According to the National Pain Foundation, "...statistics show that 50 to 80 percent of people will be disabled by back pain – some more severely than others – at some point during their lives." We are enjoying a longer life span but the majority of the population is more sedentary than ever before;our fast food lifestyles have added to the growing obesity problems. These elements are a recipe for disaster. If you are one of the millions of Americans that suffer with chronic pain, more alternative treatments are available than ever before.

Late night television offers homeopathic drops, the vitamin shops are featuring shark cartilage and essential oils. There can be no doubt that some of these remedies offer benefit, but none of these can provide immediate relief from nerve pain and the resulting muscle spasms. For those that live with this chronic pain, the suffering can be intense.

The Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (Tens) units have been used in hospital and therapeutic treatment centers for over 50 years. These original units were large expensive pieces of equipment that were completely impractical for home use, but times have changed! Today's Tens unit is a small device not much larger than your cell phone that has the potential for immediate and significant pain relief for those with back pain and many other times of chronic pain. How does this work?

Like many of our medical marvels science is not completely sure of the exact nature of the reduction of pain. The unit transfers a very low level of electricity, usually from batteries, to electrodes that are placed on different parts of the body depending on the desired treatment or problem. This low level of electricity is not experienced as pain, but acts to block the transmission of pain signals to other points in the body. Some medical authorities believe that the electrical stimulation causes the body to produce more of it's own natural opiates, for pain reduction, others lean toward the concept of the electrical flow blocking the transmission of electrical nerve impulses that send pain signals through the body. Though the theory is still debated, the scientific community as a whole has come to accept the Tens unit as valid therapy for pain.

In the last few years Tens units have become available on the Internet even without a doctors prescription. They are simple to operate and maintain and available in price ranges that start at less than $50. The very best units, like the Empi Select, can be prescribed by your doctor and my be covered by your insurance program or by medicare. These units can run up to 10 times more than the Internet models but offer superior quality, a lifetime warranty and amazing simplicity of use. Many companies offer compassionate discounts for those unable to pay full price for the top end models, so don't be afraid to ask, but they will require a doctors prescription.

Who will benefit from the new world of electronic pain management? Different resources report amazing results with a surprising variety of pain issues. Arthritis, Lower back pain, and a variety of spinal cord disorders top the list, but Labour pain and nausea and pain from cancer treatments have been shown to benefit as well. Don't be afraid to be your own medical detective and advocate! Ask your doctor if a Tens unit can help with the management of your pain or order an inexpensive unit to see how it works. The results may change you life and help to end the cycle of pain.