Getting Relief When You Have Menstrual Cramps - Omaha World-Herald 35 ((treble or triple) adj blind$).tw. Comparison 4 TENS versus medical treatment, Outcome 3 Adverse effects. Studies show that TENS can help relieve pain from diabetic nerve damage, most commonly in the hands and feet. 25 randomly.ab. Santiesteban AJ, If it doesnt work for you, we offer a no-questions-asked 100% money-back guarantee. This published review: Proctor ML, Smith CA, Farquhar CM, Stones RW. Dawood 1990a (highfrequency TENS, placebo TENS, ibuprofen) However, there are a few things to keep in mind when using TENS therapy for sciatica. 4. the contents by NLM or the National Institutes of Health. (3963) All women were instructed separately by the same experimenter in the use of TENS and the expected stimulation sensation for each group. 37 prospective study/ (80141) Best for lower back: WiTouch Pro Bluetooth TENS Unit. 12 electric stimulation therapy/ or electroacupuncture/ (14755) TENS Units and Menstrual Pain. Tens Unit for Menstrual Cramps and Pain (Dysmenorrhea) 3 Dysmenorrhea/ (3608) Tramer M, Phaseone data (data prior to crossover) were not available for any of these trials. There were no reported adverse effects from placebo TENS. The Cochrane Complementary Medicine Field Register of controlled trials (CISCOM) was searched for any trials with dysmenorrhoea in the title, abstract, or keyword fields. This essentially blocks the feeling of the pain from being perceived by the brain. Gel pads are used on the electrodes to make them stick to the skin. Both groups had significantly reduced pain from baseline (p<.0001, using the Student ttest), Randomised method unstated in published trial. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. Best splurge: HiDow XPD TENS Unit. 7 (painful adj5 period$).tw. All reports which described (or might describe) randomised controlled trials of TENS in the treatment of dysmenorrhoea were obtained using the following search strategies (April 2009). The inclusion criteria were: randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of TENS compared to placebo, no treatment, or medical treatment for primary dysmenorrhoea. (20) For the outcome of pain relief there was no significant difference in the pain scores for each group. Two participants in the experimental group did not complete posttreatment measures as they were asleep and needing to take additional medication, therefore used last value carried forward. Another important aspect to the design of the control arm of these trials is to ensure that participants remain blinded to their group allocation. 2 Pelvic pain/ (2191) Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation does not relieve labour pain: updated systematic review, Contemporary Reviews in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Applications of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in the management of patients with pain. Forest plot of comparison: 3 High Frequency TENS vs Low Frequency TENS, outcome: 3.2 Pain relief 100pt VAS. 1 exp Menstruation disorders/ (21321) It is the intention of the review authors that a new search for RCTs will be carried out yearly and the review updated accordingly. Currently available data suggests that highfrequency TENS is effective in reducing primary dysmenorrhoea. (141) Placement was the same for groups one and three. Have a question for Karen? Only one trial reported any information on adverse effects (Lewers 1989) and found there were none in either the TENS group or the placebo pill group. | Brandon Callahan | Back Injuries Advertisement There is no one answer to this question as each person experiences sciatica differently and therefore reacts to treatments differently as well. With highfrequency TENS a small portable unit can be used, therefore users are able to carry on daily activities. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) involves the sending of an electric current by placing electrodes on the skin to stimulate the nerves and reduce pain. The Cochrane Complementary Medicine Field Register of controlled trials (CISCOM) was also searched. These are real stories from people who bought Pixie Relief TENS at full price. Two trials reported data on the use of analgesics additional to the TENS treatment (Dawood 1990a;Thomas 1995). Seven of these trials were included in this review, one was excluded, and one is awaiting classification. Some people report that their pain returns as soon as the device is turned off. 16 nerve stimulat$.tw. Bethesda, MD 20894, Web Policies Forest plot of comparison: 4 TENS vs Medical Treatment, outcome: 4.1 Pain relief overall experience. The included studies were assessed for risk of bias. Get ready to say goodbye to crippling period cramps and mind-numbing painkillers for good. The trial compared lowfrequency TENS with a control that was a mixture of highfrequency TENS and placebo TENS. Mannheimer C. TENS is effective in painful menstruation, A comparative study of the effect of high intensity transcutaneous nerve stimulation and oral naproxen on intrauterine pressure and menstrual pain in patients with primary dysmenorrhea, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. There were three studies that compared highfrequency TENS with lowfrequency TENS for the treatment of dysmenorrhoea (Lundeberg 1985; Mannheimer 1985; Thomas 1995). 