How TENS Therapy Can Help with Neuropathy
February 20, 2019 October 5, 2017 by Maria Johnson
TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) is a form of treatment that has been used for neuropathy for about three decades. The treatment involves placing electrodes around the pain site, after which gentle electrical impulses are sent through the skin. This modulates how pain is transmitted to the brain, while also stimulating dynorphins, endorphins, and enkephalins, which means people can better control pain.
It should be noted that this therapy on its own is generally not sufficient to treat the pain associated with neuropathy. However, many people feel that it is beneficial as a complementary therapy. Treatment usually lasts for around half an hour, and can be repeated daily.
How Does TENS Work?
Essentially, TENS does two things:
First of all, if you pump electrical current into human tissue, the nerve endings are tickled and stimulated. This makes the muscles contract slightly, while also giving a tingling sensation. This sensation, together with the contraction, can temporarily drown out pain. However, one difficulty with this, is that you must determine how strong the stimulation should be for you, and most people do find that they have to increase the stimulation over time in order to continue to experience the same effects. There is also some suggestion that this therapy will only be truly effective if you use the correct setting, but determining what this setting is, can be difficult. That said, it is undeniable that it helps to gently exercise and relax the muscles and that it does have some pain reduction benefits, even if they may not be any stronger than those provided by over-the-counter pain medication. On the other hand, the treatment is safer than any over-the-counter pain medication, and certainly stronger than pain pills.
Secondly, TENS provides central stimulation. This means that it stimulates the brain or the spinal cord, which is a form of neuromodulation. Interestingly, this concept stems from electro-convulsive therapy (ECT or electroshock), which has always been a controversial form of therapy, albeit one that continues to be accepted. At the level of electroshock therapy, it is used on people with severe mental health issues, Parkinson's disease, or very significant chronic pain. TENS is not electroshock therapy, as this should only be provided by trained medical professionals.
Unfortunately, however, exactly how this treatments works is not quite understood. There are a number of explanations, one of which is that inflammation can be controlled through vagus nerve stimulation. This can prove to be very beneficial for people with rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, the fact that so many people benefit from it, in so many different ways, makes the treatment incredibly interesting.
Side Effects and Other Drawbacks of TENS
Before deciding whether or not TENS might be an appropriate treatment for yourself, you need to be aware of the fact that it does have some potential side effects. These include:
Skin irritation, which around 33% of people experience. It is believed that this happens when the electrode gel dries out, however, which means it can be avoided.
Skin reactions, usually caused by a reaction to the tape that keeps the electrodes in place. The use of self-adhesive electrodes can resolve this.
Skin burns, which should only happen if the device is not used properly.
Problems for those who have a pacemaker, so do check this with your physician
Problems for those who are pregnant, as premature labor can be induced. Again, check with your physician whether you can use this therapy or not.
Is TENS Effective?
Because so many people have indicated that they have experienced benefits from TENS, researchers have been very interested in it. They have found that it does have very good short term benefits, but it is not clear how effective it will be for the long term. Many people find that the benefits are only noticed when the electrical stimulation is switched on. A number of different studies have been completed into the treatment, however, including:
A report published in 2010 by the American Academy of Neurology's Therapeutics and Technology Assessment Subcommittee, which found the treatment to be “probably effective”. Hence, they recommend it as a treatment form.
A study published in 2010 in the Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, which showed consistent evidence that suggest that the treatment is beneficial, and therefore also recommend it for neuropathy.
A meta-analysis completed in 2010 of various trials, which showed that after four and six weeks of this therapy, people experienced significant benefits. Further subjective benefits were experienced at 12 weeks. There were no reports of side effects, and the analysis therefore classified this therapy as a possibly effective and safe treatment.
Other Research on TENS
If you were to only consider the studies above, it would seem as if TENS is some kind of miracle treatment, even if it is not 100% effective. However, there have also been many studies that have not demonstrated any benefits at all. The issue is that there have now been so many different studies that it is becoming difficult to keep track. Some scientists have therefore started to review the studies that have already been completed, and even those results are inconclusive. Some of the results of such reviews include:
A 2001 Milne study that showed no benefits of TENS after reviewing five trials for treatment of chronic lower back pain
A 2007 Johnson review that showed this therapy to be “effective” for chronic musculoskeletal pain after reviewing 38 trials
A 2008 Nnoaham review that was inconclusive on the effects of TENS on chronic pain after evaluating 25 studies
A 2008 Khadilkar review that was inconclusive on treatment of chronic lower back pain after reviewing four trials
A 2009 Walsh review that was inconclusive on the effects of this treatment for acute pain after reviewing 12 trials
A 2012 Hurlow review that was inconclusive on the effects of this procedure for cancer pain after reviewing three trials
A 2014 Vance mixed review
A 2015 Chen negative review on the effect of this treatment on knee osteoarthritis after reviewing 18 trials
A 2016 Desmeules inconclusive review on the effect of this procedure on rotator cuff tendinopathy after reviewing six trials.
Because people with neuropathy have a significantly decreased quality of life, any treatment that has potential benefits should be considered, particularly if that treatment has few or little side effects. Since TENS can be used at home and is reasonably affordable, it seems worth to try it at the very least. Even if people only experience benefits at first, or only if they have the electrical stimulation switched on, it still provides a period of much needed relief.
It's also important to eat a healthy diet and exercise, as well as giving your body the proper nutrition with the right supplements. Some people Alpha Lipoic Acid and Methyl B-12 as individual supplements, while others use pre-made blends like Nerve Renew. There is no right or wrong way, as along as you get the highest quality ingredients and take them consistently.