Frequently Asked Questions About Electrotherapy
Q: What is home electrotherapy?
A: Home electrotherapy is pain therapy without drugs that your doctor prescribes and you administer at home. It uses a small device to produce a small electrical current. The current is applied to the painful area through electrodes which adhere to the skin.
Q: Is it comfortable?
A: YES! It is very comfortable. It feels like a tingling, massaging sensation that helps to relieve the pain.
Q: How does it work?
A: Electrotherapy units work several ways. They block the pain signals at the site from going to the brain. They may also help the body produce natural painkillers called endorphins, which may block the perception of pain. A patient can typically expect to see a reduction of pain, reduction of muscle spasms, and (depending on the unit) reduced swelling in the affected area.
Q: Are there any dangerous side effects?
A: NO! Unlike medication, this pain therapy is not ingested into the body and has none of the damaging internal side effects that medication may have.
Q: Will it cure my condition?
A: Electrotherapy is not designed to be a cure. It is a very effective tool to control your pain so you can be more comfortable and function better.
Q: Do I have to lie down to use this?
A: No. It is small and portable. A treatment may be performed while you are doing the activities that may currently be painful.
Q: Do I need a prescription?
A: Yes. Our units are an FDA regulated class II device requiring a prescription from a licensed provider.
Q: Will my insurance pay for this?
A: In most cases all or a significant portion is covered by your insurance plan.
Most Common Types of Electrotherapy Your Doctor May Prescribe
TENS Unit
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is a drug-free method of relieving chronic pain. A TENS device sends electrical impulses through the electrodes placed on or near the painful site to decrease the perception of pain. This reduces pain by inhibiting the transmission of afferent pain nerve impulses and / or stimulating the release of endorphins.
Interferential Stimulation
Interferential (IF) current is essentially a deeper form of TENS, delivering 50 times more energy into the tissues than a TENS unit. IF electrical stimulation effectively delivers current deep into the tissues as well as at the surface of the skin. Thus, with IF stimulation, current perfuses to greater depths and over a larger volume of tissue than other forms of electrical therapy. IF current crosses the skin with greater ease often resulting in greater patient comfort during stimulation.
Neuro-muscle Stimulation
NMS (Neuro-muscle stimulation) and EMS (Electro-muscle stimulation) are used to prevent or reduce muscle atrophy. This type of stimulation is characterized by a low volt current targeted to stimulate motor nerves to cause a muscle contraction. EMS uses an outside electrical source that stimulates the nerves to send signals to your muscle to expand and contract. Common uses include muscle re-education, muscle strengthening, muscle spasm reduction, and muscle disuse atrophy reduction.
Other Types of Electrotherapy Your Doctor May Prescribe
Galvanic Stimulation
Galvanic stimulators are most useful in acute injuries associated with major tissue trauma with bleeding or swelling.
Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation
CES treats anxiety, depression, and/or insomnia with microcurrent which can help induce a pleasant, relaxed feeling of well being.
Additional Pain Management Products Cervical Home Traction Cervical Traction relieves pressure by stretching the components of the cervical spine and also expands the intervertebral joint space. This results in a break in the pain cycle, reduction in pain medications, and a quicker return to work or social activities. Lumbar Home Traction Lumbar Traction is effective in pain relief from numerous causes of back pain including herniated disc, postcompression fracture, and spinal nerve impingement / swelling. Lumbar traction can help speed recovery time from back related injury.
