Peripheral nerve stimulation in the management of dysmenorrhea

J B Walker, Judith Boas Walker, Walker JB, Katz RL, R L Katz, Ronald L. Katz
Pain · 1981 · vol. 11(3) , pp. 355–361 · doi:10.1016/0304-3959(81)90635-7 · PMID:6977125 · W2119769772
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Electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves provides analgesia for dysmenorrhea, with permanent relief observed after repeated treatments and in long-term follow-up studies.

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This study evaluated the efficacy of peripheral nerve stimulation using radial, median, and saphenous nerves for managing dysmenorrhea. The researchers found that electrical stimulation produced significant analgesia that was not reversed by naloxone, with patients experiencing permanent pain relief after ten consecutive daily treatments. A follow-up of patients with surgically documented gynecological pain due to endometriosis revealed they remained pain-free five years post-treatment, as evidenced by verbal reports, work attendance, and abstention from analgesics. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — specifically the long-term management of pain associated with surgically documented lesions through peripheral nerve stimulation.

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Abstract

Electrical stimulation of radial, median, and saphenous nerves produces analgesia in patients with dysmenorrhea, whereas control stimulation in adjacent points does not. Pain relief is not reversed by naloxone, and patients experience permanent analgesia after 10 consecutive daily treatments. A follow-up of patients treated for surgically documented gynecological pain due to endometriosis shows them to be pain-free 5 years after cessation of treatment, as measured by verbal report, attendance at work, and analgesic abstinence. To our knowledge this represents the first such long-term follow-up in the clinical pain literature, and suggests that peripheral nerve stimulation may be useful in the treatment of dysmenorrhea.
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Research report: PDF Only Peripheral nerve stimulation in the management of dysmenorrhea - Judith B. Walker - Ronald L. Katz Abstract Electrical stimulation of radial, median, and saphenous nerves produces analgesia in patients with dysmenorrhea, whereas control stimulation in adjacent points does not. Pain relief is not reversed by naloxone, and patients experience permanent analgesia after 10 consecutive daily treatments. A follow-up of patients treated for surgically documented gynecological pain due to endometriosis shows them to be pain-free 5 years after cessation of treatment, as measured by verbal report, attendance at work, and analgesic abstinence. To our knowledge this represents the first such long-term follow-up in the clinical pain literature, and suggests that peripheral nerve stimulation may be useful in the treatment of dysmenorrhea. Copyright © Lippincott-Raven Publishers.

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Condition tags

dysmenorrheaendometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Analgesia Dysmenorrhea Electric Stimulation Therapy Peripheral Nerves Analgesia Dysmenorrhea Dysmenorrhea Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Follow-Up Studies Humans Naloxone Naloxone Peripheral Nerves

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References (23)

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