Thank you to OMRON Healthcare, Inc. for sponsoring this post. All opinions are mine alone.  Enjoy this post on using an OMRON TENS Unit for pain relief #HealthcareSelfcare #Arthritis #ArthritisAwarenessMonth

May is arthritis awareness month, so it is the perfect time to talk about pain management! Today, we are sharing a post on how to use an OMRON TENS Unit for pain relief.

I started using the OMRON Max Power Relief TENS device for knee and elbow pain. I want to share my experience with you because I know many of our readers suffer from chronic pain also.

On Chemistry Cachet, we love sharing science based tips for cleaning, skincare, gardening, and health. We also love sharing pain management tips to help you! One of the most common emails we receive is about chronic pain, and also information about devices I use for arthritis and pain.

Along with managing arthritic pain, I am also managing knee surgery pain and recovery. It is the perfect time to try out pain management therapies at home.

Let’s get started!

How To Use An OMRON TENS Unit For Pain Relief

With May being arthritis awareness month, something very prevalent in my own life, this month can also remind us of all types of chronic pain. Millions of American suffer from chronic and acute pain! Recent statistics from the Gallup-Palmer College of Chiropractic Annual Study of Americans showed that more than 78% of these individuals are seeking drug-free pain management options.

Another study from the CDC says that chronic and acute pain impacts nearly 70 million Americans, and arthritis effects over 54 million adults in the United States. Arthritis cases rise as people get older, but it can start at any age!

I was 10 years old when I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, so for 23 years chronic pain has been part of my life. I love trying new things and methods to see what can help pain! There have been dozens of methods I have used over the years, but a TENS unit has been one of the most beneficial.

What is a TENS Device?

TENS stands for transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation. TENS is a drug-free pain therapy which has been administered by physical therapists for over 40 years to alleviate chronic, acute and arthritic pain. I first learned about a TENS unit when I started physical therapy 13 years ago for arthritic pain in my knee. If you have ever done physical therapy for something, you may have used a TENS machine too.

TENS technology works by sending stimulating pulses across the surface of the skin and along nerve strands. Scientific research suggests that TENS may help block pain signals from reaching the brain, triggering the body to release endorphins which act as natural painkillers, and also improves blood circulation. While this therapy had only been available in healthcare professional’s offices previously, OMRON was the first to develop FDA-cleared TENS devices for use at-home.

This is why I was so excited to try out OMRON brand for you.

There are two different OMRON TENS devices I have been using. First, I am going to share a little bit about the Max Power Relief TENS device because it is very versatile for different areas of the body. 

Max Power Relief TENS Device

On Monday, I shared an instagram post about starting the Max Power Relief TENS device for arthritic pain in my elbow. The OMRON Max Power Relief TENS device is one of OMRON’s most versatile TENS units for relief of achy, stiff or sore muscle and joint pain in multiple body parts. It has six pre-set body pain modes for shoulder, lower back, arm, foot, leg and joints, along with three massage-like modes. Each of these pain modes is customizable with 15 adjustable levels of intensity to relieve pain.

Max Power Relief features a large display screen and easy-to-use controls. The unit includes one pair of OMRON Long Life Pads that are reusable up to 150 times!

Features I Love About The Max Power Relief

I have used many different devices the last 10 years or so, so I have experience with how different things are set up. The features on this unit were fantastic. 

This is what I loved most:

• Easy to use buttons which are also easy to read
• Battery operated; no charger needed
• Large pads that cover a larger area of the skin
• Easy to adjust intensity levels which you can move up or down during session
• More modes like joint specific, massage, or specific parts of the body (you can actually choose back, arm, foot, leg)
• Light weight, but sturdy quality
• Sticky pads, but easy to move around
• Long cords that attach to pads so you can easily hold device from any area
• Stronger intensity for large areas (you can feel it deeper)

These are the features I have enjoyed this week! Like I said, I have tried many different options, but the features on this one really stood out. It is very good quality.

How The OMRON Max Power Relief TENS Unit Helped Arthritic Pain 

After using this device for one week, I want to share with you my results. I have used this specifically on my elbow and also use it on my knee (be sure to read down further for details on the knee specific device, Focus TENS Therapy for Knee).

I am surprised how well it helped the aching in my elbow joint. I position the pads like my doctor recommended above and below the joints for 15 minutes a day. I have it set to the 5 intensity on the joint mode. The pulsing starts low, then goes high, but then back to low on joint mode. After using it, my elbow felt immediately better! After a full week of using it everyday, I am having so much less pain. One of the biggest problems I have with arthritis in the elbow is aching throughout the day, but this had helped that significantly. 

Each morning after I exercise, I attach this TENS device to my elbow for a cool down. 

They were using TENS therapy while I was in PT after surgery on my knee, but I have recently been doing PT from home. So, I am also using this device on my knee that had surgery. I position it the same way above and below the joint for 15 minutes on intensity 7. It has been fantastic for the pain after doing PT exercises! I am also having less pain when I walk! It has also helped the muscle aches around the joint this week. I will continue to use this daily for my knee. 

There is another device I am starting to use now that my knee bends better, and this is specific for knees!

 Focus TENS Therapy for Knee 

This device is also TENS technology, but it is worn specifically around the knee area. The Focus TENS Therapy for Knee is a wireless TENS device that delivers proven and effective TENS technology to alleviate pain associated with sore or aching muscles of the lower leg due to strain from exercise or normal household work activities.

I know so many people who suffer from chronic knee pain! My husband has osteoarthritic pain in his knees from wear and tear, so I was excited to learn more about this particular TENS unit!

The Focus TENS Therapy for Knee uses Sweep Waveform Therapy to alleviate chronic, acute and arthritic knee pain, stiffness and discomfort in the muscles and joints. It has a sleek, wireless design for on-the-go relief, and can easily fit into a bag, purse, suitcase, or even a briefcase. 

Focus TENS Therapy for Knee is customizable to address different personal preferences and pain levels. Users can select from one of 20 intensity levels for tailored drug-free pain treatment. It comes in two sizes, medium and large, to fit different sizes of knees.

The best part about this device is it is designed as a wearable and wireless TENS unit, so you can wear it while performing normal daily activities (like walking with your toddler lol) for TENS treatment. The included self-adhesive knee pads are reusable up to 30 times, with the option to purchase additional pads.

Features I Love About It:

I have never used a TENS machine like this you can wear while you do things, so this was really neat to check out. Here are some things I loved about it:

• This device is very light weight
• Easy to use buttons to go up or down in intensity
• 20 different intensity levels
• Easy to adjust around your knee
• Comfortable to wear while you move around!

If your biggest issue is knee pain while you do things around your home, this is an awesome unit to look at!

After dealing with knee surgery, I am amazed how unique the knee joint actually is! Having a TENS device made specifically for the knee is a great option.

I am looking forward to continuing this therapy for chronic pain, and I hope this post has been helpful for you too! With so many options available, it can be hard to know what works and what doesn’t. I am so glad to share with you the things that work for me! Be sure to follow us on instagram for more tips like this.