15 electric stimulat$.ti,ab,hw,tn,mf. Communication from author stated it was a centralised randomisation process, Inclusion: severe primary dysmenorrhoea (diagnosed according to "predefined clinical criteria", regular cycles), 1. The rechargeable battery lasts all day to block pain signals from menstrual cramps from reaching the brain. 33 from 32 keep 126 (26), 1 exp Menstruation Disorder/ (23479) A TENS unit is a small device that delivers the electrical current through electrodes, which are placed on the surface of the skin at or near the nerves where the pain is located. (1347) A fixedeffect model was used and heterogeneity between the results of different studies was examined by inspecting the scatter in the data points and the overlap in their CIs and more formally by checking the results of the Chi2 tests. 3 (pelvic adj5 pain).tw. Highfrequency TENS versus placebo or no treatment for primary dysmenorrhoea. (8) 12 electric stimulation therapy/ or electroacupuncture/ (637) Neck pain, Sciatica, Shoulder pain, Foot pain, Weight loss, Plantar fasciitis, Menstrual cramps, Trapezius pain, and Other types and locales of pain. 23 Single Blind Procedure/ (7989) Comparison 1 Highfrequency TENS versus placebo, Outcome 4 Adverse effects. (110) Livia created a device intended to relieve period cramps using SmartWave technology. (14) I usually take a couple of pills so I get few hrs of peaceful sleep.. but with this I didnt need the pills. If no pain reduction was achieved at any of these points then electrodes were applied for 25 minutes within the painful area. Replacement gels are available for purchase. What is a TENS Unit? Highfrequency TENS was found to be effective for the treatment of dysmenorrhoea by a number of small trials. Milsom I, The original review contained reference to acupuncture. Cramps are one of the most common symptoms associated with PMS. There is a need to improve the quality of future randomised controlled trials. (263105) (15) When used for menstrual cramps, the electrodes of the TENS unit can be placed on the lower abdomen or the lower back, whichever is closer to the area of pain. TENS therapy is safe to use as much as you like, although its usually recommended to start with 20-30 minutes. Karen is a Certified Holistic Nutrition Consultant and holds a degree in English and French from Knox College. 4. WHAT'S INCLUDED - 1 x Menstrual TENS Unit EM50, 2 x self-adhesive gel pads, 1 x USB-C cable, 1 x Instruction manual - the device comes with a limited lifetime warranty. Molds to your body and fits discreetly under clothes. 21 from 20 keep 19 (9), 1 exp Menstruation disorders/ (348) Forest plot of comparison: 1 High Frequency TENS vs Placebo, outcome: 1.1 Pain relief overall experience. 31 30 and 19 (44) Rabinerson D, Four of these trials performed some type of physical or gynaecological examination to confirm the diagnosis of 'no pathology'. Lewers 1989 (lowfrequency TENS, placebo pill) TENS Units for Menstrual Pain Relief: A Comparison of Livia and Another trial compared highfrequency, highintensity TENS with naproxen (a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug) (Milsom 1994). A TENS unit consists of a battery-powered device that delivers electrical impulses through electrodes placed on the surface of your skin. The review authors considered whether the clinical and methodological characteristics of the included studies were sufficiently similar for metaanalysis to provide a meaningful summary. The remaining two trials gave no information regarding blinding of assignment status (Neighbors 1987; Thomas 1995); one of these trials was probably open as it compared TENS with a placebo pill, two quite different types of interventions (Neighbors 1987). No further details in paper. It is generally classified into two groups: primary and secondary. Trials relating to acupuncture have now been excluded from this review and will the subject of a new review. When pain relief was measured with a VAS the WMD was 20.9 (95% CI 4.4 to 46.1) showing no significant difference between the two types of TENS but a trend towards highfrequency TENS as achieving more pain relief (one trial) (Mannheimer 1985); see Figure 7. Those in group two placed the electrodes on acupuncture points and were instructed how to find the area of greatest tenderness. TENS might work by raising the threshold for pain signals and stimulating the release of your body's natural painkillers . 