Buy an E-stim?

[MarkInLA]

My PT uses a large e-stim like device. Does anyone have a good source of e-stim's for home?

[ATsoccergirl]

You need to be either an state authorized to purchase such as unit such as being a physician, ATC, or LPT.  Or you need a preseciption from your doctor. 

[MarkInLA]

Shouldn't be a big deal to get a prescript for it.  I found this on the internet

http://www.tensproducts.com/proddetailtens.asp?prod=TWINSTIM

It's like $80.  Seems like an ok deal.  I want to cut back on pain med eventually!

[ATsoccergirl]

Although I cannot open the website, what you are looking at is a TENS unit not an e-stim like they have PT.  TENS units are more for chronic, very specific pain.  These are very different machines and you need to decide what type of machine would be best for you.

[Heather M.]

I have a BMR Neurotech with two settings (TENS and e-stim for strength-building) and absolutely love it.  Mine was prescribed by the doctor for 8 weeks, and my insurance company bought it outright rather than rent it.  So I got to keep my unit it.  I use it every single day for pain relief.

Heather

[MarkInLA]

I took printouts to my PT today.  He thinks this TwinStim combo TENS and EMS unit fits my needs nicely.  Especially for $80.  He says they use mostly Interferential Stimulators that are used for both pain and inflamation.  Since I have a Breg 300 and 500, he thinks I should do TENS and cold therapy at home.  He wrote the script...fortunately don't even need a Dr to do it.

[Sondra]

Mark and/or anybody who gets this unit, please post how you like it.

[MarkInLA]

I got it and so far, so good.  I have been dinking around with settings and have found several articles on how to get both short term (immediate) and long term (lasting) relief.  I used it on my hip today (old motorcycle accident) and it worked great.  I'd recommend it and your PT can prescribe it.

[Sondra]

Thanks for the feedback. It's great that you're happy with it. I looked at other units on their site and there are even cheaper ones, without the double purpose. They also have an interferential unit at about twice the cost of this one--which is awfully cheap compared to the $1000-2000 range I've seen on other sites.

At my physical therapist's, they have a nice interferential. They said tens is good for pain but interferential also helps with swelling and healing. But then I don't think it also helps with muscle building.Any thoughts on whether a low-end interferential would be better or worse than this unit?

Also, could you point to any URLs for articles on using them? I found one that had a lot of facts but also confused me.

[MarkInLA]

My PT said the same thing about the IFC that yours did.  It's for both pain and swelling.  If you use ICE or especially have a cold therapy machine, the TENS will give you pain relief and the cold will handle the swelling.  I don't know if I kept the URLs that I found, I mostly cut and pasted info down, I think.  Let me sniff around and I'll figure the best way to get it to you.

[MarkInLA]

Here's some links on TENS and EMS settings and use

http://www.emedicine.com/pmr/topic206.htm (GOOD)

http://www.k-online.com/~janne/tensplacement.htm

http://www.paintechnology.com/054.htm

http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/hup/gradath/PrincipleElectricity01.ppt

http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/hup/gradath/2000TENS.ppt (GOOD)