Spinal Cord Stimulation Alleviates Chronic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain Due to Peripheral Nerve Injury: A Case Report

Cureus, 2024 · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.69383 · Published: September 14, 2024

Anesthesiology Neurology Pain Management

Simple Explanation

This case report describes a woman with chronic neuropathic pain from a median nerve injury that did not respond well to opioids. The pain was successfully treated with spinal cord stimulation (SCS) after other treatments. The patient underwent a combination of nerve blocks, rehabilitation, and then SCS. This allowed her to stop taking opioids and improved her pain and quality of life. SCS involves implanting electrodes near the spinal cord to deliver electrical stimulation, which can help reduce pain signals. In this case, it provided sufficient pain relief and improved the patient's ability to function.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

One 49-year-old woman

Evidence Level

Level 4: Case Report

Key Findings

1
A combination of nerve blocks and rehabilitation during opioid reduction can prevent worsening pain.
2
Peripheral median nerve injury from venipuncture can cause chronic neuropathic pain.
3
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) can alleviate chronic neuropathic pain from peripheral nerve injury, improving pain and quality of life.

Research Summary

This case report presents a patient with chronic peripheral neuropathic pain due to a median nerve injury, which was successfully treated with spinal cord stimulation (SCS). The patient's treatment involved a combination of nerve blocks, rehabilitation, and SCS, which allowed her to discontinue opioid use and improve her quality of life. The study suggests that SCS may be a beneficial treatment option for refractory pain caused by peripheral nerve injury when standard therapies are insufficient.

Practical Implications

Opioid Sparing

SCS can be considered as an alternative to long-term opioid use for chronic neuropathic pain, potentially reducing the risk of opioid-related side effects and dependence.

Multimodal Approach

Combining nerve blocks, rehabilitation, and SCS can be more effective than single-modality treatments for managing chronic neuropathic pain.

Improved Quality of Life

SCS can improve the quality of life for patients with chronic neuropathic pain by reducing pain levels and improving functional abilities.

Study Limitations

1
This is a single case report, limiting the generalizability of the findings.
2
The study lacks a control group, making it difficult to definitively attribute the observed improvements solely to SCS.
3
Long-term follow-up data beyond six months post-implantation is not available.

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