Neurophysiological approaches for managing pain in multiple sclerosis: a mini review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Pain Management

Background:

• Chronic pain affects a significant portion of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), impacting daily function.
• Current pain management strategies for MS are often limited by inadequate efficacy or adverse effects.
• Novel therapeutic approaches are urgently needed for MS-related pain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and analyze studies investigating non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) for pain relief in multiple sclerosis.
• To assess the analgesic potential of techniques like transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in MS patients.

Main Methods:

• A mini-review of seven relevant studies was conducted.
• Studies included transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), transcranial random noise stimulation, and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) variants.
• Analysis focused on the analgesic outcomes of NIBS in individuals with MS.

Main Results:

• Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques demonstrate potential benefits for managing pain in multiple sclerosis.
• Studies suggest that tDCS and rTMS may offer analgesic effects for MS-related pain.
• Evidence is limited by small sample sizes, few sessions, and short follow-up periods.

Conclusions:

• NIBS represents a promising avenue for alleviating chronic pain in multiple sclerosis.
• Further high-quality research with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up is warranted.
• Optimizing NIBS protocols could enhance pain management strategies for MS patients.