How to Use a TENS Unit for Sciatic Nerve Pain Relief

It’s important to know where the sciatic nerve pain is originating from for the best treatment.

When the sciatic nerve is pressed, you might feel pain, numbness, tingling, shooting, or sharp pain. The nerve can get compressed at the spine or at the piriformis muscle. When it’s getting compressed at the spine, it can be from a herniated disc, stenosis, bone spurs, or degeneration. Once you know where the pain is originating from it is easier to target treatment areas.


Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) can be a good way to help relieve sciatic pain so stretches and exercises can be done that are needed to help the healing process. When TENS is used at the spine, it’s best to not feel any muscle contractions.


Wireless TENS units are a great option for the back and spine area because you don’t have to worry about getting the cords tangled. The iReliev TENS / EMS wireless unit is not only wireless, but it also has 14 different modes to help you get the best option for pain relief. Their large pads also make it easy to place over a larger area, like your back, to get the best coverage.


TENS units have channels (usually one or two), each channel controls two electrodes. With a wireless unit, often the channel has one larger electrode for easier placement. If you are using a wired TENS unit, you want each channel to cross in an X pattern to get the best coverage.

Other Ask Doctor Jo Videos:

iReliev Wireless TENS / EMS Therapeutic Wearable System Review

How to Use a Percussion Massager for Shoulder & Neck Pain Relief

===========================================

Dr. Jo is a Physical Therapist and Doctor of Physical Therapy.

===========================================

How to Use a TENS Unit for Sciatic Nerve Pain Relief:

DISCLAIMER: This content (the video, description, links, and comments) is not medical advice or a personalized treatment plan and is intended for general education and demonstration purposes only. Perform the moves in this content at your own risk. These moves may not be appropriate for your specific situation, so get approval and guidance from your own healthcare provider before beginning. If anything is painful or doesn’t feel right, stop immediately and contact your healthcare provider.

Don’t use this content to self-diagnose or self-treat any health, medical, or physical condition. Don’t use this content to avoid going to your own healthcare provider or to replace the advice they give you. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Ask Doctor Jo, LLC, its officers, employees, and contractors for any and all losses, injuries, or damages resulting from any and all claims that arise from your use or misuse of this content. Ask Doctor Jo, LLC makes no representations about the accuracy or suitability of this content.

PRODUCT PLACEMENT DISCLAIMER: This video contains paid product placement. Thank you to iReliev for sponsoring this video and providing Doctor Jo with a free Wireless TENS/EMS Unit to use.

[AskDoctorJo]

Don't forget to hit the 🔴 *SUBSCRIBE* 🔴 button above! *Find all of my videos at **youtube.com/askdoctorjo*

[MyPlantsAgainstTheWorld]

Doctor Jo, as a 26 year old, who is experiencing near immobility due to back pain for the first time in her life; I love you so so much! The exercises you show are all actually save and doable (other channels show exercises you can’t possibly do without excruciating pain) and relieve lots of the pain!

Thanks for all your informative videos !!

[vedder]

Between this and your inversion table video I'm in heaven when it comes to my back pain relief. I've had a TENS machine for years and never new where to place the pads. Although I like this wireless one much better. Might be time to upgrade.

[lildoobers]

I was like let's see what they're trying to sell me in this video 🙄 then I see it's from Dr. Jo and I sat right up in my seat ready to take notes. You're the best, Dr. Jo!

[AjOrtiz]

Yup much better placment then I was using for the pads thanks!

[phdboycat]

I use my Aleve brand TENS unit all the time! Wireless and very powerful to stop spasming.

[nixonfleming]

I have Stacia pain I used all types stretching methods rise knee or lay down put one leg over other grab knee try stretch other knee toward left with right knee use resistance bands around knees try loose up hip muscles and lower back and take salt bath .even use ibuprofen and heating pads for pain even ice .I feel likev80 years old I have be very careful when I bend over or try sitting down I have hard time sleeping. I put my legs on bunch pillows raise leg up couple itches see help take pressure of I may by one of those willow pillows u can put both legs on it put on bed take pressure off .and get one for knees I sleep on my side.

