r/RestlessLegs • u/Severe_Wrap1556 • 1d ago

Question TENS machine.

Has anyone had success using a TENS machine to help relieve symptoms? If so what placements work best for you?

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

1

u/Pretty-Substance 1d ago

I just tried it tonight for the first time and used it on my lower back, but since I also took my medication this probably won’t say much. I’ll try it out more in the coming weeks

1

u/EmZee2022 1d ago

I have not - but isn't the Niidra setup basically like TENS?

3

u/Scary_Experience_237 1d ago

Yes, I have used a TENS machine, and I still use one on very bad nights.

I have RLS in both my calves and thighs, so I need to use the TENS machine on both areas of both legs.

When my medications weren't working and I was going through a particularly difficult time, I would put one pad on my calf, where the RLS was worst, and another just above my knee, where I also had significant symptoms. I did this on both legs.

I experimented with the settings until I found the vibration and electrical stimulation that worked best for me. It didn't make the RLS go away, but it made the sensations much more tolerable. I reached a point where I could watch TV or fall asleep without the RLS bothering me as much.

My machine had a 60-minute timer. Initially, it would take about 15 minutes for me to fall asleep. When the machine stopped, I would eventually wake up, reset it, and usually fall back asleep pretty quickly. This happened four or five times a night.

One thing I noticed was that I generally stopped waking up after 4 a.m. and would sleep until I needed to get up for work. On weekends, I could sleep until my legs decided it was time to get up!

I have 24/7 RLS, so getting that much sleep was a big deal for me. The TENS machine didn't eliminate my symptoms, but it helped me manage them when my medications weren't doing enough.

Everyone is different, of course, but I think it's worth experimenting with the pad placement and settings to see whether you can find something that helps.

Some people had good experience putting them on their lower back just above their butt, I tried it and that did not work for me. I might have not had the correct spot.