Self-prescribed T E N S And Ultrasound Possible?

[wpcoe]

A couple years ago I injured my lower back, and a doctor at BNH (I was in Bangkok at the time) prescribed TENS and ultrasound treatments administered by the Physical Therapy department of Bangkok Hospital Pattaya (since I live in the Pattaya area).

I just re-injured my lower back today while taking a shower. <sigh...> The pain during the injury and now after the injury seem the same as two years ago.

Can I simply go to the P-T department at BHP and request TENS and ultrasound, or must it be "prescribed" by a doctor?

The reason I ask, is this hospital has a reputation of imposing services that are not required, and want to know what the proper protocol should be if I simply show up at the P-T department.

I started taking a muscle-relaxant (Mydocalm) and an anti-inflammatory (Difelene) today. I'm going to see how I feel in the morning, and if I feel no better, will go to the hospital. I just want some background info before I go.

[Sheryl]

You can buy your own TENs machine and self-administer as needed.

I got mine online but people have reported finding them at Pantip Plaza ground floor in Bkk.

Ultrasound heat, I don't know if they'll just do on demand but you can try. Might also try the PT in Bumrungrad, it's on mezzanine floor tucked off in a corner past the ATM.

Let us know if you succeed, lots of us have wondered the same thing. Ultrsound heat is fabulous for aching back muscles....!!!

[wpcoe]

Thanks, Sheryl, for the info on buying a TENS machine. I had no idea they were consumer items.

I lucked out this time. I took two courses of pills yesterday (mid-afternoon & evening) and went to bed around midnight. I was feeling a little better at bedtime. Woke up this morning at 0800 and I'm almost back to normal! I still am taking the pills, just in case they are the reason, but I suspect my body managed to heal itself somehow in very short order. I took morning and noon pills today, and will skip the evening round and see if I'm okay.

I will be on the lookout for TENS equipment. Not sure where to look here in Pattaya, but next time I'm in Bangkok I'll check out Pantip. The combo of TENS + ultrasound when I first injured my back was great at reducing the pain.

[Sheryl]

While not as great as ultrasound heat, a plain electric heating pad (available in any large pharmacy) can also be quite helpful.

Be sure to take the anti-inflammatory on full stomach, can be very irritating otherwise

[wpcoe]

FYI, I didn't take the pills yesterday evening and the pain and stiffness started to return by 1000pm, so I'm back on the pills. They really do work!

Thanks for mentioning the heating pad. I probably wouldn't have tried that. The first night after I wrenched my back I took a long hot bath thinking it would relax me. It did, until about five minutes after I got out of the tub and my body started cooling down. The pain at that point was so intense from even the smallest movement in bed that I had to concentrate on just breathing. Somehow I drifted off to sleep, and when I woke up, the pain was the "normal" pain so that I could at least get dressed to go to the hospital. Based on that heat-related experience, I would not have considered a heating pad, but with your recommendation, I will if the pain returns. I never associated the ultrasound with heat, since it didn't feel warm, it just felt relaxing and the pain lessened.

So far, these pills I'm taking are a godsend.