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Title: The Effect of Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) on Pain
Associated with Fibromyalgia
Authors:
Randall C. Cork, M.D., Ph.D.,
Department of
Anesthesiology, LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA
Patrick Wood, M.D., Department of
Anesthesiology, LSU Health Sciences Center , Shreveport, LA
Norbert Ming M.D., Department of
Anesthesiology, LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA
Clifton Shepherd M.D., Department of
Anesthesiology, LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA
James Eddy M.D., Department of
Anesthesiology, LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA
Larry Price Ph.D., Texas State
University, San Marcos, TX |
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Figure 4: Pain as measured using the Short-Form
McGill Pain Questionnaire.5 The higher scores represent
more pain. The decrease in pain scores reported by the CES Group after
three weeks of CES did not achieve significant difference from the
pain scores reported by the Sham Group. However, after crossover, the
scores reported by the Sham Group after three weeks of
subsequent CES were significantly decreased (p<0.001). All values are
means ± sem.
Figure 5: Tenderpoint self-reported pain score.
Eighteen (18) tenderpoints and three sham points were identified for
testing (Table 1).4 Before the tenderpoints were palpated,
the patient was given a sheet with the ten-point self-rating pain
scale (0, none; 10, worst), and asked to rate overall pain level by
placing a check beneath the number that represented the pain “right
now.” The tenderpoints, plus the sham tenderpoints, were then palpated
sequentially and the patient asked to rate the pain during each
palpation on a scale of 0 for no pain, up to 10 for excruciating pain.
Four (4) kg of pressure was applied to each point. After the 18 points
were palpated, the scores were added up, for a maximum total of 180.
Scores reported from the sham points were subtracted from the total
tenderpoint score. Results showed that the tenderpoint scores were
significantly less in the CES Group at 3 weeks compared to the Sham
Group (p<0.01), and after crossover, the Sham Group showed a
significant decrease in tenderpoint score after receiving CES for the
subsequent 3 weeks (p<0.001). All values are means ± sem. |
