| The term "pain relief machine" is a very confusing | | | | happens the brain does not receive the message |
| phrase and it's understandable how people can not | | | | therefore there is no pain. In reality though for the |
| differentiate a "muscle stimulator" from a "tens unit" | | | | chronic pain patient the actual results are less |
| to an "interferential unit" or "pulsed galvanic | | | | transmissions rather than 100% total cessation |
| stimulator" or a "micro amperage stimulator". | | | | meaning pain reduction, not total pain elimination. |
| Four of the 5 listed units are actually intended to be | | | | 2. Sjolund Opioid Peptide Production ( Pain Killers) |
| used for the treatment of chronic and acute pain. | | | | In this application, which rarely ever works, the actual |
| On the internet the following terms are searched on | | | | pain fibers, c fibers, are stimulated for 20 - 30 |
| and the patient often gets some reference to a "pain | | | | minutes and that stimulation by the pain machine |
| machine" as a solution and then the confusion really | | | | results in the brain increasing the production of pain |
| begins. | | | | killers, aka endorphins and enkaphlins are the general |
| * neck traction | | | | terms used. As long as there is an increased amount |
| * sciatic nerve pain | | | | of the peptides in the blood stream then the pain is |
| * sciatic nerve pain relief | | | | not felt. As the peptides wear off and decrease in |
| * back pain relief machine | | | | total volume then the pain reappears. This is not |
| * pain relief machine | | | | theory but has been proved however as stated |
| * sciatic nerve treatment | | | | earlier this application rarely is effective for the vast |
| * * sore neck stretches | | | | preponderance of chronic pain patients. |
| * stretches for sore neck | | | | 3. Glial Dysregulation of Pain and Opioid Actions |
| Of the 5 machines listed the only one that is not | | | | This is very recent, appearing in research being done |
| intended for pain relief is a "muscle stimulator" which | | | | by Linda Watkins, PhD. - Univ. of Colorado - Boulder. |
| should be correctly called a "functional electrical | | | | Her work involves the blocking of pathological pain by |
| stimulator" - FES. The purpose of a muscle stimulator | | | | inhibiting glial activation in the spinal column where the |
| is to help a patient restore function or prevent | | | | glial cells exist. The glial cells actually release many |
| atrophy to muscles. All of the listed "pain machines" | | | | neuroexcitatory substances which can lead to pain |
| can literally be adjusted to the point that a muscle | | | | amplification. |
| contraction can be elicited but that is not the purpose | | | | The latter explanation helps to clarify what is now |
| of a "pain machine". | | | | occurring with the use of interferential pain machines, |
| There are basically three methods of controlling pain | | | | unlike the other tens, micro, PGS machines where |
| that each of the pain machines relies upon. | | | | there is no carryover or residual pain relief once the |
| 1. Melzack/Wall Gate Control Theory: | | | | pain machine is turned off. With interferential therapy |
| This is simply the process of stopping the | | | | there is residual or carryover pain relief during and |
| transmission of the pain impulse to the spinal cord for | | | | following the treatment for hours or in some |
| transmission to the brain where the pain is perceived. | | | | situations days/weeks. Glial cell inhibition may explain |
| The method of operation is to stimulate non-pain | | | | the effects of portable interferential units as well as |
| fibers so the actual pain message is not transmitted | | | | replicate the clinical interferential treatments. |
| and the pain impulse is not transmitted. When that | | | | |