Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society
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Occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) is proposed to treat refractory chronic cluster headache (rCCH), but its cost-effectiveness has not been evaluated, limiting its diffusion and reimbursement. ⋯ Considering the burden of rCCH and the efficacy and safety of ONS, the demonstration that ONS is dominant should help its diffusion, validation, and reimbursement by health authorities in this severely disabled population.
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The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of an ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous neuromodulation (PNM) intervention on the sciatic nerve, regarding pain, hip range of motion (ROM), balance, and functionality in patients with chronic low back pain (LBP); and to determine the optimal anatomical location of sciatic nerve stimulation to obtain therapeutic benefits in such patients. ⋯ The choice of an anatomical location of application of the US-guided PNM on the sciatic nerve by the physiotherapist does not influence the improvement of pain, ROM, balance, and function in patients with chronic LBP.
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Case Reports
Long-Term Outcomes of Occipital Nerve Stimulation for New Daily Persistent Headache With Migrainous Features.
New daily persistent headache (NDPH) is a subset of chronic headache where the pain is continuous from onset. Phenotypically it has chronic migraine or chronic tension type features. NDPH is considered to be highly refractory. Occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) has been used for treatment of refractory chronic migraine but there are no specific reports of its use for NDPH with migrainous features. ⋯ Our experience suggests that ONS is not effective in the treatment of NDPH with migrainous features even in centers with experience in treating chronic migraine with ONS. The difference in response rates of chronic migraine and NDPH with migrainous features supports the concept of a different pathophysiology to the two conditions.
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Ocular pain symptoms (e.g., hypersensitivity to light and wind, "burning" sensations) can be debilitating and difficult to treat. Neuromodulatory therapies targeting sensory trigeminal and central pain pathways may help treat chronic ocular pain refractory to traditional therapies. The current study evaluates the long-term effects of a trigeminal neurostimulator (TNS) on ocular pain. ⋯ Our study suggests TNS is a safe, adjunctive treatment option in individuals with severe, chronic ocular pain. Individuals demonstrated gradual, continual improvement in pain symptoms over time within a multimodal approach.
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With the development of percutaneously inserted devices, peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) has been gaining attention within chronic pain literature as a less invasive neurostimulation alternative to spinal column and dorsal root ganglion stimulation. A majority of current PNS literature focuses on targeting individual distal nerves to treat individual peripheral mononeuropathies, limiting its applications. This article discusses our experience treating dermatomal pain with neurostimulation without needing to access the epidural space by targeting the proximal spinal nerve with peripheral nerve stimulation under ultrasound-guidance. ⋯ PNS of the proximal spinal nerve may be an effective modality to treat dermatomal pain in patients who are not candidates for other therapies that require access to the epidural space. This technique was used to successfully treat lumbar radiculopathy, post-herpetic neuralgia, and complex regional pain syndrome.