Can I Use SportstimTM at the same time as I use medication? Yes. SportstimTM will not have interactions with drugs or other medications you may be taking. In fact, SportstimTM should be used in conjunction with other forms of therapy to gain the best response out of the overall treatment. How strong should I set the intensity on my Sportstim? Everyone is different, so the intensity each person needs is different. Try a low intensity first, so the tingling feeling is comfortable. If after some time you find that the pain relief is not adequate, you might try turning up the intensity until the pulses feel stronger. You may notice that after having your Sportstim going for a period that the stimulation feels weaker. this occurs because your body has become accustomed to the impulses. If you wish to, increase the intensity slightly until you can feel it again. How long should I use my Sportstim for? And how often? You can use Sportstim for as long as you need to, and as often as you need to. For acute, severe pain or injury it may be used as sustained full day applications, and for night pain you may use it while sleeping. for accelerated healing of injuries, we recommend wearing SportstimTM as long and as often as possible, at lower power levels. How can I get the most out of my Sportstim? Like all pain management and injury recovery techniques, TENS systems work to a different extent for different people. Research around the world has continually shown TENS gives good to excellent pain relief in 80-90% of cases. If, in using your SportstimTM, you have so far not achieved good relief it may mean you are in that percentage of people for whom TENS has limited results. However, follow the suggestions given here to ensure the effectiveness of treatment is maximised to you. 1. Some people get great results the first time they use their SportstimTM. Others need to try it over a few days before they achieve suitable results. 2. Try turning the intensity a bit higher. At higher intensities the impulses spread out more in your body, stimulating your nerves, and giving better pain relief. If the stimulation is uncomfortable - turn it down a bit. 3. Are you using it long enough? Don't be surprised if the best results are obtained using your SportstimTM three times a day - just like taking a regular dose of oral pain killers. In this way, the endorphins are maintained at a level more conducive to experiencing less pain. 4. Remember that TENS is not a cure for the condition causing pain. It can, for instance, reduce your lower back pain - thereby allowing you to get on with the things you want to do. And it can speed the rate at which muscle and ligament injuries heal. But as a general rule, SportstimTM is not a cure for most conditions. 5. SportstimTM is not a magic fix, and so will not make your pain "disappear". It is a personal health care treatment for use in speeding up injury recovery, and for pain relief. For some people with particularly severe pain, the best they can expect from their TENS is that it will dull the pain. For many of these people, this is a great benefit. 6. Many health professionals can give invaluable advice on TENS. Often the best advice are obtained with ongoing medical assessment and advice. 7. There are, of course, other treatments that can be used in conjunction with SportstimTM. It is possible that your overall treatment can be greatly enhanced if TENS therapy is combined with other therapies and treatments. Can TENS harm me? If used correctly, TENS will not harm you. Here is a list of recommended precautions to take when using TENS: 1. SportstimTM should only be used after the condition or injury has been adequately diagnosed. 2. Do not place the electrodes over the eyes, the front of the throat or in the vicinity of a heart pace-maker. People with pace-makers may use TENS, but only with medical supervision. 3. Do not use in cases of tuberculosis, malignant tumours, high or low blood pressure, high fever or acute inflammatory disease. 4. Do not place electrodes over skin that is wet from bathing or excessive sweating, or over broken skin, psoriasis or similar conditions. Remember to keep electrodes at least 2cm apart. 5. Absence of pain does not necessarily mean the injury or problem has been overcome. Once pain relief has occurred, one should not undertake activities that may worsen the condition. 6. If used for a long period of time, the skin under the electrodes will tend to sweat more readily, and may become irritated (as would any area of the skin not allowed to breathe). If this should occur, simply move the electrodes to a fresh patch of skin. 7. SportstimTM should not be used while driving a car or operating moving machinery. 8. Do not pass the stimulus through the uterus during pregnancy or menstruation. (For the line of current to pass through the uterus, one electrode would need to be on the back and the other would need to be over the stomach). Positioning both electrodes over the back or over the stomach is safe. Where can I put the Electrodes so they are Safe? Also, never place electrodes in such a way that stimulation would travel through the uterus in times of pregnancy or menstruation. Mostly, these are all situations that one would avoid as a matter of common Never put the electrodes over the eyes, in the mouth, over broken skin, over a rash or psoriasis, over the front of the throat, in the chest region if you have heart problems or a pace-maker, or over the genitals. sense. The pulses feel like they are stinging me. This could be caused by a few things: 1. Ensure the electrodes are not placed over a cut or rash, or the pulses are not passing through such an area. 2. Ensure the electrodes have not been placed on wet or sweaty skin. 3. Your PreGelled Electrodes may be wearing out. Try a new pair. PreGelled Electrodes are a disposable item, and require regular replacement. Their lifespan varies from 1 to 100 hours, depending on usage.