The Role of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) in Postoperative Analgesia

Abstract

Pain is the most common presenting symptom in medicine. It can occur in any part of the body and affect any system. It can be acute or chronic, episodic or continuous, and occurring regularly or irregularly. It is required to classify pain states to provide an understanding of pain disorders. Pain is generally classified as nociceptive, neuropathic, idiopathic, psychogenic, and mixed. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is the delivery of pulsed electrical currents across the intact surface of the skin to stimulate peripheral nerves, principally for pain relief. TENS treatment is usually self administered by the patient. A portable, battery-powered TENS device is used to produce the electrical currents and these are delivered to the body using self adhering electrodes attached to the surface of the skin. TENS is inexpensive, with a good safety profile compared with medication. TENS devices are available without prescription. Robust safety guidelines have been published by professional bodies to guide judgements about the appropriateness of TENS in certain situations.