100% Happiness Promise. Michelle Proctor: took the lead in writing the original protocol and review, performed initial searches of databases for trials, involved in selecting trials for inclusion, performed independent data extraction and quality assessment of the included trials, was responsible for statistical analysis and interpretation of the data. 10 Best TENS units in 2023 - Medical News Today Lundeberg T, The review authors aimed to minimise the potential impact of reporting bias by ensuring a comprehensive search for eligible studies and by being alert for duplication of data. (879) (1108) No other potential sources of bias were identified. Use heat. Comparison 3 Highfrequency TENS versus lowfrequency TENS, Outcome 2 Pain relief 100pt VAS. When pain relief was measured with a VAS the weighted mean difference (WMD) was 45.0 (95% CI 22.5 to 67.5) in favour of highfrequency TENS (one trial). The placeboTENS group was told to set it at maximum and that they may or may not experience a mild tingling sensation. Other common exclusion criteria were the use of oral contraceptives (OCPs) or an IUD. Inclusion: dysmenorrhoea, abdominal pain, women who were not previous users of TENS, 1. MegaOtakuHS (Kayla) on Twitter: "RT @Alavasgaming: I struggled to Overall seven studies that involved transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea were identified and included. Livia is yet to be released, but it has received many positive feedback from women. (115) While blinding may have been possible in the TENS arm, the four different types of acupuncture that were compared were too different for the women to have remained unaware of the differences in the interventions so doubleblinding would have been impossible. In particular, allocation blinding needs to be meticulous within the practical constraints discussed above. (4038) Mehring EA. The selection of trials for inclusion in the review was performed independently by two review authors (MW, CS). Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) - Cleveland Clinic 7 (painful adj5 period$).tw. George KL, 14 electrotherap$.tw. Will Stones: commented on drafts of the protocol and review. The range of ages of participants included in all the trials was 15 to 38 years. 2. Overall results showed that highfrequency TENS was more effective for pain relief than placebo TENS. (11) 34 Double blind$.tw. The minor adverse effects reported in one trial require further investigation. 7 (painful adj5 period$).tw. 19 9 and 18 (3) 8 menstrual disorder.tw. The pulses suppress menstrual pain signals to the brain. 17 electroanalges$.tw. One trial comparing lowfrequency TENS and placebo TENS reported a significant difference between lowfrequency TENS and placebo TENS in pain relief (P < 0.05); the other trial showed that lowfrequency TENS was more effective at reducing pain than a placebo pill (P < 0.05). Milsom 1994 (highfrequency, highintensity TENS, naproxen) A stress free, I forgot Im even on my period! period is possible. 19 9 and 18 (23) I dont feel it at all anymore thankfully! Farquhar CM, All participants were positioned prone on a treatment table for 30 minutes. Only one of the trials reported any adverse effects associated with treatment (Dawood 1990a): 4/32 women using highfrequency TENS experienced muscle vibrations, tightness, and headaches after use and slight redness or burning of the skin (OR 8.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 60.9). There was no information on how the investigators ensured that the TENS units were correctly used by the women, however daily logs were kept of the amount of TENS use per day. Women were missing school and staying home from work because they didnt have access to affordable period hygiene. This will reduce the likelihood of your using a setting that is too high or too low. Overuse of over-the-counter pain relievers can cause serious side effects, including low blood pressure, stomach ulcers, and other gastrointestinal problems. Beurer EM50 TENS Unit and Heating Pad - Portable Period Cramps Pain Hedner N, We plan to recontact them for future updates of this review. TENS represents a suitable alternative for women who prefer not to use medication or wish to minimise their NSAID consumption. 9 or/18 (26974) Risk of bias tables have been added and the trial has been formatted as per Cochrane guidelines. (517) (173) It is unclear how participants were placed in the TENS or acupuncture group. 