Guest guest Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 FWIW, I just received my Ortho newsletter reporting that TENS was of no benefit for knees. The placebo group reported the same results as those who used the real thing. THis was for knees so I don't know if it extrapolates to hips but I would presume the same basic theory of electro stimulation underlies both uses. As with most studies, this one concludes that more research is needed. Based on the studies, I personally wouldn't spend money on it but I tend to be extremely skeptical of claims. http://www.orthosupersite.com/view.asp?rid=44402 On Oct 8, 2009, at 10:51 AM, aliceinboulder wrote: > I am thrilled to report that I just scheduled the THR for my right > hip (to match the left one) for 12/4. My first experience was so > positive that I feel much less anxious about this next one. My new > left hip (since June '09) has been getting a workout to prepare to > be the good hip for rehab, and my PT has already informed me I'm > going to work very hard after the second surgery so I can keep my > date with mountain trails next summer. > Also, my PT arranged for me to " rent " a TENS unit for a month to > help manage the pain in my entire right leg for the grinding of the > hip joint bones. If I like the unit after a month, I can " buy " it. > My insurance covers durable medical equipment (DME) like this 100 > percent, which amazes me. I wore it yesterday after a very busy day > of running around, and it knocked the pain level down quite a bit. > I'm going to try it on my sore shoulder and wrists (exacerbated by > the long months of using a walker). Sadly it didn't seem to help the > night time muscle spasms I sometimes get after a busy day. > Best to everyone! > Alice in Boulder > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 Alice, Have you tried transdermal Magnesium Oil on those tired muscles? You quite possibly could be deficient in magnesium if you are having spasms. Sasha -- Next THR scheduled!!! I am thrilled to report that I just scheduled the THR for my right hip (to match the left one) for 12/4. My first experience was so positive that I feel much less anxious about this next one. My new left hip (since June 09) has been getting a workout to prepare to be the good hip for rehab, and my PT has already informed me I'm going to work very hard after the second surgery so I can keep my date with mountain trails next summer. Also, my PT arranged for me to " rent " a TENS unit for a month to help manage the pain in my entire right leg for the grinding of the hip joint bones. If I like the unit after a month, I can " buy " it. My insurance covers durable medical equipment (DME) like this 100 percent, which amazes me. I wore it yesterday after a very busy day of running around, and it knocked the pain level down quite a bit. I'm going to try it on my sore shoulder and wrists (exacerbated by the long months of using a walker). Sadly it didn't seem to help the night time muscle spasms I sometimes get after a busy day. Best to everyone! Alice in Boulder ------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 Hi Alice, Good luck with your upcoming surgery. Those tens machines work great. I used to use one on my knee years ago, but can't use them any longer, because I have a neuro stimulator(works like a tens) inplanted in my back. Jeff ________________________________ From: aliceinboulder <aliceinboulder@...> Joint Replacement Sent: Thursday, October 8, 2009 1:51:47 PM Subject: Next THR scheduled!!! I am thrilled to report that I just scheduled the THR for my right hip (to match the left one) for 12/4. My first experience was so positive that I feel much less anxious about this next one. My new left hip (since June '09) has been getting a workout to prepare to be the good hip for rehab, and my PT has already informed me I'm going to work very hard after the second surgery so I can keep my date with mountain trails next summer. Also, my PT arranged for me to " rent " a TENS unit for a month to help manage the pain in my entire right leg for the grinding of the hip joint bones. If I like the unit after a month, I can " buy " it. My insurance covers durable medical equipment (DME) like this 100 percent, which amazes me. I wore it yesterday after a very busy day of running around, and it knocked the pain level down quite a bit. I'm going to try it on my sore shoulder and wrists (exacerbated by the long months of using a walker). Sadly it didn't seem to help the night time muscle spasms I sometimes get after a busy day. Best to everyone! Alice in Boulder ------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 I used a tens on my knees about 10 years ago and had great results from it for quite a while until I could no longer use it. I also used it quite successfully on my wrists. Don't know how may people were in this " study " and what the problems were but the results I and others that I know had were the opposite of that report. Jeff ________________________________ From: " jujulabee@... " <jujulabee@...