Pain Relief

Drug Free Pain Relief with Electrotherapy

Much has been written about potentially life threatening adverse effects linked to a number of pain killers pain relieving pharmacological drugs (i.e. pain killing medication = pain killer). It is not surprising therefore, that many people who suffer chronic pain and prolonged discomfort are turning to non pharmacological alternatives for pain relief. Electrotherapy devices can be as effective in pain relief as medication, however, pain relief with electrotherapy carries an extra bonus of being free of frug related side effects. Most commonly used electrotherapy devices for pain relief are Tens machines, interferential therapy machines, high frequency tone therapy machines, infrared heat therapy devices and phototherapy lasers. 

Drug free pain relief can be achieved in many different ways. Alternative therapy practitioners, such as osteopaths, chiropractors and physiotherapists can offer valuable and specialised advice to people wishing to reduce their intake of painkillers. Often simple methods, such as application of heat or warmth can be effective and helpful (i.e. Beurer Therapeutic Heat Pads, Beurer Heating Pads for Neck, Back and Abdomen, Beurer Foot Warmers, Thermotex Infrared Heat Therapy). However, please note that experts advise that people do not stop pain relieving medication without a prior consultation with their doctor.

In this short introduction to Drug Free Pain Relief with Electrotherapy we list a number of different ways to address pain without medication or alongside medication by using diverse medical electrotherapy devices. These drug free pain relief methods are as follows: 

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

Acupuncture

Interferential Therapy

High Frequency Tone Therapy

Far Infrared Heat Therapy 

Laser Phototherapy 

TENS - Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) has been designed to stimulate sensory nerve endings in order to decrease perception of pain. The stimulus blocks pain signals passing along the nerves to the central nervous system. TENS stimulus also stimulates production of endorphins - naturally produced chemical substances that change sensory perception. TENS does not cure physiological conditions. TENS merely helps to control the perception of pain by stimulating sensory nerve endings, which blocks pain signals and by stimulating endorphin production for more normalised sympathetic function. Stimulation of the nerve fibres with mild electrical impulses can modify pre-existing sensations and change our perception of discomfort and pain. TENS stimulation is characterised by biphasic current and user selectable pulse width and pulse rate.

Conditions that respond to TENS include the following:

Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Post Operative Pain, Post Amputation Pain, Back Pain, Lumbago, Sciatica, Whiplash, Sports Injuries, Neuralgia, Skeletal Pains, Muscle Aches, General Pain, Cancer Pain, Period Pain, Labour Pain, Tension and Travel Sickness.

Tens machines are VAT exempt to people with chronic conditions. VAT Declaration can be completed online in our Online Shop at the time of purchase.

VAT exemption does not apply to Tens machines for use during childbirth.  

Tens machines on Win Health website:

• Cefaly - novel TENS forehead band for migraines and headaches  
• Neurotrac TENS - dual channel Tens machine     
• Neurotrac Labour TENS - Tens machine for use during childbirth  
• Beurer TENS with EMS and Massager  
• Touch TENS - dual channel Tens Machine  
• MamaTens Maternity TENS - modern dual channel Tens machine for use during labour  
• Ova Period Pain Reliever - Tens machine especially designed to help women cope with menstruation related pains and cramps      

Highly recommended fantastic guide on how to use TENS for best relief of chronic pain - King's Guide to TENS - can be purchased here    

Refer to Muscle Assessment and Muscle Rehabilitation Page for information about neuromuscular stimulators with pain relief and muscle rehabilitation function.  

Acupuncture

The traditional Chinese acupuncture involved insertion of thin needles into the skin over specific points on the body with the purpose of re-balancing the flow of vital energy along the body's energy pathways. Acupuncture therapy alters body's inner energy flow and realigns the body's electrical fields, helping to normalise cellular processes and organ functions, relieve pain and improve healing.     

In the modern healthcare, acupuncture maintains its important position as one of the most popular arms of alternative medicine backed by a growing wealth of clinical evidence of proven efficacy and safety. Today's acupuncturists use not only fine needles to stimulate acupuncture points, but also mild electrical currents and infrared laser light to stimulate acupuncture points for analgesia and pain relief, healing and restoration of health. Such non-invasive needle free acupuncture is painless and non-traumatic. Non-invasive needle free acupuncture can be performed with devices such as cold lasers or piezo-electric Tens pens and micro current acupuncture probes.

