Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) delivers a low-voltage electrical current to the skin. It is used to modify the sensation of pain associated with a number of conditions. This study explored the effect of TENS on pain during dressing changes performed without local or oral analgesia in patients with chronic venous leg ulcers. The TENS machine was connected to participants’ wound margins prior to wound cleansing and switched on when requested to treat incident pain. The majority of participants experienced reduced levels of pain during TENS. The most common side-effect of treatment was a pricking sensation, which was acceptable to patients, and the effects of TENS wore off quickly. TENS reduced hyperalgesia provoked by incident pain during dressing changes.
