American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation
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Am J Phys Med Rehabil · Aug 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialComparison of stochastic vs. conventional transcutaneous electrical stimulation for pain modulation in patients with electromyographically documented radiculopathy.
To determine if a transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS) unit modified to deliver electrical impulses at random (R) or stochastic frequency, called TENS-R, provided better pain relief than conventional TENS. ⋯ Qualitative pain scores significantly improved when the patient used TENS-R vs. conventional TENS. Lead placement of any TENS modality over the back vs. over the leg improved all pain scores.
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Although physicians are aware of phantom limb pain, which can occur in up to 85% of patients who undergo amputation, and its potential effect on functional status, the presence of phantom pain after amputation of other body parts such as the breast and its effect on function may be less appreciated. We report the case of a 63-yr-old woman with multiple sclerosis who underwent a modified radical mastectomy for left intraductal breast carcinoma. ⋯ Two months after her mastectomy, she had difficulty with these tasks because of phantom breast pain. Accurate diagnosis of her pain and successful treatment resulted in a return to premorbid functional status.