TENS application in polyneuropathy

Man holding foot due to pain caused by polyneuropathy. Patients describe the feeling as ants under the skin. A TENS device can help.

Polyneuropathy is a nervous disease that affects the peripheral nervous system. Polyneuropathy affects about 5-8% of all adults, making it the most common disease of the peripheral nervous system[1].

The symptoms and causes are varied. Patients often report pain or tingling in their arms and feet that feels like "ants under the skin." The polyneuropathy can be acute or chronic.

Doctors' treatment initially aims to eliminate the cause of the polyneuropathy. If that doesn't help or the cause is unclear, the symptoms are then treated. A TENS device can help with this.

A TENS device transmits electrical impulses to the skin via electrodes, which has two effects. On the one hand, the electrical impulses can block the transmission of pain to the brain, which means that the pain may no longer be perceived.

The TENS application can also support our body's natural pain control mechanism so that its own painkilling substances, the so-called endorphins[2], are released. TENS can also promote blood circulation[3].

TENS electrode placement in polyneuropathy

For the treatment of pain in the feet caused by polyneuropathy, you can use our combination of universally applicable 5x5 cm electrodes for the heel area and our large 10x5 cm electrodes for the sole area.

Buy the appropriate electrode now

Alternative electrode placement in polyneuropathy

You can use our universal 4x4 cm electrodes to treat pain in the arms or other parts of the body caused by polyneuropathy.

To the right electrode

  • This guide is for orientation purposes and does not replace the supervision of a doctor or therapist. Please follow the warnings and safety instructions of your device. Changes and errors are possible.

  • Number inside the circle: Channel number

    Circle color: Red = Electrode 1, Black = Electrode 2

The recommended programs for axion TENS devices

*The STIM-PRO Eco is a manual TENS device. If you have not received parameter settings from your therapist, please use a frequency range between 70 and 120 Hz (burst mode 2 Hz) and a pulse width range between 150 µs and 200 µs.

Please note when using TENS:

The intensity should be adjusted so that it is felt as a pleasant tingling sensation. The duration of the application should be approx. 40 minutes in order to be able to achieve a lasting reduction in pain. It also makes sense to switch programs every now and then.

What are the causes of polyneuropathy?

The first step in treatment is to eliminate the cause of the polyneuropathy, which, however, cannot always be identified. The causes of polyneuropathy include[4]:

- Diabetes mellitus (the most common cause)
- alcohol addiction
- taking medication
- Chemotherapy
- Infections (e.g. HIV)
- genetic predisposition

The doctor makes the diagnosis of polyneuropathy on the basis of the patient's previous illnesses and the examinations based on them. For example, examinations with regard to diabetes or examinations of the brain are carried out.

What are the symptoms of polyneuropathy?
The symptoms of polyneuropathy can be very different, one can also distinguish between motor, sensory and autonomic symptoms. Symptoms of polyneuropathy include[4]:

- Tingling (usually in legs and arms)
- Burn
- Disturbed temperature sensitivity
- Pains
- Hypersensitivity
- muscle weakness
- unsteady gait
- Loss of body hair
- indigestion
- Disorders of blood pressure regulation

The advantages of pain treatment with TENS

  • From everywhere

    You can use TENS therapy anywhere. It doesn't matter whether you're sitting comfortably on the sofa or in the office.

  • Drug free

    TENS pain therapy is an alternative to drug pain treatment

  • At any time

    You can use TENS flexibly and at any time. Success can already be achieved after the first treatment

  • Free of side effects

    When used correctly, pain treatment with TENS has practically no side effects

Studies and scientific sources

[1] Schweikert-Wehner, P. (2019). Polyneuropathies: When drugs are neurotoxic. Deutsches Ärzteblatt, 18-20. https://www.doi.org/10.3238/PersNeuro.2019.09.13.03

[2] Ortu, E., Pietropaoli, D., Mazzei, G., Cattaneo, R., Giannoni, M., & Monaco, A. (2015). TENS effects on salivary stress markers: A pilot study. International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology, 114-118. https://doi.org/10.1177/0394632015572072

[3] Cramp, Gilsenan, Lowe & Walsh. (2000). The effect of high- and low-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation upon cutaneous blood flow and skin temperature in healthy subjects. Clinical Physiology, 20(2), 150-157. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2281.2000.00240.x

[4] Sommer, C., Geber, C., Young, P., Forst, R., Birklein, F., Schoser, B. (2018). Polyneuropathy—etiology, diagnosis, and treatment options. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, pp. 83-90. https://www.doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2018.0083

© beeboys - stock.adobe.com