title: Experience with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for relief of intractable pain in cancer patients.
abstract: Sixty patients with intractable cancer pain were subjected to transcutaneous electrical stimulation for pain control. Evaluation, after two weeks of treatment, revealed: 17 (28.3%) excellent response, 22 (36.2%) fair and 21 (35.0%) no relief. Re-assessment after 3 months revealed 9 (15%) excellent responses, 11 (18.3%) fair and 40 (67%) failures. Extremity and trunk pains appeared to be most rewarding to patient pain, so far as pain relief is concerned. Perineal and pelvic pains were most difficult to control, only 5 of 12 (41%) cases obtained some short term relief. Pain location and sources correlated with treatment results.
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010388:Pelvis; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors