E-Stim and desensitization

If you perform electro stim with tens unit there is any possibility of damage or desensibilization, and in case of anal stim the muscules can suffer any damage? tanks

No damage that we ever noticed.

However, after an extended e-stim session, you do need more power for the same result.

It is kind of analogous to listening to loud music. After a while, it doesn't seem as loud as at the start of the listening session.

After 4 years we have no problems at all, then again, I guess as with everything if you go crazy anything can happen.

Many Tens units are designed to numb nerve endings. This is why they are used in pain management. They are a quick into to estim, but hardly designed for pleasure. Try a made for play box like Erostek 312/232, PES electro, or the many DIY solutions

What I have found out is that after a bit of intense stimulation, you will find that you will of turned up the current up all the way and it does not feel as intense anymore. Seems that nervers kind of get "numbed up" or desensitised. What I use, is a "Relaxasizor" electrical mussel stimulation machine, that you can find on ebay a lot. They were made in the 50s and there current really goes up high. What makes this machine so special, is that it puts out DC current, and you can reverse the polarity to the area being stimulated like say when the area starts to get used to the sensation. You simply turn the knob the other way from center. A whole new feeling happens when the polarity is reversed. And then you can reverse it again and enjoy a new sensation all over again.

I would think it is best to use e-stim only occasionally. It would seem to me to be quite possible to get sort of addicted to its exquisite sensations. By comparison other more conventional methods of stimulation may then become less effective in bringing on an orgasm.

I've noticed that after receiving e-stim using a PES corona attachment for a while there continues to be a sensation of the stimulation continuing for a while even after the device is removed. After about half an hour or so the sensation fades away.

How long at any one time should you use e-stim? 10;15; 20 minutes?

I've asked, and can confirm, many men & women plug into their estim box and leave it on overnight, running at a low power setting for 8 hours. It's very soothing.

Many Tens units are designed to numb nerve endings. This is why they are used in pain management. They are a quick into to estim, but hardly designed for pleasure. Try a made for play box like Erostek 312/232, PES electro, or the many DIY solutions

Sorry waldowheres, that isn't true, quite the opposite in fact. TENS means Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and not numbing nerve endings. In use, TENS electrodes are rarely placed at nerve endings but rather between the site of pain and the brain. They are designed to excite the nerves, with stimulation which alters the signals from the site of the pain. They do not remove the cause of the pain though the effect lingers for undefined and variable periods of time. See this extract from Wikipedia:

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is the use of electric current produced by a device to stimulate the nerves for therapeutic purposes. TENS by definition covers the complete range of transcutaneously applied currents used for nerve excitation although the term is often used with a more restrictive intent, namely to describe the kind of pulses produced by portable stimulators used to treat pain.

The typical stimulators marketed and used for sexual stimulation are little different than TENS machines except that they might have a greater range of waveforms, programmes etc; than the cheapest of the TENS machines. However a machine like mine, the Sanitas SEM40, for £20 (GBP) has 50 programmes, 30 of which are pre-programmed and 20 which can be individualised, infinitely variable output frequency from 1 to 120 Hz and infinitely variable pulse widths from 40 to 250. Additionally it is two channel with guaranteed channel separation, essential if you must cross the heart which must be bi-polar anyway to each side. I'd say, and my experience of it suggests this, that that is a pretty comprehensive specification. It even anticipates a pad or electrode dropping off which would normally give quite a jolt at the parting, by shutting down automatically.

I said above that the 'sex machines' are little different than a TENS machine. That is true as far as the electronics are concerned. Where the 'sex machines' score is in the appearance of the unit with very professional and maybe menacing looking knobs and switches. But doesn't my Sanitas SEM-40 look kinda good too, in my album via my Profile page? Where the TENS machines score is that they give the same effect for hundreds of £s, or $s less!

@BigK: Good sexual estim units ARE T.E.N.S. units. They use the very same technology, but with more erotic-feeling signals than the much cheaper medical TENS units. Their intent is not to dull pain, but rather to produce erotic signals that make you cum (easily). For the ET-312, which is the only totally digital unit in the world, you can even write your own programs and play them back from a PC or an MP3 player. People write their own and post them online, saying they find them better than the rhythmic programs that are included in the unit's memory.

Medical units usually only give a beep/beep signal, or a constant signal -- which you can modify in frequency & pulse length. Sexual units also allow much more complex rhythms, more erotic-feeling wave forms, and the ability to change the shape of the wave-forms.

I have a good medical unit with 2 independent channels, as well as 2 ET-312s, and the ET-312 feels MUCH better.

Considering how much more pleasurable the sexual TENS units are, the money appears to be well spent.

Exactly ManyOoohs4U - so called sexual e-stim units ARE TENS units - That's what I said! It's the whole point behind my saying you don't benefit from emptying your pocket book.

