Electrotherapy and Pain Relief

Woman receiving electrotherapy treatment

Electrotherapy Offers Natural Pain Relief

Do you struggle to keep your pain under control? Over-the-counter prescription medication relieves symptoms but often causes nausea, dizziness and other side effects that make working, exercising, or taking care of your family difficult. Electrotherapy may offer a better way to manage your pain.

How Does Electrotherapy Work?

Electrotherapy prevents pain signals from reaching your brain by interrupting them with low-voltage electrical impulses. If the signals aren't received by the brain, you don't feel pain. The treatment also triggers the releases of endorphins, your body's natural painkillers.

In addition to providing pain relief, electrotherapy can be used to loosen tight muscles, promote healing, increase muscle tone, reduce swelling, improve range of motion, and strengthen muscles. Although the therapy can be helpful no matter how long you've had pain, it's particularly beneficial if used immediately after an injury.

During treatments, electrical impulses are delivered through adhesive electrodes attached to your skin or a belt worn around your body. Electrodes may be applied directly over the painful area or on a nerve that serves the area.

Electrotherapy treatment isn't usually painful. Many people mention feeling a tingling or pricking sensation when the electrical current is activated. The therapy can reduce pain for as long as 24 hours after a treatment.

Is Electrotherapy Right for Me?

Electrotherapy may be helpful if you have:

  • Arthritis
  • Muscle or Joint Pain
  • Bursitis
  • Tendonitis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Endometriosis
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Whiplash
  • Muscle Spasms
  • Sprains and Strains
  • Migraines
  • Incontinence
  • Pain After Surgery
  • Muscle Atrophy
  • Menstrual Pain
  • Shingles
  • Phantom Limb Pain
  • Cluster or Tension Headaches
  • Back or Neck Pain
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia
  • Sciatica
  • Sports Injuries

Electrotherapy can relieve your pain completely or help you reduce your reliance on painkillers. In a study published in the Western Journal of Emergency Medicine, 100 percent of emergency patients who received the treatment found it helpful in reducing pain when combined with other treatments.

The therapy may not be a good option if you're pregnant, have a heart condition, epilepsy, a pacemaker, defibrillator, infusion pump, or metal implant.

What Types of Electrotherapy Treatments Are Available?

Electrotherapy may be part of your chiropractic treatment plan, in addition to spinal manipulation, massage, soft tissue mobilization, or ultrasound therapy. Your chiropractor might recommend one or more of these types of electrotherapy:

  • Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS). TENS treatment uses both high and low-frequency electrical pulses to decrease chronic or sudden pain. A dial controls the intensity of the pulses. Portable home TENS units are fairly small and can be worn during your usual daily activities.
  • Inferential Current (IFC). IFC treatment may be the next step if your pain doesn't respond to TENS therapy. The IFC device produces currents that penetrate the muscles and deeper layers of the skin.
  • Galvanic Stimulation (GS). The galvanic stimulator generates short bursts of pulsed electrical currents. Depending on the setting, the machine can be used to reduce swelling or improve blood flow. Increasing blood flow to an injured area offers a simple way to speed healing time while reducing swelling and can improve the range of motion of an injured or painful area.

Pain doesn't have to control your life. Electrotherapy and chiropractic treatments can help ease your pain and improve your mobility. Contact us to schedule your appointment.

Sources:

SPINE-health: All About Electrotherapy and Pain Relief, 4/21/17

Medical News Today: What Is a TENS Unit and Does It Work?

Healthline: Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation Unit

Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) in the Emergency Department for Pain Relief: A Preliminary Study of Feasibility and Efficacy, 89/18

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Testimonials

Reviews By Our Satisfied Patients

  • "PAIN FREE! Over the years I have been to several different chiropractors. As a child, I was exposed to chiropractic care through my mother. Having arthritis, chiropractic was the one place she could get relief without drugs. Even so, not all chiropractors are equal and that was never made more clear to me than when I met Dr. Roy. Having complained of lower back pain to a former chiropractor, I was never able to get any relief. It wasn't until I started being treated by Dr. Roy that I was able to go weeks without pain. I even had a manual physical therapist tell me I had scarred tissue and would never truly be pain free. Dr. Roy's methods were new to me and I was a little skeptical at first, but after a month or so of treatment I was able to go for several weeks without ANY pain! I am a believer now and I will be coming back as often as I can!!!"
    Judy Reyes
  • "THE MIRACLE DOCTOR! A friend recommended Dr. Roy to me because I could hardly walk and I was in great pain. He took x-rays and treated me immediately and it really help right away. That was in 2019. He saw me twice a week for many months before I went to once a week. He has educated me on many different situations concerning my back and that's why I call him "The Miracle Doctor.""
    Mary Kathleen Weldon
  • "ALMOST AS GOOD AS NEW AFTER SEVERE CAR ACCIDENT AFTER 2 SESSIONS 5* After decades of chiropractic care, I thought I'd received the best possible outcome for my neck injury from a fall further exacerbated by a severe car accident.
    Little did I know that in just two sessions Dr. Roy would have me almost as good as new!
    Thanks again for hearing my complaint and knowing exactly how to adjust T1/T2/C7 areas on my neck for instant, long lasting relief."
    C Broadway
  • "NO MORE MIGRAINES 5* - Dr. Roy has added a massage therapist and I'm so excited to have that available for my overall wellness care. Dr. Roy always seems to put his finger exactly where I'm needing an adjustment and with his upper cervical adjustments, I've gone from 4 migraines a month to less than one a year! I haven't felt better."
    Chrystal R.
  • "FIVE STAR REVIEW 5*"
    Kelly B.
  • "VETERAN OWNED BUSINESS5* - I know Dr. Roy personally and he does a great job. He is an honorable man who cares about his patients and is an USAF veteran to boot."
    Col Paul S.
  • "TRUST THEM WITH MY BACK 5* - So love this place! Four days ago I came home from a long trip..my back from hurting from the travel. They were able to take me in for an appointment the very next day and put 2 ribs back in place. Besides that, I love the employees there. They are so refreshing and kind and I highly trust them with my back."
    Sara W. F.
  • "VERY PLEASED 5* - Visiting Dr. Roy's Chiropractic Clinic since last year and very pleased with the results so far!
    Thank you so much Dr. Roy!"
    Stephan S.
  • "BACK, KNEES AND HIPS BETTER! Since starting treatments with Dr. Roy not only is my back better and I now know what the issues are - his gentle chiropractic approach has helped my back, knees and hips. Thanks Dr. Roy"
    Susan E.