Pain Relief with a Flexible Spending Account

Dealing with pain is a fact of life for countless individuals. Constantly relying on over-the-counter (OTC) medications is no way to go. Luckily, your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) can cover a huge range of qualifying medical treatments and equipment, and there may be a solution to your pain that’s closer than you think!

Have you ever heard of aTENS system?These devices, which stand forTranscutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, are used to treat a wide range of conditions, including osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, tendinitis, bursitis and other muscle, joint or bone problems that cause chronic pain. These systems were originally relegated to doctor’s offices, but the technology has evolved to a point that they can be used in the comfort of your own home.

Take advantage of your FSA savings!

If you think you’re a perfect candidate for aTENS machine, your FSA can help you develop a pain relief regimen that can work for your long-term needs. With our extensive selection of FSA eligible products that can be purchased with FSA cards and all major credit/debit cards,FSAstore.comcan help you realize the full potential of your consumer spending account!

How does a TENS machine work?

• A TENS machine sends millions of tiny electrical impulses throughout your body, which are transferred through the painful region by a series of electrodes. This provides targeted relief thanks to a method called Pain Gating. When you’re in pain, this is the result of impulses traveling from the affected area up your spinal cord to your brain. The electrical impulses emitted by a TENS machine effectively override the slower pain impulses that are traveling along these pathways, and since your brain can only process so much information at a time, this can be an effectiveform of pain relief.
• Another way to look at Pain Gating is when you bump or scrape your elbow your first inclination is to rub the spot. This is one of the most basic examples of Pain Gating, as the rubbing sensations will begin to outnumber the pain sensations. By effectively “bombarding the gateways” to your brain by rubbing your elbow, pain messages will begin to not be able to get through. A TENS machine works in the same way and can provide lasting and effective relief for users.
• TENS machines can also stimulate an endorphin release in the body, which are natural, pain relief chemicals that respond to pain stimuli. By utilizing a rhythmic pulse on afflicted muscles with a TENS machine, this can spark a muscle “twitch” that can activate a release of endorphins and reduce pain in the process. Much like how distance runners experience a natural “high” that results from an endorphin release, a TENS machine can replicate this effect and play a major role in reducing pain.