The TENS Blog

It would be a wonderful thing to be able to say there are no politics behind the use of such versatile and useful equipment as Sustained Mobile TENS therapy devices.

Unfortunately, its simply not the case.

Year after year, for what’s now approaching several decades, manufacturers of electrical therapy devices have watched on as less effective, more expensive and potentially dangerous therapies have taken favour amongst health care providers.

Year after year, advocates of Sustained Mobile TENS have had to sit back and watch, while giant pharmaceutical companies with hundred million dollar marketing budgets “educate” doctors about their wonderful new (and potentially lethal) “medications”. Vioxx anyone?

Year after year, the question continues to be asked:–

Why is Sustained Mobile TENS (or even TENS in general) still not considered a treatment of choice for pain relief, healing and rehabilitation when there is so much evidence to support it? If it is used, why is the last choice?

Reliance on health care providers for guidance

Australia’s Health and Pharmaceutical Benefits Schemes are formulated on the advice of our medical providers, legislators and health care administrators. With the exception of doctors, legislators and administrators mostly have no medical training, so fairly, they have no knowledge on which to base decisions than that of their “advisers”.

In the main, legislation is reliant on the advice provided by doctors – advice that has a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. Advice that directs funds into the provision of ever more expensive techniques, resulting in escalating costs that have no end in sight. Advice that apparently has no opinion about Sustained Mobile TENS and other cost-cutting self care measures.

The escalating cost of health care has long been a major concern to many of Australia’s leaders. However, the policy advisers are also the primary recipients of these tax-payer dollars. So asking them, the service providers, to endorse measures that reduce costs is asking them to endorse a pay cut. End result – no such advice or endorsement is forthcoming.

Lopsided funding of Health Care

The political consequences of an entrenched system, perceived cost savings and lack of knowledge has resulted in a lopsided allocation of health care funding.

Funding benefits are directed to health care providers who treat the sick and injured – resulting in the proliferation of ‘fee for service’ health care providers. These fees are expected to be reimbursed by the government, or by those who are able to insure against the cost.

There is practically no incentive in Australia’s health care system for the provision of funding directed to individuals who wish to take positive action in caring for their own state of health.

Until the government and insurers realize personal health care should be promoted and funded appropriately, the cost of our national health care system will continue to rise. And all the while, those that need it will be unknowingly denied access to a form of self-care therapy that could significantly ease their burden.

Adoption of Sustained Mobile TENS

Imagine the savings if GP’s were to embrace and encourage the use of intensively applied Sustained Mobile TENS instead of automatically prescribing analgesics, anti-inflammatories and sedative medication for relief of arthritic and musculoskeletal pain.

Imagine the savings if GP’s were to embrace and encourage the use of intensively applied Sustained Mobile TENS instead of prescribing multiple pharmaceuticals, having patients attend for intensive physiotherapy, risk an Investigative - Consultancy - Treatment - Roundabout and undergo what may well be unnecessary surgery.

Savings

While governments and health care insurers are saying they need to reduce the high costs of our present health care system, they’re simply not adopting the measures to obtain the substantial potential savings achievable with the use of Sustained Mobile TENS.

The reasons and evidence is everywhere.

The Commonwealth Pharmaceuticals Benefits Scheme has no provision to subsidize the cost of advanced TENS or Sustained Mobile TENS systems, even though pharmaceuticals are now costing the Federal Government billions of dollars per year.

Community health care centres and state hospitals have minimal provisions to make advanced Sustained Mobile TENS systems available, although the cost of providing a system to a patient may be far less than a single hospital outpatient visit (orthopaedics department).

The provision of Sustained Mobile TENS may be in many cases all the patient requires and could negate the need for multiple return visits.

I feel this point’s very clearly illustrated in my recent four year study of Sustained Mobile TENS users; 67.1% belived they had reduced their need for medical services (doctors, physiotherapists & chiropractors) as well as hospitalisation. This is a staggering figure if you think about what it means when applied in terms of whole country. Or the world.

Compulsory and private health care insurers are generally not aware of the substantial savings available to themselves and to their contributors with the use of multiple modality Sustained Mobile TENS devices.

Many private health insurance funds are now offering refunds on the purchase of TENS, but only as part of their top extras cover. This is great news, but it still doesn’t address the problem of people actually knowing what TENS, or Sustained Mobile TENS actually is, and how it can help them.

Is the Adoption of Sustained Mobile TENS expecting too much?

Is it asking too much of the professional health care provider to champion the cause of TENS for personal health care? It would seem the answer is yes…

The practice of medicine is largely involved in consulting, counseling, drug prescription, performing surgery, etc.. Medical practice isn’t involved in patient self care, therefore the self care nature of TENS is of minor interest.

Physical therapists and other para-medical practitioners are unable to provide the space or time required for extended therapy, or treatment out of office hours, that’s so vital to the success of electrotherapy treatment.

Professionals do not see any advantage for themselves in a patient self-treatment system.

The very nature of self care Sustained Mobile TENS is against the interests of health care providers. Imagine a therapist recommending a piece of equipment for a patient that would reduce the need for the therapist who made the recommendation – both for the current ailment and any future physical problems.

It appears the therapeutic effectiveness, ease of use and low cost is a stumbling block to the recommendation of TENS by health professionals. Those professionals that do use electrical stimulation as a treatment method, usually use very bulky and expensive equipment. Not only does this equipment offer no significant advantage over Sustained Mobile TENS, but the high price tag imparts on them an ‘exclusivity’ that precludes patients from obtaining that equipment for themselves.

Where Sustained Mobile TENS is having success

Not surprisingly, Sustained Mobile TENS has been accepted, but only by specific groups of people:

• By those who have been taken in circles by the current medical system, without getting closer to a solution.
• By those who cannot physically tolerate the use of analgesics or anti-inflammatories, and by those who wish to reduce their intake of medications.
• By those in remote regions without easy access to a range of health professionals.
• By those who wish to save money, time and travel going to and from health professionals.

Denial of Human Rights

I’m not familiar with the systems of other countries, but all Australians must pay compulsory levies for their health care – but due to the nature of the system as it is today, they’re restricted in their access to Sustained Mobile TENS.

This is a gross denial of very basic human rights – the right to free and accurate information, freedom of choice and the freedom to be self reliant.

Frankly, there are people who are missing out on adequate health care, and for a range of reasons:

• There are those who are unable to tolerate the adverse side effects of anti-inflammatory medication and opiate based pain medication – and are being offered no recourse such as the use of Sustained Mobile TENS.
• There are those who simply don’t wish to take medication, or as much as may be prescribed by their physicians.
• There are those who need physical therapy, but just can’t afford to spend the money or the time to get the level of treatment they require – or the level they deserve.

All this is a sad and seemingly hopeless state of affairs. And after struggling with it for so long, there are times when I feel it’s all too much myself.

But there is an answer.

There is a way the minds and hearts of people in decision making positions can be swayed. And that is, quite simply, the power of personal experience and proof.

As time goes on, more and more people come across Sustained Mobile TENS and see it for what it is. They tell their friends. And their friends tell more friends.

As time goes on, more and more research evidence accumulates as to the effectiveness of this therapy. Members of the scientific community read these papers. And they pass these papers onto their friends. And their friends tell more friends.

I am a firm believer that there will come a time when politicians and policy advisers can no longer ignore the weight of all these voices. At that time, walls that were once only cracked, will crumble and allow the flood waters of truth to spill forth. In all honesty, I can’t say when that day will come. But it will. And then everyone will benefit from the knowledge we now take for granted.