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Sharper Image TENS Back Pain Relief System
$39.99 + $5 Shipping
Condition: New

Product List:
- 1 Sharper Image MQ710 TENS Back Pain Relief System

*DISCLAIMER* Wootalyzer! is in no way affiliated with Woot!, and this post may not always be here!

http://www.amazon.com/Sharper-Technology-Relief-System-Machine/dp/B002G4CNC6

$99 at AMAZON.

how safe are these in the hands of a layman?

$50 at Amazon.

Anyone want to buy some extra pads?

Has anyone actually used one of these things? What kind of results have you had for moderate back pain?

Tonicisserious wrote:how safe are these in the hands of a layman?

I believe the correct question is "Do these hurt in the 'prank somebody with them' range of pain?"

This is, of course, a bunch of high-tech snake oil. But hey, it's your money.

3.0 stars on Buzzillions.
http://www.buzzillions.com/reviews/dmi-back-pain-relief-system-tens-belt-technology-reviews

For those interested...

TENS = Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcutaneous_electrical_nerve_stimulation

OR

TENS = Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Syndrome
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxic_epidermal_necrolysis

Frankly, I could do without either one...

I know a lot of people got the extra pads for these on the Christmas Day sack of carp. check back to that forum if you want to buy more, im sure they'll go cheap.

Very tempted to but since my Lumbar has been KILLING me l8ly. Need some user reviews to actually buy tho...it aint like its $10 or something.

Here's just a bit more information on what TENS is.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcutaneous_electrical_nerve_stimulation

Sharper Image makes a TENS unit? Well, it's probably loads cheaper than one you'd buy at a medical supply store. Can't speak for the quality, though.

CAUTION: DO NOT USE IF YOU WEAR A PACE-MAKER! PLEASE!

My mom has some pretty horrible back pain and goes for physical therapy. Maybe I should get this for her... Early Birthday present

my chiropractor uses somethin like this, obviously a littler more advanced, but if its like that, this thing is legit and helps a lot... checkin out reviews. standby

Some comments from a previous showing during a Woot-Off:

LINK

I know this showed up as a regular woot offering before, but I can't seem to find it.

EDIT: Well, the entry from Nov. 16th is HERE, but you can't seem to get to the comments. Possibly something to do with it being before the merger into deals.woot.

FYI: This thing is an electronic acupuncture machine without the needles.

Acupuncture is a totally unscientific Chinese "treatment" based on both astrology and the idea that human bodies have some sort of ethereal energy flowing through them.

The best studies into acupuncture have shown that there is no difference whatsoever between fake acupuncture (i.e. acupuncture done at random points) and "real" acupuncture, and that neither performs better than a standard placebo.

Waste your money if you want, but the same "treatment" could be achieved for free with a good sugar pill.

I started using a TENS unit from a physical therapist following some serious injuries ... They are safe and they work to "distract" a person from their pain. They do not treat the pain, but they do stimulate the muscles and nerves where the sensors are placed. It feels like pins and needles and you can control how strong the sensations get. If you have serious or chronic pain, especially back pain, this unit can work for you but do not expect a miracle, it simply averts your attention from the main source of the pain.

Did I read that right? It shocks your back to help relieve pain?

I bought one of these in a previous wooting. Love it. The lowest setting is very mild and the highest is quite shocking ;). It was also very easy to use.

based on the ad copy, must be made in China
"... noninvasive, no addictive ... "

heh heh

seventoes wrote:I believe the correct question is "Do these hurt in the 'prank somebody with them' range of pain?"

Everyone will have a different threshold of pain, definitely. Will this go above your threshold of pain? Quite possibly.

We use ours for experimenting with electricity, not for fixing issues, and it's a lot of fun. Turn it up high and watch your body shake. It's not a long term pain; it subsides a short while after you lower or turn off the unit.

I do know people who have been helped with the doctor prescribed TENS units, though.

$99 to $150 at amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Sharper-Technology-Relief-System-Machine/dp/B002G4CNC6
Gets good reviews, but no one mentions how its powered? normal batteries? rechargeable? Or the silly little button batteries that will cost you more than the unit did to replace?

As for the claim that "my chiropractor uses this so it's legit": Chiropractic, similarly is based on the idea that energy is flowing through your body, and by aligning your spine, you ease the flow of the energy and cause beneficial changes in various parts of the body.

It's complete and utter nonsense. It's a placebo that pays for the practitioner's Corvette.

do they come in different sizes? XL or larger?

I have been using a TENS unit for 20 years and can attest to their effectiveness. I swear this unit has helped me recover 10 times faster from two knee and two back surgeries.

Don't you need a prescription for a TENS unit or any electrotherapy device?

healthedprof wrote:I started using a TENS unit from a physical therapist following some serious injuries ... They are safe and they work to "distract" a person from their pain. They do not treat the pain, but they do stimulate the muscles and nerves where the sensors are placed. It feels like pins and needles and you can control how strong the sensations get. If you have serious or chronic pain, especially back pain, this unit can work for you but do not expect a miracle, it simply averts your attention from the main source of the pain.

What you're describing definitely isn't this, because this thing bases its claims on pseudoscience.

I found out the hard way today that you really want to have the belt *tight* on these things. I've got a Medisana and it's been getting a little loose lately, and I had it on while I bent over to pick something up. The pad slipped and the electrode in the belt came in contact with my skin... holy CARP that hurt!

Do they work? For me, it takes the edge off the pain. That's huge.

good for pain relief of the latissimus dorsi after a tough workout

I'm a little concerned over power output. The on I use at physical therapy plugs in the wall. How much power can this thing put out running off batteries. At least I assume it's batteries due to the units size, since nothing is stated.

ill buy some pads if anyones got for sale, i bought a similar product off woot a while ago and pads wore off, but what kind of batteries does this thing use? the one i bought uses 9V batteries and rechargeables dont last for 15min. ao constantly buying new 9V batteries gets kind of expensive

I have used this before and it works great for moderate pain. It gives an instant relief for most muscle pain in the low back.

I own a TENS unit. I use it for relief for chronic lower back and abdominal pain. It works very, very well. Half an hour with the unit provides the same amount of pain relief I receive from prescription pain killers.

However, I would strongly urge anyone considering purchasing and/or using one to speak with their regular doctor before use. Unregulated use can actually be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. Using a TENS unit instead of finding a root cause probably isn't the best thing you can do for your health.

Specifically related to the claim that acupuncture (and devices based on the concept of acupuncture) can relieve back pain:

It doesn't.

spd2base wrote:Very tempted to but since my Lumbar has been KILLING me l8ly. Need some user reviews to actually buy tho...it aint like its $10 or something.

If you really want relief, go to a Brookstone store, try out their new $4000 full body massage chair and float home with your $10 and immediate satisfaction ... Just my 2 cents based upon what I did a few days ago....

FreePlayPSP wrote:FYI: This thing is an electronic acupuncture machine without the needles.

Acupuncture is a totally unscientific Chinese "treatment" based on both astrology and the idea that human bodies have some sort of ethereal energy flowing through them.

The best studies into acupuncture have shown that there is no difference whatsoever between fake acupuncture (i.e. acupuncture done at random points) and "real" acupuncture, and that neither performs better than a standard placebo.

Waste your money if you want, but the same "treatment" could be achieved for free with a good sugar pill.

Let me get this straight-so when Kissinger and Nixon were in China and Kissinger had his appendix removed by acupuncture and no anesthia (these are all documented historical facts) that could have been done with a placebo or a sugar pill??
Come on-acupuncture is real sir!