Instructions for the Medtronic TENS Unit

TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. The idea behind the TENS unit is to block pain messages by creating endorphins with electrical impulses. The leads coming from the control device allow small electric impulses to be sent through the skin (transcutaneous) to underlying nerves that are sending pain signals. The TENS unit is prescribed by doctors for patients to use as another method of relieving chronic or acute pain. There are different types of Medtronic TENS units, as Medtronic sold its TENS division to Empi. The devices, though, work in the same general manner.

Instructions

• 1

  Turn off the unit. Clean the skin area where the electrodes will be placed. Removing any excess dirt of skin oils will improve the connection between the leads and the area receiving therapy.

• 2

  Plug the electrodes into the TENS unit. Make sure the wires are plugged in all the way and are securely connected.

• 3

  Place the electrodes on cleaned skin. Your doctor will let you know where the best placement is for your pain management.

• 4

  Turn on the unit. Depending on the model, there will be either knobs or buttons to control the intensity of the electrical stimulation. Slowly increase the intensity until it reaches a level that works for you. Some devices will also allow users to control the frequency of the impulses, which is also controlled by a knob or a button. Set the frequency the same way the intensity was set.

• 5

  Turn off the device after the therapy and before removing the leads. Place the electrodes in the original packaging to preserve their stickiness. If the unit can is equipped with a rechargeable battery, plug it in so it is ready to go for next time.