# Getting my TENS unit to work

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-my-tens-unit-to-work/720064>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 14, 2015, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-my-tens-unit-to-work/720064 "2015-05-14T21:24:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-my-tens-unit-to-work/720064/1 "2015-05-14T21:24:07Z")

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I just purchased an “LG QUAD Combo” (“LG Tec-Elite”) TENS unit, to help ease the pain in my injured Achilles tendon. I attached the electrodes and followed the instructions for the settings. It’s all set up and ready to go . . . so now what? Is it supposed to start automatically? Should it have been working during the setup, so I could adjust the settings? The ON/OFF switch has been ON, during the programming. I don’t feel a damn thing. I repositioned the electrodes and replaced the battery. Nothing. What am I not doing?

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**Author:** ![Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_the_turtle/32/2926_2.png) [@Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_the_Turtle)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-my-tens-unit-to-work/720064/2 "2015-05-14T21:39:12Z")

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Don’t know if I have the same unit, but mine has a little wheel to dial up the intensity. Until it’s about halfway you don’t feel anything.

It also has a timer, so if you’ve had it on the whole time, it may have timed out (although I assumed you would have tried turning it off then on again, which reseets it).

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-my-tens-unit-to-work/720064/3 "2015-05-14T21:42:58Z")

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There’s no wheel, and the timer stays where I set it. Turning it off and on does nothing.

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**Author:** ![Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_the_turtle/32/2926_2.png) [@Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_the_Turtle)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-my-tens-unit-to-work/720064/4 "2015-05-15T14:59:07Z")

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Sorry panache45, that’s all I got. But there has to be a “volume” (or maybe “intensity” for lack of a better word) somewhere. It is prbably dialed down by default and you have to gradually increase it until you feel it. Also make sure you use both electrode pads - electricity flows between them.

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2015, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-my-tens-unit-to-work/720064/5 "2015-05-16T21:48:05Z")

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In “TENS” mode, the only intensity adjustments are the Pulse Width and the Pulse Rate. Even at maximum, nothing happens.