[michaelmcfarland]

Excellent vid! Easily understood and explained in “normal” language.

[EsKaYf]

I use a Tenz, but I find streching helped permanently, especially where the nerve passes through the lower back. Then streching the piriformis muscle.
I have used the ones you did, I now have no pain.

[darkpassenger]

Can you explain how/why the electrical stimulation would relieve sciatica pain due to piriformis irritation.

[EmorettaRobinson]

Hi. I was told last year that I have degenerative discs in my back, a disc out of place in my back (the S1 I believe), arthritis in my back( I didn't know that it was possible to have arthritis in your back), sciatica down my whole left leg from the hip to my toes and bone on bone in both of my knees. To be blunt... I am in pain. Not sometimes, not most of the time. I'm in pain all day and all night. I wake up during the night in pain. I wake up in the morning in pain. I have a 55 lb red heeler that I walk 3 times a day. I dread doing this because I'm in pain. I feel like a horrible person because of it. It's not my dogs fault that I'm in pain. At the end of December and the second week in January I had the nerves burned along each side of my spine. My spine Dr said this would give me 2 years of not being in pain because since the nerves sends the signals to the brain that there's pain. And they can't send that signal if they've been burned. Then I'd be pain free. I felt absolutely no difference. Meaning I was still in pain. About 2 months ago I had my 3rd epidural in my back. I'm still in pain. I've also had 4 steroid injections in both knees since last August. And 3 lubricant injections in both knees. I've used Tiger Balm, Capsaicin, Lidocaine, icy hot patches. I've made golden milk. Which has turmeric, ginger, black pepper to activate the turmeric, almond milk and a tablespoon of honey. I've also gone through physical therapy. And I have pain in my but which I was told is from the nerves and the disc being out of place in my lower back. I use a foam roller. I do stretches. I'm in an excruciating amount of pain. This video was the first time that I could actually see what was going on. So thank you for making the video to begin with. And thank you for using the prop. Because I was seriously wondering what the pain in my butt had to do with my back. Meaning I needed an illustration and a good explanation. Now your video didn't take away the pain. But at least it explained it. My Drs have not done that. I felt that not only was I not being heard when I spoke to them. But I also felt like my body was defective because nothing they've done and no medication that they've prescribed has helped. So again, thank you so much. 🙂❤

[HumanGoodOne]

Thank you Dr. Jo.
Today I purchased my first Tens& Ems machine. EV - 806.
After a year !! of struggling with sciatica and periformis syndrome I finally hope to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Help me God!
Thanks to this lady at the store that I had a brief chat with about our pains and back problems. She mentioned the Dr.Ho's machine. (I was clueless.)
She gave me few tips and off she went. Wonderful kind person.😖

Here I am. Got my first machine today. I'm so hopeful that it will help.
I'm tired, sleep deprived and my liver loaded with painkillers.
Thank you for you channel and yourpositivity. I hope to find more information here.

[boutrosboutrosboutrosboutros]

Thank you! I really wanted to use my TENS machine and didnt really know if it was a good idea. I am using 2 electrodes over the glute area as this is wher I have my pain often. I am letting it contract the muscle a bit it feels pretty good

[TalonSky]

Dude I've been using a wired Tens for years and I never knew I was supposed to cross the electrodes like that!

[realestateinfonet]

Superb info! Thank you very much for taking the time to share it with us!

[piperfletcher]

Hi lovely.. Wondering if this would work for my sciatic nerve that runs down the side of my calf muscle? Always feels like it's going to cramp.. I do have a herniated disc that compresses my sciatic nerve, but my annoying pain seems to be in lower half of leg & under foot with pins & needles..

[rava]

Would this help for SI joint pain? I have sacroiliitis (caused by my AS) & have a lot of pain down my legs.

[mudasarnazar]

Dear doctor ! You make informative videos .I am new subscriber of you.
God bless you
❤️❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍👍
Love from Pakistan 🇵🇰

[daniellerose]

So if I have a herniated disc will this actually help it heal?

[Giovanonifamily]

Do u have a video for where to place it on the piriformis?