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Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Post-Cesarean Pain Control

Who can join

Ages 18 and older · Women · Healthy volunteers welcome

Inclusion Criteria:

\- Women undergoing scheduled or non-urgent cesarean section

Exclusion Criteria:

* Non-English speaking
* Subjects with a history of chronic pain or chronic opioid use
* Pre-operative use of opioids for more than 1 week in the preceding 6 months
* Previous exposure to the TENS unit
* Women with an allergy or contraindication to narcotics/NSAIDs/acetaminophen
* Subjects who had a midline vertical skin incision during this operation
* Subjects who did not receive intrathecal opioids at the time of their cesarean delivery
* Adhesive allergies
* Subjects with a pacemaker (due to the unknown effects of the TENS on the electrical activity of the heart)
* Intraoperative general anesthesia
* Inability to consent to the study
* Postpartum tubal ligation

About the study

Purpose of study is to evaluate the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for post-operative pain control after a cesarean delivery compared to placebo and no TENS.

What is being tested

• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit (device)
• Placebo transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit (device)

Sponsor: Hawaii Pacific Health · Participants: 180 · Started: Jan 29, 2020

Contact the study team

• Nicole Kurata · Phone: (808)577-3344

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT04399707

Locations in the U.S.

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.