Will TENS ease your chronic whiplash pain?

Chronic whiplash is a condition in which sufferers may find themselves in pain over a long period of time. As many methods of pain relief come with side effects, including addiction, a method of analgesia that does not threaten side effects is something to be hoped for.

TENS is a system used in the UK and around the world that claims to satisfy this hope of those with such a neck injury. The name stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and, as the name suggests, it involves applying electrical charges to the nervous system using a small, hand-held apparatus.

This means it is a non-invasive treatment, and drug-free. Its popularity around the world is telling - there are 450,000 users in Canada yearly - and it is used directly by the sufferer when the pain from hyperflexion demands it, without the need for a medical professional.

So why is there resistance in the UK? Partly, it seems, because the research that has been done on the process has not shown any difference between the TENS treatment and a fake, or placebo, device in the reduction of pain. However, this study (from 1997, undertaken by the Pain Research Unit at Oxford University) is directly applicable to acute pain, and does acknowledge that there is a possibility that the system may work in cases of long-term pain, such as chronic whiplash.

There are also strong warnings against people with pacemakers or a history of epilepsy using a TENS machine.

How does TENS work?
Most practitioners using TENS believe that its pain-relieving effects are achieved by switching off the nerves carrying the pain signal, and by encouraging the body to produce its own pain-relieving chemicals, endorphins. Manufacturers claim that relief may persist for several hours after usage.

As these appliances use electricity, those who use them should not use them near water.

Making a chronic pain compensation claim
If you have suffered a hyperflexion injury that was not your fault, you may be able to make a compensation claim. Whether through a car crash or a sports accident, you could be eligible to claim damages to cover distress, medical costs and lost earnings.

To find out if you have a case, call YouClaim now - our expert advisors will be able to talk through the details of your situation, and connect you with a personal injury solicitor with skills in the area of whiplash law.

All the personal injury solicitors that we work with are drawn from firms governed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, so you can be sure that you have an excellent no win, no fee lawyer working on your case. You can also feel financially secure in the knowledge that we make no charge in a whiplash case, win or lose, and that we guarantee that 100% compensation will pass to you in a successful claim.

We can be reached online, through e-chat or our claim form, or you can call a compensation claim advisor on 0800 10 757 95. We look forward to helping you make your whiplash claim.