Acupuncture stimulates release of endogenous biochemical compounds - endorphins, dynorphins and enkephalins - that have 'morphine like' efficacy in decreasing the sensation of pain. These compounds are released at different levels of  human nervous system and act as natural endogenous painkillers that help us to better tolerate pain and experience a feeling of well-being. Endorphins are released in the brain, whilst dynorphins and enkephalins are released in the spinal cord.

Tens acupuncture machines are VAT exempt to people with chronic conditions. VAT Declaration can be completed online in our Online Shop at the time of purchase.

The following Tens Acupuncture devices can be found on Win Health website:

• Neurotrac TENS with Acustim - dual channel Tens machine with acupuncture probe  
• PainGone TENS Pen - piezoelectric pain relief device  

Highly recommended easy to follow guide for everyone using electrotherapy acupuncture devices - King's Guide to Non-Invasive Acupuncture - can be purchased here      

Inteferential Therapy

Interferential therapy is often described as ‘deep TENS’. Interferential therapy utilises high frequencies that enable the electrical currents to penetrate deeply into the tissues. Interferential therapy offers not only pain relief, but also contributes to acceleration in healing.

The basic goal of interferential current therapy is to reduce unpleasant sensation or discomfort that people can feel on their skin during low frequency stimulation treatments, whilst simultaneously attaining deep tissue penetration. The sensation or a discomfort felt on the skin, when using devices such as TENS machines is due to the resistance of the skin to the passing electrical currents. The level of discomfort is inversely proportional to the frequency of stimulation. Hence, the lower is the frequency applied, the greater is the discomfort felt. Interferential current therapy uses two medium frequencies applied at the same time in such way that their paths cross and interfere with each other. The interference between them leads to changes producing modulated frequency that has the same therapeutic effects as low frequency stimulation, but without the normal side effects of unpleasant sensation or discomfort.   

Interferential therapy is safe and has no side effects. Whilst the interferential therapy is very effective, it causes a minimum skin sensation and the level of discomfort related to the electrical stimulation and the passing of the electrical currents through the skin is minimal. 

Interferential therapy machines are VAT exempt to people with chronic conditions. VAT Declaration can be completed online in our Online Shop at the time of purchase.

Interferential Therapy Device on this website:

• Ultima Interferential - advanced interferential therapy machine for home use  

High Frequency Tone Therapy

The high frequency tone therapy is a form of modern electrotherapy, in which electric current is used to influence and enhance cellular processes. The higher the frequency employed, the greater the penetration of the current into the tissues. Common applications of electrotherapy include pain relief and muscular recovery. TENS and Interferential Therapy as described above are examples of conventional electrotherapies.

High frequency tone therapy - also called high frequency sound therapy, high tone therapy or horizontal therapy - is different and its effects are much more comprehensive than those of other electrotherapies (i.e. TENS or interferential therapy). The high tone therapy is able to produce bio-electric and bio-chemical effects in tissues at the same time. The high tone therapy normalises bio-electric and bio-chemical processes inside and outside the cells. The high tone therapy stimulates cells and tissues to mobilise, accelerate and use own endogenous 'self defence' resources to heal and repair. Hence, the high tone therapy produces natural physiological outcomes and delivers therapeutic effects entirely naturally and without side effects. The high frequency waves penetrate tissues deeply and painlessly and deliver outstanding therapeutic outcomes in pain relief.   

High frequency tone therapy has the following therapeutic effects:

• activates cellular metabolic processes
• stimulates enzyme activities
• relieves pain
• reduces inflammation
• reduces swelling
• energises and normalises cells and tissues
• improves intercellular communication
• accelerates healing and tissue regeneration
• stimulates release of endorphins in central nervous system and helps to increase the feeling of well-being

High frequency tone therapy is entirely painless and sensation free and it can be applied continually for many hours at a time, if required, without worries about any unwanted side effects. High frequency tone therapy is effective in relieving of all types of musculoskeletal pain and joint pain, inflammation and swelling.

High frequency tone therapy is especially successful in helping people with painful joints and debilitating back pain that are due to cartilage deterioration. The high frequency tone therapy treatment improves the quality of the damaged cartilage, making it more elastic and resilient.  The high frequency tone therapy is highly effective in reducing both the acute and the chronic pain.  

High frequency electrotherapy machines are VAT exempt to people with chronic conditions. VAT Declaration can be completed online in our Online Shop at the time of purchase.

High frequency tone therapy device offered by Win Health:

• WeWoThom Premium - advanced pain relief device for relief of musculoskeletal pain, joint pain, period pain and all types of sports injuries     

Far Infrared (FIR) Heat Therapy

Far infrared heat therapy delivers prolonged deep heat into tissues. Infrared heat therapy employs infrared rays to provide highly efficient therapeutic heating for pain relief, rehabilitation and accelerated healing.

Infrared is a band of energy in the electromagnetic spectrum. The energy is in the form of waves. There are different bands of wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, including the infrared, visible light, microwaves, ultraviolet and x-rays.

Infrared is a radiant heat that is also often referred to as 'infrared energy'. Radiant heat can be described as an energy that heats objects directly through conversion and without having to heat the surrounding air.

Infrared heat is naturally and readily absorbed by the body. Infrared heat is safe and therapeutic and it penetrates tissues into greater depth than heat from other heating sources. The depth of penetration ensures that even deeply located pain centres are reached. Infrared heat can be safely used for long periods of time, reducing pain and discomfort, stress and fatigue. Prolonged far infrared deep tissue heat increases blood flow in the target areas. Increased blood flow delivers more nutrients and oxygen that are vital to tissue repair, whilst simultaneously removes cellular debris, dead cells, toxins and metabolic waste.

Therapeutic indications for far infrared heat therapy are as follows:
 
• back pain, joint stiffness, arthritis and aches
• bursitis, tendonitis and shoulder injuries
• sports and activity related injuries, sprains and strains
• stiffness and pain resulting from lactic acid build up in muscles      
• Tennis Elbow and Golfer's Elbow
• leg pain, foot pain and hip pain
• hand pain and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• hamstring tears, calf injuries and thigh injuries
• knee ligament injuries and Runner's Knee
• fibromyalgia
• muscle spasms and menstrual cramps
• neuralgia, earache and facial spasm
• pain associated with haemorrhoids

Infrared heat therapy is safe for adults and children and can be used regularly and for long periods of time as required.

Infrared FIR deep heat devices presented on this website:

• Thermotex Infrared Heat Pads for deep heat treatment of all areas of the body  

Laser Phototherapy

Laser phototherapy is a treatment during which light energy is delivered to living tissues and when absorbed, a photobiological cellular response arises. Lasers are devices that generate light. Effective phototherapy requires a specific wavelength of light to be delivered in an appropriate dose. Laser phototherapy is beneficial in many conditions ranging from pain relief to wound healing. Laser phototherapy is suitable for both acute trauma and chronic conditions.  

Laser phototherapy energises tissues by delivering photon energy to living cells via irradiation with visible or invisible light in wavelengths between circa 400 – 1000 nm at appropriate dose. The absorbed light energy triggers biological reactions in the cells. Variety of endogenous chemical substances are produced in the cells and carried by blood and lymphatic flow to other parts of the system.

Therapeutic effects of laser phototherapy (i.e. irradiation with olow level laser) include the following:
 
• increased production of ATP (Adenosine TriPhosphate)  
• increased cellular metabolism
• increased collagen production
• increased enzyme production
• increased protein synthesis
• better blood flow
• better lymphatic flow and drainage
• reduced inflammation    

Laser phototherapy is able to address many painful and inflammatory conditions and painful problems, ranging from pain relief to wound healing and sports injuries. Laser phototherapy also plays an increasing role in dermatology and skin rejuvenation.  

Laser phototherapy is painless and non traumatic and can be used to treat acute injuries as well as chronic conditions. It is easy to apply and offers a possibility of convenient self treatments as many of the modern phototherapy lasers are cleared for home use.

Please refer to Laser Therapy section of this website for more information about laser phototherapy, laser phototherapy indications and the phototherapy lasers - i.e. PalmLaser - for home and clinic use offered by Win Health.  

Refer to Muscle Assessment and Muscle Rehabilitation page for general information about muscle assessment and rehabilitation devices with integrated pain relief function.

Refer to Stimulec Facial Plus for microcurrent stimulator that helps to relieve symptoms and pain of Facial Palsy, a common facial muscle paralysis.

View our Portfolio at a Glance or return to Win Health home page.   

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