Device for Pain Relief

Chronic pain can result from injury or almost any type of illness. When more conventional methods, such as medications and therapy, fail to control pain adequately, doctors may try pain relief devices, such as surgical implants or TENS units. Discuss all available pain relief treatment methods with your doctor to determine which one is best suited to your individual situation.

Surgical Implants

• Infusion pain pumps, or spinal drug delivery systems, deliver pain-relieving medications directly to the spinal cord where pain signals move to the brain. Spinal drug delivery systems use less medication than what a patient would need to take in pill form. Since less medication is used, patients usually experience less side effects than with oral painkillers. To place the spinal drug delivery system, the surgeon creates a pocket under the skin to hold the medicine pump. A catheter runs from the pump to the space around the spinal cord to deliver the drugs.

  Spinal cord stimulation implants transmit small electrical impulses to the spinal cord or other nerves to stop pain signals from traveling to the brain. Patients with stimulator implants control the impulses with a special remote control that can turn the stimulator on and off and adjust the intensity of the electrical current.

TENS Units

• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) units also use electrical impulses to relieve pain, but they are not placed directly in the patient's body. These devices are usually small and portable so you can take them with you on the go. You can use TENS units almost anywhere on your body to control pain. Pregnant women and patients with pacemakers should not use TENS units, however, as they pose potential health risks.

  TENS units hook to electrodes that adhere to your skin with special gels. The frequency and intensity of the electrical impulses can be changed on the unit itself, but you should always follow your doctor's recommendations regarding which settings to use. TENS therapy causes the brain to release endorphins, which act as natural pain relievers. In addition, the electrical stimulation of the nerves below the skin can block pain signals from reaching the brain. Some people experience skin irritation from the electrodes, but this usually subsides after a few uses. If skin irritation continues, talk to your doctor about changing your electrodes or the adhesive gel you use to see if those are responsible for the reaction. TENS therapy is most effective for short-term pain relief, according to WebMD.