You throw in confusing statements such as 'they use the very same technology' and then say that the ET-312 is 'the only totally digital unit in the world'. You can't have both statements as true, at one and the same time. Nor is the ET-312 the only totally digital unit. You too fall into the trap of referring to TENS units 'dulling pain' -they don't - please read my post again, including the Wikipedia bit. The thrust of my post was actually to correct waldowheres statement about the nature and purpose of TENS in pain management.

So, the manufacturers go to the trouble of designing special erotic programmes - but thats not good enough so one employs a bit of Beethoven or Bach? But you go on to say that those who compose their own programmes and publish them on the net SAY that they are better than the programmes the unit is designed to output. Well, they are hardly going to say they are worse - are they?

The plain fact is that every single user of a stimulator, be it medical TENS or ET-312 hype/type, reacts differently, not only differently than other users but different than they themselves did the last time! Repositioning electrodes even a fraction of an inch will change the reaction too - is one going to write a new programme each time? It is not an exact science.

It's a matter of everyone to his/her own opinions of course and if you are happy with spending hundreds of bucks who am I to say you shouldn't - but I will say you needn't! Twenty years of my 25 in the scene have included extensive e-stim experience and I'll tell you what is the most effective e-stim tool in my 'box', it's called patience, to maximise the benefit for the individual. I repeat, its not an exact science and expensive packages don't always have contents worthy of the wrapper.

BigK - I am wondering. I have severe degeneration in my lower back complicated by the loss of abdominal muscles that did not regenerate after surgery. So my back is in lousy shape with no abs to help it along. I can get a prescription for a TENS from my doctor. Can I then go to a company that sells vaginal and rectal probes and add them to my TENS - using it for therapeutic and pleasure? It would be cool if I only had to pay for the cost of the probes.

Hi Persiphone.

I'll reply to you by PM if thats OK - probably later today

From what i understand a TENS unit sends electrical signals to interrupt pain signals going to the brain and also stimulates the body to produce endorphins. I use a prescription TENS unit (Empi) for pain management and my doctors and the instructions say you should not exceed 20 minutes, so leave a unit on for overnight for 8 hours doesn't seem like a good idea. I'm no doctor but you have to wonder what the long term effects of extended use would be?

Medical+Man said:

Persiphone, you can definitely do that. I'm pretty sure the male pin connectors on the TENS leads will fit any probes you buy, but if not you can modify them to work.

A few months after your post Medical+Man I know, but a little more information for members.

The male, or output, pin connectors will always be on the power box side of the wiring for sure, but as you say they won't always be the straight pin type.

The "standard" is straight 2 mm pin to 2mm socket. I say "standard" because that is on the majority of machines/probes - but more and more manufacturers are introducing dedicated plugs (dedicated to their own machine that is) and also various patterns and sizes of press stud (UK words) connectors.

Why? So that you will have to buy their own pattern of electrodes of course - at inflated prices, even for the common pads.

I had to modify my new Sanitas machine to straight 2 mm pin but it's a soldering job which not all members will have the skill/equipment to do. If they need to then Maplin in the UK and Radioshack in the US can supply at minimal cost.

So it's the usual 'buyer beware' caution.

One of the advantages of e-stim is the LACK of desensitization over time. Most other forms of stimulation will, over time cause desensitization, be it a vibrator, nipple clamps, paddle, etc.

Hotch said:-

One of the advantages of e-stim is the LACK of desensitization over time. Most other forms of stimulation will, over time cause desensitization, be it a vibrator, nipple clamps, paddle, etc.

That is absolutely true Hotch. However desensitization MAY occur after long periods of stimulation or high settings, but it is self reversible after a short time.

That is unlike the desentisization caused by vibrators, particularly of the more powerful kind, especially through constant or daily use.

Over many years I have preached against vibrators, the effect of which I call 'nerve bashing'. I believe that actual damage is caused, leading to the very problem vibrators are often employed for, namely as a replacement for manual stimulation either in masturbation or sexual relations with another person. Users will require more powerful and longer stimulation on an exponential basis until the need can no longer be met.

Internet searches will reveal as many 'for' vibrators as 'against' them. Set that against the certain fact that most of the 'for' will be toy suppliers!

There is, with both vibrators and e-stim a far more serious issue - that of addiction or dependence. Addiction and dependence is less of a problem where the user is long term or lifetime single and there are no comparisons to be made with a marital or partnership relationship. Where it is a serious issue is in a relationship when vibrators or e-stim are used to mask unsatisfactory techniques in sex. Nothing about improving loving relationships will be achieved or learned from a toy, that can't be learned in bed with a lover!

Others may disagree with me - thats fine - they are entitled to their views and opinions. I base my conclusions on a 56 year happy marriage and on 26 years observation and experience as a playdoc with hundreds of patients 'healed'. Others must form their own conclusions.