2023 Pixie Cup, LLC, Sterilize your menstrual cup on the go! (108884) Pain was rated immediately before and after TENS use. 2. For pain relief reported as a dichotomous variable the OR was 3.9 (95% CI 1.1 to 13.0; 1 trial) in favour of highfrequency TENS (Figure 6). Requirements for additional medication (measured as a ratio for women requiring analgesics additional to their assigned treatment) Lowfrequency TENS was found to be no different in reducing pain than placebo TENS although there is a trend towards efficacy. This modality has been stated to be effective for pain relief in a variety of conditions (Gersh 1985) but more recent systematic reviews have established that TENS is ineffective for postoperative pain (Carroll 1996) and labour pain (Carroll 1997). Lowfrequency TENS versus acupuncture for primary dysmenorrhoea. After 10 seconds, if the participant had not adapted to the intensity it was reduced to a more acceptable level. 12 electric stimulation therapy/ or electroacupuncture/ (0) 15 electric stimulat$.tw. Absence from work or school (measured as a ratio for women reporting absences from work or school). Best for budget: Tenker TMS TENS Unit. bag of dirt after you herniate a disc? How we vet brands and products Many brands. To use a TENS unit, you simply place the electrodes, which attach using a sticky gel pad, to your skin in the location of your body where you are experiencing pain. Overall results suggested no significant difference between lowfrequency TENS and placebo TENS or a placebo pill for pain relief. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) involves the sending of an electric current by placing electrodes on the skin to stimulate the nerves and reduce pain. The TENS group had eight electrodes attached to four acupuncture points bilaterally and the TENS unit was started. However, other studies indicate that individuals who repeatedly use a TENS unit can build up a tolerance to the treatment. Caroline Smith: involved in selecting trials for inclusion, performed independent data extraction and quality assessment of the included trials, contributed to discussion and interpretation of results. Comparison 3 Highfrequency TENS versus lowfrequency TENS, Outcome 3 Pain relief descriptive data. Lowfrequency TENS was found to be no more effective in reducing pain than placebo TENS (OR 1.48, 95% CI 0.43 to 5.08). Treatment for all groups was 30 minutes in duration then discontinued until pain returned; a record of use was kept. There was no significant difference between the two groups for the outcome of absence from work or school (WMD 0.2, 95% CI 0.2 to 0.6) (Thomas 1995). (248) 9 or/18 (1699) Lewers D, Sign up for updates and special offers! Single blind, participant was blind but other unclear. Inclusion: primary dysmenorrhoea, gynaecological exam to rule out pathology, 1. (64) Modern day TENS can be divided into two subcategories, high and low frequency. Lewers 1989 did not analyse the final data from two patients but did use the lastobservationcarriedforward method. Placebo TENS can also take the form of working electrodes attached to the wrong meridian points although this is not necessarily an effective control as there is a theoretical opportunity to create adverse effects or possibly a therapeutic effect by stimulating any meridian or acupuncture point. How to Place Electrodes for a Tens Unit: 11 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow 29 random allocation.tw. Data were analysed on an intentiontotreat basis, as far as possible, and attempts were made to obtain missing data from the primary investigators, where possible. All treatments (except periosteal stimulation) lasted 20 minutes; all outcome assessments were performed in the same manner. The trial associated with acupuncture has now been removed from this review and the role of acupuncture in the treatment of dysmenorrhoea will be the subject of a new review. A transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) is a device you wear over an area of pain that stimulates your nerves with electricity in an attempt to essentially confuse the pain fibers. For selfadministered treatments the tendency is to place electrodes on the painful areas, while physicianadministered treatments are more likely to be administered on meridian points. This combination did not clearly fit any of the intended comparisons of the review so the trial was excluded. Highfrequency nerve stimulation may help relieve painful menstrual cramps. Havent seen a better option to relieve you from cramps. 