Livia TENS Unit: What Patients Should Know

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, or TENS, uses adhesive electrodes placed on intact skin near a painful area. The device delivers adjustable pulses; people commonly describe the sensation as tingling. It is intended for symptom relief and does not repair a fracture, remove inflammation, or identify the cause of pain. Relief can vary, and the right placement and setting depend on the body area and the person's condition.

A clinician or physiotherapist can help decide whether TENS fits your pain pattern. Pain that is new, unexplained, rapidly worsening, or associated with weakness, fever, injury, or altered sensation needs assessment rather than being covered up with a device.

Follow the device instructions and place electrodes only on clean, intact skin. Start with a comfortable intensity and stop if there is burning, sharp pain, dizziness, skin irritation, or an unusual reaction. Do not place electrodes across the front of the neck, over the eyes or mouth, on broken skin, or across the chest. Keep the unit away from water and inspect the skin after use. Ask a healthcare professional before use if you have an implanted electrical device, are pregnant, have reduced sensation, or are unsure where electrodes belong.

Stop using the unit and seek advice for a persistent rash, blistering, worsening pain, new weakness, or altered sensation. Seek urgent help for chest pain, fainting, breathing difficulty, or sudden neurological symptoms. A TENS unit should not delay evaluation after a significant injury or when pain is accompanied by fever or marked swelling.

Ask whether TENS is suitable for your diagnosis, where electrodes should sit, and which settings are reasonable to try. Ask how to combine it with exercise or other treatment and what symptoms mean you should stop.