Do TENS units actually work for pain relief?

Across high-trust community threads in r/ChronicPain and r/ehlersdanlos, the consensus is that TENS provides real but temporary relief by interrupting the pain signal. Reviewers consistently note it works best on tense or spasming muscles and during acute flares, while several report it does little for deep nerve pain. Expectations should be set around symptom management, not a cure.