Background: The long-term prognosis for neuropathic pain resolution following spinal cord injury (SCI) is often poor. In many SCI patients, neuropathic pain continues or even worsens over time. Thus, new treatment approaches are needed. We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility and effect of percutaneous (electrical) nerve stimulation (P(E)NS) in SCI patients with chronic neuropathic pain.
Methods: In 18 weeks, 12 P(E)NS treatments were scheduled. Assessment with questionnaires was performed at baseline (T0), after 8 weeks (T8), 18 weeks (T18), and 12 weeks post-treatment (T30).
Results: From 26 screened patients, 17 were included. In total, 91.2% questionnaires were returned, 2 patients dropped out, and 4.2% of the patients reported minor side effects. Pain scores on the week pain diary measured with the numerical rating scale improved significantly at T8, from 6.5 at baseline to 5.4, and were still significantly improved at T18. Pain reduction of ≥ 30% directly after a session was reported in 64.6% sessions. In total, 6 patients experienced reduction in size of the pain areas at T18 and T30, with a mean reduction of 45.8% at T18 and 45.3% at T30.
Conclusion: P(E)NS is feasible as an intervention in SCI patients and might have a positive effect on pain reduction in a part of this patient group.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/papr.12064 | DOI Listing |
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
January 2025
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405.
Dysregulation of GABAergic inhibition is associated with pathological pain. Consequently, enhancement of GABAergic transmission represents a potential analgesic strategy. However, therapeutic potential of current GABA agonists and modulators is limited by unwanted side effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur Spine J
January 2025
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, 1111 Mc Dowell Road, Phoenix, AZ, 85006, USA.
Purpose: An atypical presentation of cervical spondylopathy (CS), trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is attributable to the extension of trigeminal nuclei into the spinal cord and is frequently overlooked, leading to limited discussion with patients regarding potential anterior cervical surgery. Our systematic review assesses the effectiveness of cervical surgery for concurrent trigeminal neuralgia in cases of cervical spondylopathy.
Methods: A systematic review exploring cases of trigeminal neuralgia related to cervical spondylopathy was conducted searching on PubMed, Scopus and Embase databases for article in English.
Neurosurgery
January 2025
Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
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