13 Best TENS Units For Pain Relief in 2023 - MomJunction In contrast, menstrual pain without organic pathology is called primary dysmenorrhoea (Lichten 1987). (3097) 9 or/18 (588) 1 Best For Instant Pain Relief Tens 7000 Digital TENS Unit Tens 7000 Read More PRICE ON AMAZON 2 Best Pocket-Sized Belifu TENS EMS Unit Mastogo Read More PRICE ON AMAZON 3 Best Feature-Rich Auvon 4 Muscle Stimulator for Pain Relief Image: Auvon Read More $29.99 ON AMAZON 4 Best Customizable Omron Max Power Relief TENS Unit Omron The electrodes can be placed on traditional acupuncture sites or at the site of the pain. One review author scanned the titles and abstracts of articles retrieved by the search and removed those that were clearly not relevant. Oils that . Moore A. Randomization is important in studies with pain outcomes: Systematic review of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in acute postoperative pain. According to a 2020 study published in the International Journal of Women's Health, the TENS unit is effective for relieving pain caused by menstrual cramps or pelvic pain conditions. In one trial, the mean pain relief figure reported in the trial (26.1) did not correlate with the reported scores for each participant that were also presented (46, 57, 60, 0, 0, 0, 41, 40, 1) (Mannheimer 1985). They were randomised to whichever treatment they received first. One trial could not be included in the metaanalysis due to the form the results were reported in and was included as descriptive data, it found lowfrequency TENS to be more likely to reduce pain than highfrequency TENS. Plus, unlike a period heating pad for cramps, our 12-hour battery will give you all day menstrual pain relief! Julie Brown: took the lead in the update of the review and the formatting for Revman 5. 18 or/1017 (2429) It is a common gynaecological complaint that can affect as many as 50% of women; 10% of these women suffer severely enough to render them incapacitated for one to three days each menstrual cycle (Dawood 1990b). TENS units send small electrical impulses to the muscle which block the pain signals to the brain. TENS Therapy For Sciatica: Everything You Need To Know The pain duration is commonly 48 to 72 hours and is associated with the menstrual flow. The acupuncture group were allocated to four different modes of treatment, one per cycle. McGowan J, 13 electrostimulat$.tw. 8 menstrual disorder.tw. AlavasGaming on Twitter: "I struggled to install Identity V all night There were three studies comparing the use of lowfrequency TENS with placebo TENS (Lundeberg 1985; Mannheimer 1985; Thomas 1995) and two studies comparing lowfrequency TENS with a placebo pill (Lewers 1989; Neighbors 1987 ) for the treatment of dysmenorrhoea. New citation required and conclusions have changed, Total Pain measure on 100mm VAS 3 x day for 3 days, No difference between High frequency TENS and Placebo TENS in reducing pain (using ANOVA, p>0.05), Low Frequency TENS is more effective at reducing pain than Placebo TENS, Low frequency TENS is more effective at reducing pain than Placebo pill (using ANOVA, p<0.05), Total Pain on 100mm VAS scale measured 3 x day for 3 days Max score 900, Low frequency TENS more likely to reduce pain than High frequency TENS, Pain score 15 measured every 30min up to 240min reported in graph form, High frequency high intensity TENS (unusual as usually low intensity), No significant difference between the two treatments. 8600 Rockville Pike (89) 5 TENS Units to Get Comfortable With - Healthline After this study the women in the control group were given a placebo pill and put into the prone position for 30 minutes. For a summary of the TENS modalities used, such as frequencies and pulse width, see TENS modalities (Table 1; Table 2). An effective nonpharmacological method of treating dysmenorrhoea would be of great potential value in treating dysmenorrhoea; however, there are a number of problems with the trials included in this review and research into physical therapies in general. TensUnitHub Team. For cup users and cup curious alike! Comparison 1 Highfrequency TENS versus placebo, Outcome 6 Use of additional analgesics (n of tablets taken). How to Use a TENS Unit - Elder Guru The specific interventions to be considered were as follows. Bergman J, More information is needed on the potential adverse effects of highfrequency TENS and the acceptability of TENS treatments to women needs to be explored using both questionnaires and qualitative methods. Women were randomly assigned to the experimental or control group. Department of Corrections, Psychological Service, PO Box 302457, North Harbour, AucklandNew Zealand, 1310, University of Auckland, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, FMHS Park Road, Grafton, AucklandNew Zealand, 1003, The Aga Khan University, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, PO Box 3027000100 GPO, NairobiKenya, SO16 5YA, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Books & Information Centre, No.