title: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for treatment of spinal cord injury neuropathic pain.
abstract: The aim of the study was to assess the short-term effects of high- and low-frequency (HF and LF, respectively) transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury (SCI). A total of 24 patients participated in the study. According to the protocol, half of the patients were assigned to HF (80 Hz) and half to LF (burst of 2 Hz) TENS. Patients were instructed to treat themselves three times daily for 2 weeks. After a 2-week wash-out period, patients switched stimulation frequencies and repeated the procedure. Results were calculated on an intent-to-treat basis. No differences between the two modes of stimulation were found. On a group level, no effects on pain intensity ratings or ratings of mood, coping with pain, life satisfaction, sleep quality, or psychosocial consequences of pain were seen. However, 29% of the patients reported a favorable effect from HF and 38% from LF stimulation on a 5-point global pain-relief scale. Six of the patients (25%) were, at their request, prescribed TENS stimulators for further treatment at the end of the study. In conclusion, TENS merits consideration as a com plementary treatment in patients with SCI and neuropathic pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. cecilia.norrbrink@ki.se
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Norrbrink
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation