Anyone using those peel& stick tens units for sciatica?

[irisblue]

I woke way too early this am, I moved in my sleep & irritated my right pelvis then back of my right leg. The jolt of pain woke me , & is still present now.

Ugh, next life, I'm not chosing a family with arthritis.

[captain queeg]

1. I have. I tend to overdo it. If you use it all the time they lose effectiveness.

But works great for awhile.

[irisblue]

2. Thx. I'd like to stand longer then 5 minutes doing the dishes.

[captain queeg]

3. If you are more disciplined than me I think you'll like it

Now you got me wondering where my unit is. I moved a couple times since I last used it. Had back surgery 4 years ago and I don’t get sciatica anymore, though my back does get sore.

[SheltieLover]

4. No but chiro well versed in Asian medicine used to tape feet

Doc told me in China, people stick an acupuncture needle in little part of foot on outside that sticks out a bit. They walk around that way for days in sandles.

As that wasn't an option, doc used waterproof white medical tape to tape that end of the meridian.

There is a specific way to tape them, in an upward motion, with 3 layers of tape. Leave in place 3-4 days.

Likely lots of videos on the web.

I hope you feel better!

[irisblue]

5. I've had acupuncture for this problem before, the tape info is new tho

Thx

[FarPoint]

6. I have sciatic flair up right now...

I think the cause it my bed ...I ordered a new Dream-cloud bed that should arrive by end of week...

If I sit in my work/home office chair I get relief and more mobility....


Any pain management suggestions?

[irisblue]

7. I have not had a Dr see me in several years. I am a terrible patient

I am doing a big knee sponge in bed, 4 inch foam pillow topper, a heating pad, ibuprofen with breakfast.
Stretches, cussing, breathing into & out the pain while doing guided imagery mediation, massage unit.

I have rolled a wash cloth up, & put it in the most painful spot, then slept on that, in hopes that the external pressure would help.
The back of the leg tingling& twitching gets worse if I stand too long, so I stand till the pain forces me to sit.

More cussing.

Maybe some of those will help you


edited to add, I also started changing my food intake, thinking less adipose tissue, less joint pressure. Yes, a diet

[FarPoint]

8. I am utilizing much of what you said...

I have a large heating blanket...I believe I need to rest supine/ more flat with a lumbar pillow...then elevation under knees..use even/level pillow...I have no twitching....just sharp stabs, anxiety with walking steps ....See it was for months just on my right side...then a few days...the right is normal now and the left flared up...


My next attempt.
.
Thinking about steroid shots.????

[irisblue]

9. I had steroid injections in the 2007-2009 yrs, it really did help.

I was working at a hospital chain, an orthopedic surgeon, who I knew well did the injection under x-ray guidance, for me it was effective for 9 ish months.

[FarPoint]

11. Thank you for the feedback

It sure helps me make plans!

[WyLoochka]

10. Use it for shoulder

Had a rotator cuff tear a couple years ago. Worked extensively with physical therapists for months, had two steroid shots. The phys therapist kept saying you have to move the muscles to get healing going move move move. It does help - the exercises, movement and their manipulation but one only has so many hours in the day to move via PT. It was still excruciatingly painful after four months.

I took to using a tens device - deep muscle massager. A cheap peel and stick one. I thought it might help move the injured parts of my shoulder so healing would take place. It did! Pain free full range movement was restored to my shoulder in about 4 weeks. I used it extensively and still do. I bought some electrode gel (Spectra Gel) to conduct for when the sticky ran out on the pads so I wouldn't have to buy so many pads.

The unit goes off after 80 minutes. I use it the full 80 minutes. I've used it on my neck, on a sore Achilles tendon and an injury to a tendon attached to one of my toes. The secret seems to be to use it for 60-80 minutes, several times a day. I often fall asleep with it on

[Paha Sapa]

12. Just a thought.

A lot of back and leg (frankly all over) pain that I have can be alleviated by a massage gun. I don't use a gun, but I have found the Wahl massager works very well for me. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Wahl-Deep-Tissue-Percussion-Therapeutic-Handheld-Massager-Variable-Intensity-Deep-Kneading-Therapeutic-Massage-for-Full-Body/481741938 Most of my pain is from tight muscles that tweak my back to a side. I find the sorest thing and do a small circular motion until it begins to itch a little. Later I have very much diminished pain. Might be worth a shot. A reasonably inexpensive solution that works wonders for me.

[Bayard]

14. I'm doing a combination now

Orthopedic surgeon, chiropractor, physical therapy (dry needling prescribed by ortho). Chiro is for hip and back grumbling. Ortho and PT is for elbow tendonitis.

I've had sciatica off and on, from an old hamstring injury in my running days. Stretching helps as much as anything, particularly lowering your heel/pulling your toes up, to stretch the whole leg.

[MomInTheCrowd]

15. Yes. Keeps me sane. Steroids didn't work.

My serious nerve pain from left side of S1 to top of femur , from scoliosis , has dogged me since pre Covid. Finally got in with a specialist and tried the steroid shot. Nothing. Used the tens unit to walk into and out of the Grand Canyon in 1 day.

So thankful for the unit.

I agree with the post saying not to overuse only because it becomes less effective. I take a few days off in between heavy usage- like a long hike.

Súper simple to use. Move the stickies around to find ‘your spot(s)’.

[MLAA]

16. Husband suffered from extreme, debilitating sciatica pain.

Tried everything: Dr, PT, medical massage, even acupuncture. Nothing helped. Then I thought of one last thing to try. Went to a used sports equipment store and bought a recumbent exercise bike. That was 4 years ago. No pain since. Just does it for 15 mins a one or two times a week for maintenance. Loosened up whatever needed loosening 🙂.
Wishing you the best.

[Warpy]

17. No known RA in my family but I got it anyway

I've used a TENS for years for back spasms and it works remarkably well. I can still feel them going on, but the discomfort is reduced to where I can function, and that's a great deal for me.

These guys are cheesy as hell but they give great information on unit types and electrode placement. They also have videos that give PT exercises to decrease the pain: