Clinical Study of Electrical Stimulation of the Peripheral Nerve

Shim, Jae Chul; Kim, Yoo Jae; Suh, Jung Kook; Chung, Chang Woo; Kang, Gui Bin; Hwang, Young Hee; Yoo, Hee Koo; Park, Dong Ho; Kim, Wan Sik

Abstract

Recent studies in western countries have reported that the mechanism pf pain are concorded with gate control opiage receptor binding sites and the release of intrinsic morphine like substances, sodium glutamate and also with bradykinin, seroconin, histamine and prostaglandin E. Otherwise the mechanism of the stimulstion producing analgesia has been reported to involve a neurophysiologic and neurohumoral inhibitory effect at the level of spinal cord, brain stem, thalamus and cortex. This has been clarified but further study should improve the chance of understanding the mechanism of pain. From the standpoint of pain management, medications used to manage pain have some unfortunate side effects. nerve blocks cause anesthesia toxicity, major neurosurgical procedures have many complications. Subarachnoidal and epidural analgesics have unknown irritation pneumonia and drug toxicity, and plexus or pituitary gland block with phenol or alcohol has uneventful complication. From January 1980 to December 1982, electrical acupuncture stimulation has been used on 210 cases at HANYANG university hospital in the pain clinic. I found it useful in relieving pain which has not responded to various conventional methods which included medications, nerve blocks, neurosurgical intervantion and neuropolytics. The results are as follows: 1) There are two kinds of treated patients: One is consultation case-12 from internal medicine, 16 from orthopedic surgery, 10 from neurosurgical and 2 from psychiatry. Another 170 cases were patients who directly to the clinic. And the age distribution shows the highset number of patients in the 3rd decade(21%) and in the 4th decade(24.8%). 2) The region of pain was 21% lumbar, 13.8% shoulder, 10% lower leg and head or face with 9.5%. 3) The duration of the pain showed 10 days 25.7%, 1~2 month 18.6%, one year 11.4% and the longest up to 20 years. 4) Patients who were able to walk into the clinic were 19.5%, moderate cases who to be accompanied were 58.6% and bedridden cases were 21.9%. 5) Treatment was conducted mainly on low frequency stimulation with various waves that included the general dynamic activity point plus reactive electro permeable point (REPP) 81.9% and REER plus head in situ needle 18.1%. 6) In 16.7% only one treatment was administered, in 46.1% 2~5 treatments were given, in 28.6% 6~10 treatments were given and in 3 cases more than 100 treatments were administered. 7) Of the 210 cases, 43.3% showed marked improvement, 41.4% were improved, 13.8% showed translent improvement and there were 3 cases of no improvement. The total confidence was 84.7%. 8) There are no serious complications except hypertensive shock case, submucosal hemorrhagic petechia 7 cases and generalized fatigue 18 cases. In conclusion, electrical acupuncture stimulation of the peripheral nervous system can be used to relieve pain replacing such conventional means as medications, nerve blocks, major neurosurgical procedures, neuroytics and physiopsychic therapy which are generally less effective.

Clinical Study of Electrical Stimulation of the Peripheral Nerve

Abstract

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