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Living with physical pain day in and day out wears you down. For some, the answer is a quick painkiller tablet. For others, it’s simply trying to tough it out. Either way, it’s exhausting.

Across Australia, millions are dealing with ongoing pain from arthritis, old injuries, surgery, or conditions that never fully heal. For quite some time, the go-to fix has been pain-relief medicines. They can aid, of course, but they also bring side effects as well as the risk of overreliance.

That’s why more people are looking for alternatives they can trust. A TENS machine is one of those options. It’s small, safe, and drug-free. Most importantly, it gives you another way to manage pain, so daily life feels less limited.

Let's walk through how the device works in practice, who can rely on it, and why it’s a natural pain relief.

What Chronic Pain Looks Like

Chronic pain isn’t just “a bad back” or “a sore knee.” It shows up in countless ways and often lingers for months or years. It can be stiff joints that grind with arthritis. It can be headaches that return week after week. Or post-surgery soreness that never seems to ease. Even injuries from years ago can leave lasting reminders.

Common Types of Chronic Pain

Here are just a few of the issues people live with every day:

  • Arthritis and joint pain that turn daily tasks into challenges
  • Back pain, sometimes from old injuries, sometimes from decades of wear
  • Nerve-related pain, like sciatica or neuropathy
  • Post-operative pain that lingers long after healing should be complete
  • Headaches or migraines that make it hard to focus or function

Each one is disruptive in its own way, and when they pile up, they don’t just hurt physically. They affect mood, sleep, and independence too.

 

The Downside of Painkillers

Everyday painkiller tablets like paracetamol or ibuprofen sometimes lose their punch if you take them too often. Stronger prescriptions might take the edge off—only in certain ways or areas—because they can bring their own problems too: an upset stomach, dizziness, or leaving you too groggy to function. 

In some cases, people even end up leaning on them more than they’d like. In fact, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reported that opioid prescriptions have gone up in recent years, which has sparked concern about people relying on them too heavily. It leaves many stuck between two difficult choices: live with the pain or deal with the fallout from the meds.

This is why people are now looking harder at other ways of coping, especially options that don’t involve taking more drugs.

 

How TENS Machines Relieve Chronic Pain

The term Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation sounds technical, but the idea is pretty straightforward. A TENS machine is a small handheld device with sticky pads that go on your skin. Once it’s switched on, it sends out gentle electrical pulses to the area that hurts.

Those pulses can do a few useful things:

  • Block some of the pain messages traveling to the brain
  • Encourage your body to release endorphins (its own built-in pain relief)
  • Help muscles relax when they’ve been tight for too long
  • Ease stiffness around sore joints

To use one, you place the pads near the painful spot—say, on either side of a sore knee—turn the device on, and adjust the settings until you feel a steady buzz. It shouldn’t be uncomfortable, just a tingling that lets you know it’s working. Most people keep it running for 20 to 30 minutes while reading, watching television, or resting with a cup of tea. Many users report better sleep, improved mobility, and less reliance on medication.

 

A Bonus for NDIS & Private Insurance Fund Users

One of the practical advantages of choosing a CareMax TENS machine is that it’s an NDIS and Bupa-approved provider. That means if you or a loved one is on an NDIS plan—or has private health cover—you may be eligible to claim a TENS machine as part of your support package.

For families already managing medical costs, that’s one less thing to worry about. Instead of seeing it as an extra purchase, it becomes part of a structured plan for safe and sustainable pain management.

 

Real People, Real Results: An Arthritis Story

Anyone who’s been into Muay Thai knows that dealing with knee pain is almost a given. But for one CareMax TENS user, the story is different. He noticed that, with the machine’s help, his knee pain was reduced, and it made it easier for him to move and train.

What he loved about the CareMax TENS is how lightweight and compact it is. It fits easily into his bag and has a long-lasting battery, so it can be used anywhere without the hassle of cords. Plus, it has a feature for vagus nerve stimulation, which can help with anxiety and depression. The best part is that it’s preset, so no fiddling with settings. After just a few sessions, his knee already felt looser and less painful. 

Hear What Our Other Happy Customers Are Saying

 

 

Ready to Try TENS? Here’s What to Do Next

Thinking about trying a TENS machine? A good first step is to chat with your doctor. For most people, it’s safe. But there are exceptions, including having a pacemaker or certain heart conditions. Check before you begin.

Once you’re cleared, it then boils down to choosing a device that's apt for your lifestyle. Some models are crammed with modes and complicated menus. This can be overwhelming. CareMax, however, takes a more no-frills route. The machines are made with everyday users in mind, meaning small size, clear buttons, big displays, pre-set programs and a design that’s easy to take from the lounge chair to the bedside table.

Over time, TENS can settle into your routine as one of those little things that make a big difference. It doesn’t replace every form of treatment, but it gives you another option that isn’t a pill bottle. For people living with arthritis, nerve pain, or those stubborn everyday aches, that kind of backup matters.

What CareMax does is remove the barriers—easy to use, portable, and in many cases covered under NDIS or private insurance. That makes it less of a luxury purchase and more of a practical tool.

Explore the range of CareMax TENS machines today and experience safe, natural pain relief at home.