The Use of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for Chronic Pain of Predominantly Peripheral Neuropathic Origin
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Neuropathic Pain
- Sponsor
- Norwegian Fund for Postgraduate Training in Physiotherapy
- Enrollment
- 115
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Reduction of pain and/or functional improvement
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 17 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of TENS in addition to routine care in patients with chronic pain of predominantly neuropathic origin, compared to treatment with routine care alone."
Hypothesis:
An eventually neuropathic pain component is needed to be identified and alleviated in chronic pain patients to improve the quality of rehabilitation.
0-hypothesis:
- TENS is not better than than placebo, medication or standard rehabilitation program.
- A neuropathic pain component does not demand special considerations in rehabilitation of chronic pain patients.
Detailed Description
Setting: Skogli helse- og rehabiliteringssenter, Lillehammer, Norway. Center of Rehabilitation for chronic pain patients, rheumatic diseases and orthopedic postoperative patients. Duration: Until 18 months of intervention + 6 months of follow up and preparation. Intervention: Use of TENS during 3-4 weeks of hospitalization connected to multimodal rehabilitation (short-term efficacy). TENS or placebo-TENS is added to routine care. Follow-up: If patients want to continue the use of TENS/placebo-TENS at home, they will be offered to borrow equipment for 4 months. Questionnaires will be send at 2 and 4 months, both for the active group, the placebo group and for the group of patients who discontinued the use of TENS/placebo-TENS (long-term efficacy).
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Adult patients with chronic pain of predominantly neuropathic origin
Exclusion Criteria
- •Pain less than 3 months
- •Surgery or lesion within 3 months
- •Central neuropathic pain
- •Fibromyalgia
- •Primary headaches
- •Primary psychiatric diagnosis
- •Patients with pacemaker
- •Formerly treated with TENS
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Reduction of pain and/or functional improvement
Time Frame: 3-4 weeks, 2 and 4 months
Secondary Outcomes
- Compliance. Patient global impression of change(3-4 weeks, 2 and 4 months)