> Joint Replacement Sent: Thursday, October 8, 2009 1:57:16 PM Subject: Re: Next THR scheduled!!! FWIW, I just received my Ortho newsletter reporting that TENS was of no benefit for knees. The placebo group reported the same results as those who used the real thing. THis was for knees so I don't know if it extrapolates to hips but I would presume the same basic theory of electro stimulation underlies both uses. As with most studies, this one concludes that more research is needed. Based on the studies, I personally wouldn't spend money on it but I tend to be extremely skeptical of claims. http://www.orthosupersite.com/view.asp?rid=44402 On Oct 8, 2009, at 10:51 AM, aliceinboulder wrote: > I am thrilled to report that I just scheduled the THR for my right > hip (to match the left one) for 12/4. My first experience was so > positive that I feel much less anxious about this next one. My new > left hip (since June '09) has been getting a workout to prepare to > be the good hip for rehab, and my PT has already informed me I'm > going to work very hard after the second surgery so I can keep my > date with mountain trails next summer. > Also, my PT arranged for me to " rent " a TENS unit for a month to > help manage the pain in my entire right leg for the grinding of the > hip joint bones. If I like the unit after a month, I can " buy " it. > My insurance covers durable medical equipment (DME) like this 100 > percent, which amazes me. I wore it yesterday after a very busy day > of running around, and it knocked the pain level down quite a bit. > I'm going to try it on my sore shoulder and wrists (exacerbated by > the long months of using a walker). Sadly it didn't seem to help the > night time muscle spasms I sometimes get after a busy day. > Best to everyone! > Alice in Boulder > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 Awww, I gotta respond to this! Your lurking in-group PT here, not Alisa, our esteemed moderator. Many of you have heard from me privately on one issue or another. I have " survived " two TKRs, two TSRs, a brachial plexus repair, and a pelvic fracture with an overlying abscess. TENS has been around a long time. The unit I now have for personal use can be used for TENS, muscle stimulation, OR interferential electrical stimulation, another modality for inflammation and pain. Yes, the electrical theories are the same. Yet we don't know why TENS will work for one person and not another, or in one situation and not another. A key factor is HOW you use it, the level of stimulation, the placement of the electrodes, and the length of time. Once we have set a comfortable rate and frequency and curve shape for each patient, I teach each person to adjust the intensity up to where it just " buzzes " or " stings " a little bit, then back it off a little. And then as the body accomodates during the usual 30 minute treatment time, to adjust it again, usually up, just like that, up to the sting, then back off. Many home units do *not* have the option for the therapist to go in and adjust the parameters of the current for each patient but the intensity is always adjustable on the outside of the unit. For me personally, TENS *did* work for shoulder, neck, back pain. Useless for knee pain, heel fracture pain, and anything on the trunk or face such abdominal surgical incisions, C-section incision. I use a muscle stimulation mode when it's just muscle pain. Interferential worked best on the shoulder or knee joints. As for the leg cramps, I wouldn't expect it to help there, but if eating a banana (more potassium) didn't work, then I sure would try to get in a little more magnesium, perhaps with the transdermal oil. Never tried that, don't know. Hope this helps some of you! Annie Pal, BSPT in South Carolina On Thu, Oct 8, 2009 at 1:57 PM, <jujulabee@...> wrote: > FWIW, I just received my Ortho newsletter reporting that TENS was of > no benefit for knees. The placebo group reported the same results as > those who used the real thing. > > THis was for knees so I don't know if it extrapolates to hips but I > would presume the same basic theory of electro stimulation underlies > both uses. > > As with most studies, this one concludes that more research is needed. > > Based on the studies, I personally wouldn't spend money on it but I > tend to be extremely skeptical of claims. > > http://www.orthosupersite.com/view.asp?rid=44402 > > On Oct 8, 2009, at 10:51 AM, aliceinboulder wrote: > > > I am thrilled to report that I just scheduled the THR for my right > > hip (to match the left one) for 12/4. My first experience was so > > positive that I feel much less anxious about this next one. My new > > left hip (since June '09) has been getting a workout to prepare to > > be the good hip for rehab, and my PT has already informed me I'm > > going to work very hard after the second surgery so I can keep my > > date with mountain trails next summer. > > Also, my PT arranged for me to " rent " a TENS unit for a month to > > help manage the pain in my entire right leg for the grinding of the > > hip joint bones. If I like the unit after a month, I can " buy " it. > > My insurance covers durable medical equipment (DME) like this 100 > > percent, which amazes me. I wore it yesterday after a very busy day > > of running around, and it knocked the pain level down quite a bit. > > I'm going to try it on my sore shoulder and wrists (exacerbated by > > the long months of using a walker). Sadly it didn't seem to help the > > night time muscle spasms I sometimes get after a busy day. > > Best to everyone! > > Alice in Boulder > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 Good thing it's not costing me anything. > > > I am thrilled to report that I just scheduled the THR for my right > > hip (to match the left one) for 12/4. My first experience was so > > positive that I feel much less anxious about this next one. My new > > left hip (since June '09) has been getting a workout to prepare to > > be the good hip for rehab, and my PT has already informed me I'm > > going to work very hard after the second surgery so I