Early twenties, debilitating and uncontrollable back/hip pain flared up recently.

I had an MRI done that showed two herniated discs in my lower lumbar and the doctor at the "Pain Management Center" said for a short term solution I could get a steroid injection or use this device in conjunction with physical therapy.

I chose the latter. Looking forward to the first PT appointment. In the mean time, I'm on the fence about this little gizmo...

As a pain management device? No. As a kinky toy, yes.

The devices basically instigate "pins and needles" like feelings - or worse. They aren't entirely pleasant by themselves.

As I understand it the purpose of the TENS unit in pain management (as opposed to muscle stimulation/therapy) is that it introduces sensations other than the pain - and "gating" in nerves.

Which helps someone to stop focusing on an acute pain source, as the more you focus on a pain source the more you're aware of it, the more it hurts, etc.

Neurological "gating" introduces noise into the nerves, breaking up the signal causing the pain, allowing the user to defocus from the pain.

This is the same reason why BDSM practitioners often perform a "rub out" (shush) after a paddlin' or spankin' or what-have-you - as it introduces gating, which, frankly, is the best part.

Somebody say spankin'?

My friend had one in the early 90's. She has severe back problems. As I recall it wasn't much use, but they may be doing something better now and she didn't use it in conjunction with PT, so it be more effective that way.

Thanks for the info!