Transcutaneous electrical stimulation: a double-blind trial of its efficacy for pain

A double-blind trial was done using a stimulator and a placebo device on patients who had chronic pain to determine the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical stimulation in controlling pain. Ninety-three patients were studied, and 83 of these completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Thirty-three patients had low-back pain and 24 had neuropathies. The stimulator was more effective than the placebo during treatment when used over the center of pain (P less than .005) or over an unrelated nerve trunk (P less than .01) and after treatment over the center of pain (P less than .05). The stimulator was significantly more effective than the placebo in neuropathies when stimulating over the related nerve trunk (P less than .005), where the stimulator response was nearly three times better than that of the placebo. The duration of subsequent relief was not significantly different after treatment with the stimulator or with the placebo device. Follow-up showed significant declines in the use and effect of the stimulator with the greatest decline noted by the depressed group.