can keep my > > date with mountain trails next summer. > > Also, my PT arranged for me to " rent " a TENS unit for a month to > > help manage the pain in my entire right leg for the grinding of the > > hip joint bones. If I like the unit after a month, I can " buy " it. > > My insurance covers durable medical equipment (DME) like this 100 > > percent, which amazes me. I wore it yesterday after a very busy day > > of running around, and it knocked the pain level down quite a bit. > > I'm going to try it on my sore shoulder and wrists (exacerbated by > > the long months of using a walker). Sadly it didn't seem to help the > > night time muscle spasms I sometimes get after a busy day. > > Best to everyone! > > Alice in Boulder > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 I didn't know you could get magnesium oil. I do take a magnesium supplement, which may or may not help. After a hard walking day, nothing much helps but drugs. Darn! Alice > > Alice, > Have you tried transdermal Magnesium Oil on those tired muscles? You quite > possibly could be deficient in magnesium if you are having spasms. > Sasha > > -- Next THR scheduled!!! > > I am thrilled to report that I just scheduled the THR for my right hip (to > match the left one) for 12/4. My first experience was so positive that I > feel much less anxious about this next one. My new left hip (since June > 09) has been getting a workout to prepare to be the good hip for rehab, and > my PT has already informed me I'm going to work very hard after the second > surgery so I can keep my date with mountain trails next summer. > Also, my PT arranged for me to " rent " a TENS unit for a month to help manage > the pain in my entire right leg for the grinding of the hip joint bones. If > I like the unit after a month, I can " buy " it. My insurance covers durable > medical equipment (DME) like this 100 percent, which amazes me. I wore it > yesterday after a very busy day of running around, and it knocked the pain > level down quite a bit. I'm going to try it on my sore shoulder and wrists > (exacerbated by the long months of using a walker). Sadly it didn't seem to > help the night time muscle spasms I sometimes get after a busy day. > Best to everyone! > Alice in Boulder > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 Thanks for the info. I had a class on the TENS, which taught us where to put the electrodes and how to modulate the current. I've always had great results with electro stim, so I'm hopeful about this. Even if it only takes the top layer of pain off the hip (so far, so good), I'm grateful. I'm going to try it on my left shoulder tomorrow. Alice in Boulder > > > > > I am thrilled to report that I just scheduled the THR for my right > > > hip (to match the left one) for 12/4. My first experience was so > > > positive that I feel much less anxious about this next one. My new > > > left hip (since June '09) has been getting a workout to prepare to > > > be the good hip for rehab, and my PT has already informed me I'm > > > going to work very hard after the second surgery so I can keep my > > > date with mountain trails next summer. > > > Also, my PT arranged for me to " rent " a TENS unit for a month to > > > help manage the pain in my entire right leg for the grinding of the > > > hip joint bones. If I like the unit after a month, I can " buy " it. > > > My insurance covers durable medical equipment (DME) like this 100 > > > percent, which amazes me. I wore it yesterday after a very busy day > > > of running around, and it knocked the pain level down quite a bit. > > > I'm going to try it on my sore shoulder and wrists (exacerbated by > > > the long months of using a walker). Sadly it didn't seem to help the > > > night time muscle spasms I sometimes get after a busy day. > > > Best to everyone! > > > Alice in Boulder > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 You're seriously bionic, aren't you? Thanks for your support! Alice > > Hi Alice, > Good luck with your upcoming surgery. > Those tens machines work great. I used to use one on my knee years ago, but can't use them any longer, because I have a neuro stimulator(works like a tens) inplanted in my back. > Jeff > > > > > ________________________________ > From: aliceinboulder <aliceinboulder@...> > Joint Replacement > Sent: Thursday, October 8, 2009 1:51:47 PM > Subject: Next THR scheduled!!! > > I am thrilled to report that I just scheduled the THR for my right hip (to match the left one) for 12/4. My first experience was so positive that I feel much less anxious about this next one. My new left hip (since June '09) has been getting a workout to prepare to be the good hip for rehab, and my PT has already informed me I'm going to work very hard after the second surgery so I can keep my date with mountain trails next summer. > Also, my PT arranged for me to " rent " a TENS unit for a month to help manage the pain in my entire right leg for the grinding of the hip joint bones. If I like the unit after a month, I can " buy " it. My insurance covers durable medical equipment (DME) like this 100 percent, which amazes me. I wore it yesterday after a very busy day of running around, and it knocked the pain level down quite a bit. I'm going to try it on my sore shoulder and wrists (exacerbated by the long months of using a walker). Sadly it didn't seem to help the night time muscle spasms I sometimes get after a busy day. > Best to everyone! > Alice in Boulder > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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