What is nerve pain?

Pain is normally felt when sensory nerve endings detect that something is wrong with the body and send pain signals to the spinal cord and brain. BUT nerve pain is different to this.

Neuropathic pain or nerve pain occurs when the nerves themselves are damaged by disease or injury. They misfire and send pain signals to the brain in a random fashion - when there is no reason to give a warning signal.

Damage can occur to nerves in the brain, the spinal cord or located throughout the body.

Possible causes of nerve pain

Nerve compression
Nerve invasion
Infection
Injury
Disease
Metabolic conditions

Types of nerve pain

Sciatica - caused by compression of the sciatic nerve as it exits the sacroiliac joint
Diabetic neuropathy - usually experienced in the ankles and feet; accompanied by very poor circulation
Post herpetic neuralgia - this is pain after having shingles; there are many parts of the body that can be affected
Fibromyalgia - widespread pain and tenderness in the body, often accompanied by fatigue
Trigeminal neuralgia - damage to the trigeminal nerve in the face; can be excruciating
Complex regional pain syndrome - a painful condition of the arm, hand, leg or foot, which may occur after an injury.

Using TENS therapy for nerve pain.

After a diagnosis of acute or chronic nerve pain, your pain management plan will include several methods of pain relief and should offer drug-free options.

ActivBody is the TENS machine we suggest for nerve pain.

ActivBody electrotherapy can be used everyday - outside the clinic - for drug-free, on-demand pain relief, relaxation and circulation, plus it will help keep you moving.

Using ActivBody for nerve pain

User Guide

Please read the User Guide that comes with your TENS machine.

Pad placement - nerve pain

The objective is to place the pads either side of the spot where your nerve pain is at its worst. The signal passes from one electrode to the other, therefore passing through the site of pain.

However some nerve pain can be referred to a different but connected part of the body (dermatome). You can also place pads at the source of the nerve damage or on the same dermatome.