CNS neuroscience & therapeutics
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Conventional dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRGS) is known to achieve better pain-paresthesia overlap of difficult-to-reach areas like the feet compared to dorsal column spinal cord stimulation (SCS). As in painful diabetic polyneuropathy (PDPN) pain is mostly present in the feet, we hypothesized that DRGS is more effective in relieving pain in PDPN when compared to SCS. ⋯ We conclude that conventional DRGS is as effective as SCS in reduction of PDPN-associated mechanical hypersensitivity in STZ-induced diabetic rats. The wash-in effect of DRGS and SCS was similar, but DRGS showed a faster washout course. Long-term efficacy should be studied in future animal research.