Analgesic properties of electromagnetic field therapy in patients with chronic pelvic pain.
OBJECTIVE
Demonstration of analgesic effects of electromagnetic field treatment in cases of chronic refractory pelvic pain.


METHODS
Prospective non-controlled trial, 64 women complaining about pelvic pain of at least 6 months duration, resistant to standard therapies, submitted to electromagnetic field applications on both iliac regions by Thelf Systems apparatus by two applications daily lasting 2 hours each for 20-40 days. Control visit after 3 months.


RESULTS
Complete subsidence of pain in 39 cases (61%), in 15 patients (23%) relief during treatment, then mild endopelvic tension after a 3-month control; in 10 cases (16%) symptoms reduced only during application hours, unchanged at follow-up. Outcome of treatment appears to be independent of pre-existent psychosocial variables.


CONCLUSIONS
Magnetic therapy shows a real analgesic effect on pelvic pain, and seems to contribute to resolution of complex interactions between somatic nociceptive stimuli and psychosocial implications affecting pain perception in these patients.
Varcaccio-Garofalo
G
G
Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology II Clinic, University of Bari, Italy.
Carriero
C
C
Loizzo
M R
MR
Amoruso
S
S
Loizzi
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000698:Analgesia; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017699:Pelvic Pain; D011446:Prospective Studies