Somers D L, Somers M F
Department of Physical Therapy, John G Rangos, Sr, School of Health Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA.
Phys Ther. 1999 Aug;79(8):767-75.
Diabetic neuropathy can produce severe pain. The purpose of this case report is to describe the alteration of pain in a patient with severe, painful diabetic neuropathy following application of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to the low back.
The patient was a 73-year-old woman with pain in the left lower extremity over the lateral aspect of the hip and the entire leg below the knee. The pain prevented sound sleep. The intensity of pain was assessed with a visual analog scale.
The TENS (80 Hz) was delivered 1 to 2 hours a day and during the entire night through electrodes placed on the lumbar area of the back.
Following 20 minutes of TENS on the first day of treatment, the patient reported a 38% reduction in intensity of pain. After 17 days, the patient reported no pain following 20 minutes of TENS and that she could sleep through the night. Application of TENS to the skin of the lumbar area may be an effective treatment for the pain of diabetic neuropathy.
糖尿病性神经病变可引发剧痛。本病例报告旨在描述对一名患有严重疼痛性糖尿病性神经病变的患者在腰部应用经皮电刺激神经疗法（TENS）后疼痛的变化情况。
患者为一名73岁女性，左下肢髋部外侧及膝盖以下整条腿疼痛。疼痛导致睡眠不佳。采用视觉模拟量表评估疼痛强度。
通过置于背部腰部区域的电极，每天进行1至2小时以及整个夜间给予TENS（80赫兹）治疗。
治疗第一天，TENS治疗20分钟后，患者报告疼痛强度降低了38%。17天后，患者报告TENS治疗20分钟后无疼痛，且能整夜安睡。对腰部皮肤应用TENS可能是治疗糖尿病性神经病变疼痛的有效方法。
