Temporary Abolition of Pain in Man

TLDR

In eight patients with severe chronic cutaneous pain, sensory nerves or roots supplying the painful area were stimulated with square‑wave 0.1‑ms pulses at 100 Hz, increasing voltage until tingling was reported. Stimulation abolished pain responses to pressure, and in four patients with peripheral nerve disease, pain relief lasted over half an hour after a 2‑minute stimulation.

Abstract

In eight patients with intense chronic cutaneous pain, sensory nerves or roots. supplying the painful area were stimulated. Square-wave 0.1-millisecond pulses at 100 cycles per second were applied, and the voltage was raised until the patient reported tingling in the area. During this stimulation, pressure on previously sensitive areas failed to evoke pain. Four patients, who had diseases of their peripheral nerves, experienced relief of their pain for more than half an hour after stimulation for 2 minutes.