TENS devices and Pacemakers

My back is going through a very ornery period. Sometimes I'm in so much pain, I can't walk. My doc has given me pain meds, muscles relaxers, anti-inflammation medication. Have been hearing a lot about TENS devices (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) and how helpful these devices are for things like back pain. So I ordered a device, and while reading the instructions, read it should only be used with pacemakers with my cardiologists' overseeing the settings. Since it's back pain, the electrodes would be placed on my lower back, not near my pacemaker. Does anyone have any experience using a TENS device?

4 Comments

TENS

by MillieNeon - 2017-12-31 01:57:59

My device is FDA approved.  I'm thinking that because I would be using it on my lower back it would be far enough away from the pacemaker. But I'll wait and ask my doc and PT. Thank you for your response.

Millie

by IAN MC - 2017-12-31 05:24:24

I'm sure that you will have Googled the studies that have been done looking at the ways in which TENS devices can  interact with pacemakers / ICD's.

There is absolutely no doubt that the electrical pulses created by the TENS  unit can be misinterpreted by your pacemaker as  cardiac events. This can lead to inhibition of pacing for bradycardia . In other words your pacemaker may stop working as it should. You could theoretically get total inhibition of pacing !

There is evidence that with ICD's the concurrent use of a TENS device may cause inappropriate firing of the device, it could theoretically shock you when you don't need it or fail to defibrillate you when you do

It is possible that the relatively short distance from lower back to pacemaker site will reduce the risks sufficiently , but I know what my decision would be . The fact that yours is FDA approved is irrelevant,

It is your decision at the end of the day but do look at the evidence first !

Ian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IAN

by MillieNeon - 2017-12-31 10:32:22

Wasn't aware of the studies. I mentioned the FDA approved because Robin was talking about it. One of the articles I read said that a cardiologist might be able to get the two devices to work together. So I was asking if anyone here had experience with that. Am not about to do anything on my own without speaking to my cardiologist. 

Robin

by MillieNeon - 2017-12-31 14:33:19

Wasn't at all offended by your asking if mine was FDA approved. Really sad I can use it, as my back really hurts today. Am tempted to use it anyway, but won't. Don't want to start the New Year with a stroke.

You know you're wired when...

You trust technology more than your heart.

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