THE USE OF MODULATED ENERGY CARRIED ON A HIGH-FREQUENCY WAVE FOR THE RELIEF OF INTRACTABLE PAIN

Ten volunteer patients with chronic neck/shoulder or back pain had bee n taking analgesics, and using conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with no significant pain relief. On entry to the trial, they were requested to stop taking their analgesics for two days prior to the study and for two days after starting to use the Li ss Bipolar Body Stimulator for 20 min 3-5 times daily. Resumption of m edication was then allowed. The stimulator (15,000 Hz carrier wave wit h a double modulation of 15 and 500 Hz) was connected to two adhesive electrodes placed so that the current field encompassed the trigger po ints, and used at a current that was just threshold for perception (1- 4 mA). A visual analogue pain score was recorded before the study, and each evening of the month's study. The pain showed an overall highly significant rapid reduction of similar to 62% (p<0.001), and ail but t wo of the patients received substantial benefit throughout the study. We conclude that the iiss Bipolar Body Stimulator usually causes a sub stantial reduction of pain even in patients not helped by conventional TENS devices.