Tens units

Hi, I am 39 and just received my 4th pacemaker in June. I had knee surgery and a left shoulder manipulation in October and want to use a Tens unit but everyone is afraid. The pacemaker is in the left also. I am having a hard time in physical therapy and I hoped to use it for some pain relief. Since it's new and an on demand pacemaker, shouldn't it be OK?

3 Comments

tens

by Tracey_E - 2012-12-04 10:12:49

All pm's are demand, they only pace if needed.

If you aren't dependent, it's less likely to cause problems than if you are dependent, but it can still cause problems. Ask 10 drs, get 10 answers. The knee should be ok, but the shoulder is questionable since it's so close to the pm. When I was in therapy, my dr approved it for limbs but said not to use it on torso.

Check this out
http://www.pacemakerclub.com/public/jpage/1/p/story/a/storypage/sid/18839/content.do

and this
http://www.medfaxxinc.com/index.php?/Articles/using-tens-machines-a-demand-cardiac-pacemakers.html

liteppie

by liteppie - 2012-12-16 09:12:08

I have an on demand medtronic pacemaker, my second one since 2006. I am 100% paced. I am also a Physical Therapist , although retired. Even before my own pacemaker, I understood that One should never use a TENS unit on a patient with a pacer. I hope this helps.

Tens with pacemaker

by Jewelrymkr1 - 2013-02-05 09:02:59

Hello! I have the best EPS Dr, .I just think he's great! I've hd my pacemaker for 10 years. Its in my upper left pectoral muscle! I live with chronic pain and nerve pain from an autoimmune neurological , progressive disease called RSD/CRPS...I HAVE A TENS UNIT POST MVA IN 2002! I have knee pain and patella/femoral pain syndrome. I have winged scapula and long thoracic nerve pain also. I am allowed to use my TENS unit on my scapulas and lower back and its ok with my pacemaker.Also I'm 60% dependent .

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