Neck pain is a very common condition, alongside lower back pain, knee pain and so on. It occurs around the area involving the cervical part of the spine and the muscles attached to it. From the simple ache and discomfort that appear after a not so resting night sleep to the more serious health issues like meningitis, most of us tend to experience the annoying neck pain, at times joined by the reduced capacity of moving our heads. Happily, it is said that TENS might be a device that could help a little.

What are the causes of neck pain?

A majority of the reasons as to why we develop neck pain come from our daily lives and are nothing to worry about. For example, you might have fallen asleep in an awkward position while watching a movie on your sofa, might have been too focused while working at your desk and forgot to move, caught a draught in the subway station or made a sudden movement when looking after someone attractive. Alright, maybe the last one was a bit of a stretch as to reasons for abruptly jerking your head, but surely you got the point. Which is, that with most of these causes, the hurting will probably go away on its own.

When your pain tends to last for a few weeks, it seems to get worse or is also associated with other symptoms, like nausea, severe headaches or numbness in your body, you most probably need to visit a doctor. In those cases, you could have a deformation of some sorts in your spine, spondylosis, deteriorated discs, an infection like meningitis, thyroid problems or the scarier alternatives of cancer and stroke.

Obviously, in case you recently went through an accident or other causes of injury, the source of the neck pain needs to get examined by a professional. Otherwise, they tend to say that only a simple stiffness or even the throbbing feeling that worries many individuals are signs of a condition that didn’t come to stay.

How can you  use TENS for your neck pain?

We mentioned it earlier, but did not explain what this TENS thing is. Shortly, the name spells as Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. This is done with the help of a handheld device, connected to your skin through wires and some pads called electrodes. Those are the ones that actually ensure the pass of the electric current into your pain receptors.

Why would you want that? Well, of course you probably don’t wish to get electrocuted and trust us, we understand. But this is all about a small electric charge that is not meant to harm you. The only thing you should feel is a tingling sensation where the pads touch your skin. The current is thought to repress the pain signals that your nerves are trying to send to your brain and to stimulate the demand for more happy endorphins.

Putting TENS machines to use is pretty simple and it could save you from taking pain killers. What you need to do is place its electrodes around the painful area of your neck, usually on both sides of the spine and beneath your shoulders. Afterwards, you just need to play with the settings a bit until you find the intensity and program that is right for you. Don’t forget, it is not advisable to place the electrodes on the sides and front of your neck or on your head. Also, they should be kept on muscular areas and not the bony ones.

Now, let’s take a look below at a some of the best TENS units for neck pain available online.

OTC Healthmate Forever YK15AB TENS Unit

            One of the easiest to use devices, Healthmate’s TENS unit comes with separate buttons for each and every one of the body parts it can be used for. Furthermore, the little display also gives suggestions as to what massage type could be best for each of those areas.

Customers were satisfied with the variation of the programs and intensity levels it offers, but also its portability, as it comes with a clip which can be used to attach it to your belt as you move around. Some claimed that it helped with medical conditions like sciatica and also with injuries that came from physical activities and sports.

Massage therapy concepts TENS Unit and EMS Combination Muscle Stimulator

         This TENS unit comes with the advantage of a large touchscreen, similar to those of smartphones that are so popular nowadays. The display is clear and helps you browse through its 20 intensity levels, 12 programs and timer settings.

Customers seem to be happy with the pain relief, relaxation and acupuncture modes, but also with the battery life. They recommend it for various neck and back conditions, for those who feel consequences of their desk jobs, for sports injuries and for aiding in recovery after surgeries as well.

AccuMed Rechargeable TENS Unit Muscle Stimulator

            Made especially for neck and back pain, having four pads, its developers claim that the AccuMed TENS unit is as simple to use as a music player. It weighs around 50 grams, but compresses 16 muscle stimulation programs and various massage and acupuncture techniques.

Customers are thrilled about it being rechargeable and amazed about its ability to calm the spasms and soreness in their muscles. Some vouch for using it when recovering from an injury, but also for chronic medical conditions or surgery recuperation in their shoulders. Furthermore, it might be safe to use even during pregnancy, but make sure to ask for the advice of your doctor first if you find yourself in this situation.

Muscle Stimulator and Rechargeable Touch Screen TENS Machine

            Another smartphone lookalike with a touchscreen display, our last suggestion at this present time comes with three pairs of different sized pads and 24 modes. It can be used alongside physical therapy or as a temporary replacement for it. It can help with various types of neck and back conditions, including those caused by injury, uncomfortable work environments or old age, where other methods and machines have failed to prove worthy.