Back pain

Hi
Can I use a TENS Machine ( Electrical Stimulator ) on my back with a Pacemaker?
Roy

4 Comments

no

by Tracey_E - 2013-09-19 09:09:23

Sorry, but no we can't use them. Extremities, maybe, but definitely not torso.

No, I called my manufacturer

by lahbigbro6 - 2013-09-19 10:09:53

Unfortunately, no ...I tendonitis in my ankle after twisting it. I went to PT and I told them about my pacemaker, thinking they would know yes or no, but they didn't. I found out here on our site and also called the manufacturer. Bummer !!!

T.E.N.S. Unit & Pacemaker

by SMITTY - 2013-09-19 11:09:51

Hey Roy,

It is nice to be dumb, I guess. I have been using a T.E.N.S. unit on my back for more than a year with no problems. No body told me I should not use them and the dr. that prescribed them knew I had a PM. I put the pads on my back just above my belt. My PM is under my left collarbone.

Now I have no intention of using the T.E.N.S. pads on the front side.

Smitty

I get this question all the time

by PacerRep - 2013-09-20 12:09:42

The official answer is proceed with caution....

However. I have yet to see it interfere. If you are not pacer dependent it is not as critical. What I do with my patients is have them bring in the TENS and I run an intracardiac EGM while they crank the unit up full blast. We then do vagal maneuvers. Again I have yet to see it interfere with any device but technically it can.

Tens will not break your pacemaker. Worst case scenario is it makes it not pace, if you feel like crap turn it off. If you have an ICD there is an off chance it could cause it to discharge.

You know you're wired when...

You can hear your heartbeat in your cell phone.

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