TENS Placement for Neck Pain (with pics)

TENS units are becoming more popular everyday and knowing the correct placement of a electrode pad for neck pain is the first step in reducing the pain and alleviating the discomfort.

TENS Pad Placement for Neck Pain

The electrode placement is important in relieving neck pain. In general when using a TENS it is a good idea to position each set of electrodes above and below the pain site. For the TENS to be effective in blocking the pain pathways that send signals to the brain, you will want to place the 1st set of pads at the base of the neck.

In this picture we are using 4 pads, 2 on the base of the neck and the other 2 just above it. You will notice that the wires are color coded. These are called lead wires and their placement is important.

What are lead wires?
Lead wires are used to connect the main TENS unit to the electrodes. They are typically black with a black and red tip. The red and black color on the wire tip indicate the negative and positive side of the wire.

TENS Unit For Torticollis Wry Neck Pain

In this picture the 2 TENS electrodes are placed on either side of the spinal cord near the neck.  The other 2 electrodes are placed on both shoulders.

Read: How High Should I Set my TENS Unit?

Where not to place a TENS electrode pad

• Never put one on either side of your carotid artery, which is located on the front sides of you neck.
• Over your heart
• Do not use a TENS unit if you have a pacemaker
• Eyes
• Mouth
• Open wounds or cuts

Best TENS Unit For Neck Pain

It is perfect for alleviating many common types of pain. The iReliev is a great little device and has a lot going for it. It is well under $80 and has several programs to choose from and is small enough to fit in your pocket.

You do not need to spend hundreds of dollars to get a quality TENS unit and iReliev gives you a ton of value for the price being paid. Best part is they are based in Dallas, Texas and have phenomenal customer service FREE shipping and delivery in less than 5 days.

I was first introduced to the use of a TENS unit when I went to a chiropractor. The treatment was applied before the chiropractor adjusted my neck and spine. 

Get the same technology that doctor’s use for on demand pain relief. Get yours today on the iReliev website by clicking here.

Where else can a TENS electrode pad be placed?  Check out my TENS placement guide

If you suffer from any of the below issues a TENS unit may help alleviate these and other symptoms associated with neck pain.

• Pain radiating down your shoulders and upper back
• Sharp or stabbing pain
• Dull ache
• Stiffness and little to no range of motion
• Pinched nerve in neck
• Neck pain that causes headaches

In my situation I was experiencing sharp and stabbing pain on my right side of my neck which would radiate down to my upper back.

When Placing Electrode Pads on Your Skin

1. First wash the area of the skin where the pads will be placed. You can use a mild soap and water before applying electrodes, just make sure that you rinse the soap off and dry skin to remove any moisture.

2. If the area for the electrode pads has hair you can use some scissors to remove excess hair. It is not necessary to shave the area where the pads will be placed.

3. Sometimes a skin problem can happen from the “pulling stress” from the sticky adhesive that the pads have. This can happen when the pads are overly stretched across the skin during use. To avoid this, apply the pads from center outward; do not stretch the pads over the skin.

4. When it is time to the remove the pads, it is best to always remove by pulling in the direction of hair growth.

5. A good rule to follow is to NEVER apply pads over broken or irritated skin.

6. After removing you can put some skin lotion on the area where the pad was.

Final Thoughts

I have been using a TENS unit for about 4 years and itreally helps to relax the muscles that pull on my neck that cause the pain. To be honest it is by no means a cure, but it sure does help to reduce some of the pain associated with my neck problem.

I would also recommend a heating pad for about 10 minutes before using the tens unit as it helps with the pain even more. I hope this article was helpful and that you are able to find relief.

Thank you for reading,