Final answer:
A nurse teaching about TENS for bone cancer pain should explain that it typically replaces pain with a tingling sensation, as it uses electrical stimulation to change pain signals to the brain.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a nurse is teaching a client about the use of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), it is important to convey that this modality primarily helps manage pain through the generation of a tingling sensation in place of pain. TENS units stimulate the nerves in the affected area with low-voltage electrical currents, providing pain relief by activating the body's natural pain control mechanisms. This stimulation can block or change the pain signals traveling to the brain, often replacing pain sensation with a tingling feeling. Although increased local temperature, temporary numbness, and enhanced muscle contraction may occur with other modalities, the primary effect with TENS is a tingling sensation that helps manage pain.