Outcome of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in chronic pain: short-term results of a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

Abstract

The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of shortterm transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) treatment in chronic pain with respect to pain intensity and patients' satisfaction with treatment results. We therefore performed a randomised controlled trial comparing TENS and sham TENS. Patients, researchers and therapists were blinded for treatment allocation. One hundred and sixty-three patients with chronic pain referred to the Pain Centre entered the study. Conventional TENS and sham TENS were applied in the segments of pain, for a period of ten days. Outcome measures were pain intensity (visual analogue scale) and patients' satisfaction with treatment result (yes or no). The proportions of patients satisfied with treatment result differed significantly for TENS compared to sham TENS (58 and 42.7% respectively, x 2 =3.8, p=0.05). However, no differences in pain intensity were found for patients treated with TENS or sham TENS. Only for patients satisfied with treatment results pain intensity gradually decrease equally both for TENS and sham TENS with repeated treatment application.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in the symptomatic management of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a placebo-control randomized trial

“…respectively for a mean duration daily, 5 times per week for 4 consecutive weeks (average of 20 treatment sessions) (18)(19)(20)(21).…”

“…TENS gel was applied on the surface of the electrodes to aid maximum transmission of current. Electrodes were placed on the skin overlying the painful area and held firmly in position as described by Radhakrishnan and Sluka (18); Oosterhof et al (19).…”

Epidural Local Anesthetic Plus Corticosteroid for the Treatment of Cervical Brachial Radicular Pain: Single Injection Versus Continuous Infusion

“…[2][3][4] The intensity of pain in cervicobrachial syndrome can reach severe or very severe levels, with symptomatic relief being the primary goal of physical therapies (cervical collar, kinesiotherapy, local heat application, vertebral manipulation) and pharmacologic treatment (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, tramadol, systemic corticosteroids, anxiolytics, muscle relaxants, and opioids). Equivocal efficacy has been found with transcutaneous electrical stimulation, 5 infiltration of trigger points with local anesthesia 6 and acupuncture. 7 Variable efficacy has been demonstrated with physical treatments, and although pharmacologic treatment would appear to be a rational choice, it is not considered first-line, especially for chronic pain, because of the possible long-term side effects of some of the drugs.…”

Migraine Prevention Using Different Frequencies of Transcutaneous Occipital Nerve Stimulation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…6 Moreover, high-frequency TENS affects the δ-opioid receptor and increases the levels of β-endorphins in the bloodstream and enkephalin in the cerebrospinal fluid. 10,27 With the possible exception of endogenous opiate release, the 'gate control theory' is in fact the most M A N U S C R I P T A C C E P T E D ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 14 tenable view. 2,12,16,21 This was advanced in 1965 by Melzack and Wall, who found that activation of non-noxious afferent Aβ fibers may inhibit the Aδ and C fibers that mediate nociceptive transmission.…”

“…However, no randomized controlled trial has yet been performed. 10,27 Hence, the principal aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of tONS (compared with TPM) in migraine patients and to explore whether different tONS frequencies influenced treatment effectiveness.…”