As valued readers realize by now, whenever I experience something unusual I believe could help someone as much as it does me, I'm not shy about sharing it. So it is with today's message for those like me with ailing or arthritic backs, knees, hips or necks--you name the pain location, one of us likely is enjoying at least one.
My right hip was replaced in 2003 by Dr. William Hefley in Little Rock. It's still functioning great but the muscles around it can get sore after exercising, so I appreciate relief where I can find it.
I was strolling the main street at the Branson Landing (where so many of us Arkansans from the Ozarks often while away warm weather afternoons) when one of several outdoor kiosks caught my eye. Like most such outdoor venues, it was selling a self-administered product advertised to be "Better than traditional TENS" treatments for all types of joint and muscle pains.
I've only become familiar with the decades-old TENS technology in the past year. The acronym stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and the technology uses bioelectrical signals sent through the central nervous system to block pain receptors at the injury site, much like strong painkilling drugs. The treatment requires a somewhat awkward assortment of wires attached to a battery powered pack that generates the pulse.
What caught my eye in this kiosk was the bright, smiling young faces staffing it and their eagerness to have me attach a wireless muscle-stimulating gel pad and see for myself how much this technology has changed when it comes to treating pain.
I'm sure many of you realize all too well that chronic and increasing pains come naturally with aging. And with the recent federal crackdown on all forms of prescription opioid painkillers because of their addictive nature and potential negative side effects, a lot of folks are searching for other ways to halt the hurts.
At any rate, I met an Israeli-born young man named Elad at this kiosk who told me he's a partner in the Hi-Dow USA company of Maryland Heights, Mo., which distributes the state-of-the-art yet simplified and compact technology. Elad explained how the variety of small, hand-held devices in Hi-Dow's TENS/EMS system (including the wireless version) basically send soothing electrical pulses to intercept pain before the brain knows it's even happening. In the process, he said, the level of stimulation (that can be set on different modes) stimulates production of endorphins while relaxing muscles.
"The net result is that pains are overcome immediately in a natural and therapeutic way rather than through drugs," he said. "And they are guaranteed and FDA-approved as medical devices."
He said the Hi-Dow version of TENS treatment is advanced in that, rather than sending a single form of electrical signal (to which the brain can attune itself and thereby lose effectiveness), the Hi-Dow version uses between six and 18 varieties of soothing pulses that remain unpredictable and therefore effective.
Elad said his company already has standing stores in several states and another is scheduled to open this summer at Branson Landing, complete with massage beds and the latest in water massage technology. Meanwhile, the kiosk near the Landing's fountains contained any number of glowing reviews from across Missouri and as far away as Pennsylvania. For instance, Marcus Capps from St. Louis wrote that his device was the only thing he'd found to relieve a constantly aching back.
Being skeptical oldies seasoned by the passage of decades (I liked writing that), we were nonetheless intrigued, especially when Elad said Medicare and its related supplements often will cover part or all of the costs of these machines (that run from $100 on up) depending on one's medical circumstances.
Knowing how Jeanetta, after vehicle wrecks and other life experiences, for years has endured chronic pain in her neck, back and knee ... and with my replaced hip ... and with each of us in the early winter of life ... and with the rising cost of pain medications ... and with the side effects they carry ... and with the knowledge that nothing is fun when you're continually in pain, I whipped out my wallet and made a purchase.
Since then I'm pleased to report the handy-dandy wireless "Hidy-ho TENS-y thingy" is indeed simple to use, plus it actually does what it says it will. Further proof yet again that, while there may indeed be suckers born every minute, this time we happened across something, well, let's say shockingly different and without any negative interaction or side effects.
In the end, after stopping by a kiosk on a whim, young Elad became happy. We became happy. Birds were singing happy springtime songs and the pains we'd felt were finally gone.
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Mike Masterson's column appears regularly in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Email him at mmasterson@arkansasonline.com.
Editorial on 04/23/2017