Anesthesia Experts

Does Brain Stimulation Help Treat Low Back Pain?

by Leave a Comment

Authors: Luedtke K et al., BMJ 2015 350:h1640

A study of transcranial stimulation preceding behavioral cognitive therapy does not support the effectiveness of this procedure for the treatment of low back pain.

Chronic low back pain is a frequent and costly problem for which few interventions are effective. Chronic low back pain is characterized by a number of structural, functional, and neurochemical changes in the brain; however, the impact and nature of brain changes have not been tested enough, and treatments have not been fully developed or tested. Brain stimulation techniques have been used in the management of various pain conditions, including low back pain. The precise mechanisms by which brain stimulation may alleviate pain are not clear. To evaluate the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation, alone or in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy, in patients with chronic low back pain, researchers conducted a randomized trial. From 225 eligible patients, 135 with nonspecific low back pain lasting >12 weeks received 20 minutes daily of 2 mA anodal or sham stimulation over the left motor cortex for 5 days. Immediately after stimulation, cognitive behavioral management was done.

Brain stimulation was ineffective for the reduction of pain (difference between groups on visual analog scale, 1 mm; 99% confidence interval, −8.69 mm to 6.3 mm; P=0.68) and disability (difference between groups, 1 point; 99% CI, −1.73 to 1.98; P=0.86). Brain stimulation did not affect the outcome of cognitive behavioral therapy.

Comment

These results do not support the effectiveness of transcranial direct current brain stimulation for the treatment of low back pain or reduction of disability. This finding mirrors a recent Cochrane review of the efficacy of noninvasive brain stimulation methods for chronic pain, which did not show a significant beneficial effect of cranial electrotherapy stimulation on chronic pain.

Leave a Reply

Call (660) 596-2224
What people thought about us

Testimonials

“As Director of Surgical Services Departments there has been considerable changes have occurred in my department and Anesthesia Experts has always risen to meet our demands of our facility. They have been very pro-active in meeting the increase volumes allowing us to keep our surgeons and patients very satisfied with our services.”

AR BSN 346 beds AL   

“Before AE took over the anesthesia department was described by the surgeons as the worst in the history of our hospital. The prior management company was having a cancelled surgery per day. I am happy to report there has not been one since they have taken over the department. Additionally we have seen a 905 reduction if requested preop
lab tests. The anesthesia department is now the very best hospital department in our entire facility.”

DS CEO 272 beds MS   

“Anesthesia Experts has provided consistent anesthesia providers who display a high degree of integrity, responsibility and professionalism. They have become a more valuable part of our facility and community.”

LR CEO 150 beds TX   

“Even though they are physically located 1000 miles away Anesthesia Experts just does not provide great anesthesia coverage they personally engage surgeons to increase their business. Last year my surgical volume rose by 24% and we are currently 50% ahead of last year and all of that growth is organic.”

JE FACHE CEO AL 92 bed hospital   

“Anesthesia Experts is more responsive than anyone I have dealt with. They are available by phone whenever needed and will be on site for any need or request and has been on site to address issues before we can make the request.”

SW CEO 25 beds NM   

“While problems are extremely rare when they do occur Anesthesia Experts quickly and professionally implements a solution. Our surgical volume has grown over 100 cases per month and now our GI docs want to perform all of their endoscopies in our hospital instead of their GI lab that they own!”

SP CEO 346 beds AL   

“Our anesthesia department was a thorn in my side that kept me awake at night. Anesthesia Experts swept in and brought order to our mess and our department was quickly redirected.”

JAM CNO AL 89 bed hospital   

Add a Testimonial

Verification Captcha