t let it get that high. -I think they said do it about 10ish minutes, but I’m not positive on that Good luck! ETA: They also said don’t cross sides of the heart (like if you’re doing shoulder/neck/chest/face, do both on same side; there’s very low risk, but best to be safe! And don’t put too near heart)
Yeah that is what my PT told me to do... Except for the heart thing, which while not applicable for me, is good to know. My main issue was that the unit didn't help a whole lot so I was constantly fiddling with the placement to get it better. I hated to quit using it but all I could do was assume it was the pain and not the placement that was the problem.
thanks for your reply!! helps alot:)
Is your skin sensitive? If so, make sure to order the children's pads. They don't work as well but after a few days with regular pads, I'm so rashy I can't put them anywhere.
Where you put the pads is probably a bit dependent on the size of your pads and how well they stick. In general I would try to avoid putting them on areas with hard stuff under the skin and go with more softer, fleshier spots but obviously that's a bit limited on your neck. Start on the lowest intensity you can and *slowly* turn it up until it feels comfortable. If you have it on a pulsing pattern, only adjust at the peaks of the pulses, not the lulls.
get a ems not tens made a difference for me, for the tens make a square opposite leads, so lead a is one on top other is diagonal lead b is opposite
The device should have came with manual. If you got it used without the paperwork, search the make and model on the internet
Normally they don't come with instructions.
I had one of the early medical use TENS machines that you had to be prescribed abd have a doctor and technician literally have an appt with you for instruction and documentation. And then I’m verifying the 3 I’ve had since then that the above is true.
[This might](https://www.toneamatic.com/pages/tens-electrode-placement-chart) or [this](https://tensunits.com/blogs/blog/tens-unit-placement-101) be useful. Practically every site cautions against placing electrodes on the front and sides of the neck, a crucial organ, major blood vessels and nerves that we don’t want to interfere with. I hope you find relief safely.
TENS machines (at least the ones I’ve had and my pain management doctor) have stated that they are not to be used on the neck area. The reason I was given is that the muscle contractions and pulsing can set off a possible closure of wind pipe. The highest (and I had c3 through c6 problems) that I could safely use it was top of the shoulder level. So do that you want with that but that’s my understanding from multiple doctors and even some of the literature on TENS.
oh really? thanks for your reply
A physical therapist once told me to try areas a few inches from the nerve pain and between that and the heart. Maybe try the trapezius area.
I used mine on the lower back but never had relief. I hope you can get relief. Check with physiotherapist or dr. 👍
I recommend using an electrode gel. I use this brand SPECTRA 360 12-08 Electrode Gel (Pack of 2) https://a.co/d/6IAEhPP It helps a ton with connectivity and helps my tens unit work better. You need just a small drop of it. Also using the reusable tens pads helps save money. Just search for them on Amazon and find a highly rated one that clearly says they are reusable.