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Re: Tried TENS Unit for My Limb Movements
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 2:11 pm
by M.D.Hosehead
This is great news!
Just wondering: Is the EMG likely to give answers, or more like a shot in the dark?
Suppose the EMG verifies abnormal nerve conduction. Would that change your treatment options? I'm just wondering whether it's worth the pain since you're just now learning how to use the TENS and whether it's effective. I don't know the answers, but I think I would ask my neurologist about it.
Re: Tried TENS Unit for My Limb Movements
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 3:06 pm
by kteague
Thanks to all of you for your encouraging words and for hoping with me.
MD Hosehead, good questions for me to think about. From what I've heard, those tests are not to be entered into lightly. The doctor ordering the tests said that this might (no guarantee) provide a piece of useful information, but would not hold all the answers to knowing if my PLMD is related to my back. I think the best I was hoping for is some bit of confirmation in my mind that me considering going off the dopamine agonists is reasonable. In regards to the TENS Unit, I wonder if any info gained from the EMG would be useful in placing the electrodes in a more effective location? Guess I've got a lot to think about before next Thursday.
Re: Tried TENS Unit for My Limb Movements
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 5:34 pm
by Hose_Head
Does one need a prescription to buy a tens unit?
Re: Tried TENS Unit for My Limb Movements
Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 5:31 am
by kteague
Hose-head, not sure. Was hoping someone would answer that. But either way, places like ebay don't always follow the same rules as the medical community.
Last night I went to bed with the unit on. Woke up 4.5 hours later for potty run, no sign of limb movements on wakeup, no pain in back or legs.
I'm about to let myself get excited.
Re: Tried TENS Unit for My Limb Movements
Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 6:37 am
by Julie
Kathy - have you considered acupuncture or accupressure? The 'points' used might have some similarity to what's used when EMG's are given (I spent a lot of time translating those to paper for a neurologist long ago!).
Re: Tried TENS Unit for My Limb Movements
Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 7:59 am
by OutaSync
Kathy,
My unit came with two rechargeable batteries and a recharger. They did warn me not to use any other batteries in it. I've slept with it when it got dislodged on my back and all I got was a little tingly shock and that was when my pads were pretty worn out. Other than that, I don't see why it couldn't be worn all night. What's another set of wires to a person with sleep disorders?
Bev
Re: Tried TENS Unit for My Limb Movements
Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 8:20 am
by kteague
Julie wrote:Kathy - have you considered acupuncture or accupressure? The 'points' used might have some similarity to what's used when EMG's are given (I spent a lot of time translating those to paper for a neurologist long ago!).
No I haven't, but have been curious. Maybe that's another thing for me to look into.
Re: Tried TENS Unit for My Limb Movements
Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 9:05 am
by SleepingUgly
I'm about to get excited for you too!!
Re: Tried TENS Unit for My Limb Movements
Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 9:20 am
by -SWS
Hose_Head wrote:Does one need a prescription to buy a tens unit?
Not that I'm aware of, Hosehead. I bought mine on Amazon.com without a prescription. However, I bought mine out-of-pocket. I think a prescription for a TENS/EMS unit might very well be standard when insurance coverage enters the picture.
kteague wrote: Last night I went to bed with the unit on. Woke up 4.5 hours later for potty run, no sign of limb movements on wakeup, no pain in back or legs.
I'm about to let myself get excited.
Re: Tried TENS Unit for My Limb Movements
Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 9:40 am
by KatieW
kteague wrote:Julie wrote:Kathy - have you considered acupuncture or accupressure? The 'points' used might have some similarity to what's used when EMG's are given (I spent a lot of time translating those to paper for a neurologist long ago!).
No I haven't, but have been curious. Maybe that's another thing for me to look into.
Kathy, I had a very good acupuncturist when I was in Seattle. Like any health care provider though, they vary in experience and skill. Mine was a trained in China as a Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor and also Western Medicine. He came to the US to teach acupuncture at the Seattle Institute of Acupuncture, then opened his own practice. If you have a acupuncture school in your city, check with them to find out who is the best trained and most experienced.
Re: Tried TENS Unit for My Limb Movements
Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 10:06 am
by ozij
SleepingUgly wrote:I'm about to get excited for you too!!
Me too Kathy. That sounds soooo good!
Re: Tried TENS Unit for My Limb Movements
Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 10:13 am
by M.D.Hosehead
kteague wrote:
Last night I went to bed with the unit on. Woke up 4.5 hours later for potty run, no sign of limb movements on wakeup, no pain in back or legs.
I'm about to let myself get excited.
WOW!
Re: Tried TENS Unit for My Limb Movements
Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 10:41 am
by tony72
So Well wrote:What about RLS?
I do a 20-minute soaking of my feet in hot water every night (thanks to a suggestion by Kathy) and get excellent relief of RLS. I am a big guy with big feet and it takes a big container of hot water - very inconvenient and heats me up during the summer. A TENS unit sounds more convenient. Would it be as good as the foot soaks?
so wel,arent you too young to have rls?
Re: Tried TENS Unit for My Limb Movements
Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 1:14 pm
by JohnBFisher
Ditto on crossed fingers. I know how bad it can be. When I've had a lot of stress (of whatever type), I start having problems with both PLMD and cramping. During my next to last sleep study the sleep tech had the chance to see one of my calves cramp up. It cramped so tightly it went concave. She was amazed that anyone could have cramping that severe. So, I do understand and pray you will find continued relief.
Here's hoping!!
Re: Tried TENS Unit for My Limb Movements
Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 1:55 pm
by LoQ
-SWS wrote:Hello, Kathy. Several months ago I bought a combination TENS/EMS unit on Amazon.com for my trigeminal neuralgia condition. So far it seems to help. My wife ended up using the TENS/EMS unit for her variety of somewhat ordinary muscle and joint type pains. She loves the relief that TENS/EMS unit provides as well. We pay for TENS/EMS supplies out-of-pocket, so we purchased a bulk supply of TENS/EMS pads on Amazon at a reasonable cost. The pads, of course, can each be reused several times before discarding---typically 4 or 5 uses for us.
I'm glad you slept well last night... Please let us all know if your TENS unit continues to provide you with a means to sleep despite PLMD. Good luck with your most interesting and encouraging experiment!
This is what we purchased:
http://www.amazon.com/LGMedSupply-LG-8T ... 789&sr=8-7
-and-
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss? ... ds&x=0&y=0
(we bought the cheapest 40-pack of 2x2 pads---at that time---having good consumer reviews)
I noticed that the one you got has 8 electrodes/pads and some of the other units have only 4. Under what circumstances would you need 8 instead of 4?