Patients suffering from the following painful conditions have experienced relief by using spinal electroanalgesia:
- Wear and tear arthritis
- Backache
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Migraine
- Cervical and lumbar spondylosis
- Insomnia
- Period pains
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Fibromyalgia
- Burnt out rheumatoid arthritis
- Old healed injuries
- Osteoporosis Pain due to muscle spasm
- Post mastectomy pain
- Sciatica
- Post Shingles pain
- ME
- Stress
- Neuralgia
- Cancer pain
- Phantom limb
- Angina pain
- Stroke pain
Background
Most patients with chronic pain are introduced to electroanalgesia via a TENS machine. This device stimulates the peripheral nerves and it is quite safe for patients to use in their own homes.
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) was invented by a British doctor, Dr Pat Wall, who had previously described the “Gate Control” theory of pain. His idea was simple – to interfere with the passage of pain signals to the brain through the Central Nervous System. TENS achieves this by stimulating the nerves just under the skin to operate the Gate.
Unfortunately TENS has various limitations including:
- Questionable effectiveness over a period of time.
- Difficulty with correct electrode placement.
- Brief post-stimulation relief.
- Large tender areas do not resolve as a limited number of Aß fibres in the peripheral nerves are stimulated at any given time.
Recognising these shortcomings, Shealey implanted wires into the spinal column to induce analgesia via the central nervous system. His work was published in 1971, since when Dorsal or Spinal Column Stimulation has been widely used throughout the world. DCS and SCS require neurosurgery to implant the wires and this is time consuming, expensive and potentially hazardous and therefore the procedure is reserved for a very few patients. However, no serious side effects have been reported due to the treatment itself.
Spinal Cord Stimulation for chronic pain, like TENS, is based on the “Gate Control” theory of pain. In recent years attempts have been made to mimic the effect of Spinal Cord Stimulation without the need for an operation. This has resulted in the development of ENM technology, which provides DEEP tens therapy by passing a special waveform through to the spinal column via pads placed on the skin.
With DEEP tens an electrical impulse passes deeper into the tissues than traditional TENS to reach nearer to the Central Nervous System. This enables the “dose” of electricity to operate more directly without causing any tingling sensation. The advantages of this approach are clear. The therapy is applied more directly to the pain Gate and due to the absence of a tingle, the electrical impulse is able to operate more effectively.
ENM Performance Parameters
( Extract From Technical Library : Medical Devices Directive Annexe VII)
Alternate positive and negative pulses, each pulse up to 30µ seconds.
Up to 5µ between pulses
Pulse voltage up to 250 volts.
Pulse energy 34µ Joules per pulse.
Peak current 120 mA.
Frequency 2,700 Hz +/- 15%
All measurements conducted with a 1 kilo ohm resistor.
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