I have to give up my TENS unit.

[Bertha Venation]

The provider called. They're not in my network. If I want to keep it I have to pay up my out-of-network-provider deductible: $750. I could buy the damn thing (if I had the money) for $725.

I have to mail it back to them tomorrow, and they won't charge me for the 3-weeks' use I've already had.

:grr: SHIT FUCK & DAMN! :grr:

I will look for an in-network provider, but at the first one I called I got a "no longer in service" recording. This is going to be fun.

[southerngirlwriter]

1. Oh Bertha, I am so sorry!!

I wish I had $750. I'd send it to you in a heartbeat.

Wish I could help. :(

[Droopy]

2. What's a TENS unit? n/t

[NC_Nurse]

5. an electric stimulattion device that

reduces pain by overstimulation of the nerves in the affected area. Usually topically applied.

[NC_Nurse]

3. That really

sucks. I hope you can find another provider fast!
I wish I had the $ too.:hug:

[commander bunnypants]

4. Man I am sorry

I have one to.

DDQM

[radfringe]

6. try this place

http://www.ausmed.com/medecat/rs/ecatalog/results.asp?subcategory=tets

don't know if they have the machine you need, but my partner bought her cam-boot through them - local med supply place wanted to charge her $500.00 for it, but we ordered one through this place and got it for $75.00

[CO Liberal]

7. I Couldn't Live Without My TENS

I've had it for almost two years now. I wear it for about 12 hours a day (6AM to 6PM, when I get home). Then I put on a Lidocaine patch from 6PM till the next morning, when I take it off before my morning shower.

[Bertha Venation]

8. mmmm.... Lidocaine patch

paging Dr. Bridges... paging Dr. Bridges... get out that Rx pad, Dr. B..... ;)

I read about your troubles on the SUV thread, CO Lib. :hug:

(And I don't think I thanked you for your thorough PMs re: the other thread. Mulling. Thanks.)

[CO Liberal]

9. You're Welcome, Bertha

I just got the scrip fo rtht Lidocaine patches a few weeks ago, when I went to a new pain management specialist. He also prescribed Ultracet and Bextra, which I take twice a day. I go back to see him on the 8th, when we're going to discuss the next step (either an epidural injection to block the pain or an IDET procedure to try to repair the damaged discs).

[Bertha Venation]

12. if you do the epidural injections,

I hope it goes well for you. Mine were done by an excellent anaesthesiologist, but they didn't help. It could be because our problems are different (yours from injury, mine from arthritis). My doc was dismayed, because she'd had such good luck when prescribing those injections in the past.

I hope surgery turns out not to be necessary. I'll keep you in my thoughts.

[Dogmudgeon]

10. TENS Options

TENS units are technically about as sophisticated as those exercise gadgets that were being sold that claimed to exercise the wearer without effort. It's the same principle -- small electrical impulses were used to twitch the muscles.

Many of them are still available for prices as low as $20. These days, they are sold as "electronic massage" or some such. Most of them have settings that are close or identical to your TENS unit's output, and can be used with standard rubberized TENS electrodes.

If you know someone who is adept at electronics repair, you can even get a TENS unit made. I made one some years ago for about $10 in parts. Homebrew and "medically certified" TENS units are usually built around something called a 555 chip. These chips sell for ten for a buck in bulk lots, or $1.99 at Radio Shack.

Good luck!

--bkl
Socialism for the Rich,
Capitalism for the Poor

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

11. Another option

They're under $100 at this medical BDSM site:

http://medicaltoys.com/electric.htm

I've never tried one, I'ma scared of electrical stuff :scared: so I don't know how they compare to what you've been using. Good luck!

[Dogmudgeon]

13. DIY TENS kit

Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulator

This is similar to the TENS unit I built several years ago, only it has better circuitry for more stable operation. If you're ambitious and have experience with electronics assembly (or know someone who does), this might be for you.

The $100 TENS unit sold by Medical Toys looks like a good deal. You might be able to find better ones by looking around, too.

--bkl

[Bertha Venation]

18. ROFL

You want me to SHOCK MYSELF with something I BUILT? LOLOL... wait'll Mrs. V. sees this. I may as well just cut an electrical cord in half, plug it in, and apply the raw end to the affected area.

But thanks for the suggestion, BKL. :bounce:

[blondeatlast]

14. I'm so sorry; if we can help you fight the good fight, you know

you can count on us. Just let us know.

What a freaking wacky way to make people healthy--kick 'em when they are already down.

Sheesh.

:hug: :hug: :hug:

All I can offer right now, but i'm pulling for ya.

[Bertha Venation]

19. thanks

:hug: back :pals:

[BiggJawn]

15. Isn't "Managed Care" wonderful?

Wash an HMO, comb an HMO, still an HMO....
"Oh, but we're not an HMO! You can go to ANY doctor!"
S'Yeah, if you pay full-price for the out-of-network doctor....
And the script formulary is a trip, too.

Sure hope you can get an in-net provider for the TENS unit, Bertha....Some Puritan bean counter at the HMO probably ruled that people would "like" them too much...

[Bertha Venation]

17. I have a PPO, and the unit wasn't denied --

(not yet anyway -- they're asking the doc for more info to justify the claim :eyes:) -- I just have to get it from a preferred provider unless I want to shell out $750.

So basically we're saying the same thing. FHMOBPOS.

[bratcatinok]

20. I have a tens unit I'll give to you.

My tens unit is the smaller one. A little smaller than the (way) old transistor radios. It has 4 leads and runs on AA batteries. It uses refillable pads and somewhere I have a stack of those too (I think, maybe, that is if I haven't thrown them away). It's potent enough that when I've used it on my shoulders it draws the muscles up involuntarily with the dials only being turned halfway up.

Mine was prescribed by a pain management specialist I had several years ago. Unfortunately for me it did nothing to alleviate my pain but if you know a tens helps you then I'll be glad to give it to you.

I know I haven't had much interaction with ya but maybe we can have Skinner act as a go-between since you don't know me. I'm thinking something along the lines of me sending it to Skinner and then having him send it on to you. Of course, I'm suggesting volunteering him for something he might not want to do.

Let me know if you'd like to pursue this. Oh, and it's a gift so no moola involved! :)

[Dogmudgeon]

16. TENS Products Links

Check 'em out --

Nidd Valley Medical (from £26)
http://www.tens.net/TENS_Units.htm

ProMed (from $60)
http://www.promedproducts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=PP&Category_Code=TU

Drx Medical (from $36) (has many other pain-control products)
http://www.drxmedical.com/catalog/tens_units_and_supplies_215995_products.htm

YCY (from $100) (many other pain-control products)
http://www.ycyhealth.com/two_tens_index.shtml

VitalityWebb (from $50)
http://vitalitywebb.com/backstore/TENSpain.htm

TENS Products (from $62)
http://www.tensproducts.com/

Bodyclock (from $60)
http://www.bodyclock.net/acatalog/tensunit.html

--bkl