Pain Relief Without Medication
July 1st, 2011 by christina
In the exciting world of biofeedback, there are new and improved products that can help you live a better life without drugs and surgeries. One of the most exciting is the Rhythm Touch TENS unit. A tens unit is a small portable device that can be used to treat chronic pain or reduce pain during physical therapy. Often pain is a sign that something is wrong. However many degenerative diseases can create pain that makes it difficult to function in a normal way. Additionally, when one is trying to rehabilitate a muscle or joint after surgery, pain can interfere with a patient’s ability to perform the exercises that will lead to recovery.
The Rhythm Touch tens unit is a battery powered machine sends a mild electric shock through an electrode to a certain part of the body. Why would you want to shock yourself if you are already in pain? It just so happens that this mild electrical impulse can help to block your pain signals. For chronic pain sufferers, the Rhythm Touch can provide relief from pain for several hours after a session. If the machine does not remove all sensation of pain, it will often reduce the severity of pain enough to allow the patient to reduce their levels of pain medication. In some cases, patients will carry their Rhythm Touch with them and turn it on and off as needed.
I know this sounds too good to be true, but there is science behind the way the Rhythm Touch works. The first theory is the Gate Theory. This theory hypothesizes that the nerves the body can carry only one type of signal at a time. Pain signals are carried along the same nerves that carry the sensation of vibration. By over stimulating the nerves with electric current, the brain will become confused. Instead of a pain message, your brain will receive a vibration message.
The second theory is the Endorphin theory. This theory suggests that the electrical impulses of the Rhythm Touch will release the body’s own endorphins which will minimize the experience of pain.
Whatever the mechanism of the pain relief, this unit works. It can help with chronic pain such as arthritis or fibromyalgia. It can also relieve short term pain associated with rehabilitation after injury. The units can treat larger areas such as the back or shoulder but can also be used on smaller areas such as a knee or elbow. Imagine being pain free and drug free at the same time. It’s like a miracle.
