Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to Alleviate Neuropathic Pain

Pain is an unpleasant sensation that many people have to live with at some point or another. Oftentimes, the pain is short-lived. At other times, however, pain is constant and long-lasting. That latter form of pain is referred to as chronic pain. Neuropathic pain is among the worse type, and it can be an extremely challenging condition to manage. Indeed, the pain from neuropathy does not respond well to the common variety of painkillers.

What is Neuropathic Pain?

Neuropathic pain or nerve pain develops when damage occurs within the central nervous system. It differs from regular pain that arises only when pain receptors are stimulated, such as when one burns one finger. Nerve pain, by contrast, is persistent and protracted. The intensity of the pain can be lesser or greater during the course of a day, however.

Spinal stenosis or diabetes can cause neuropathic pain, as can spinal cord injuries or any form of trauma to the brain. Carpal tunnel syndrome, cancer, strokes, HIV, shingles and multiple sclerosis are also predisposing factors that can lead to nerve pain. In fact, neuropathic pain will develop any time a loss of function occurs within the nervous system.

Typically, nerve pains have been treated with prescription drugs such as opoids, topical creams or ointments, anti-convulsants or anti-depressants. However, transcranial direct current stimulation appears to be a safer alternative in the treatment and management of neuropathic pain.

According to studies published at the National Institutes of Health website, the use of transcranial direct current stimulation has been shown to be a highly effective treatment for the reduction of neuropathic pain.

What is Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation?

Transcranial direct current stimulation involves the use of low intensity electrical currents that are applied directly to the scalp so as to exert an effect on the brain. The electric currents are generated by electromagnetic inductions. The process uses repetitive stimulations. These stimulations increase the excitability of the targeted part of the brain: the cortical neurons. This serves to increase neural plasticity which, in turn, leads to a reduction in pain and discomfort.

The Benefits of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Transcranial direct current stimulation/TDCS has a number of advantages over the treatments that are generally used for alleviating or managing neuropathic pain. The benefits of TDCS are:

It provides a significant reduction in the intensity of neuropathic pain

• It is a drug-free procedure


• TDCS is a non-invasive pain therapy


• The treatment is comfortable and painless


• It is a safe and risk free treatment

TDCS has been approved for use by the United States Food and Drug Administration

The proven efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation makes it a viable treatment for the management of neuropathic pain. Furthermore, the benefits of the treatment make it a superior choice over invasive treatments and/or the use of long-term prescription painkillers.

Under the experienced and skilled hands of a pain specialist, electrical stimulation of the nerves that are responsible for the neuropathic pain could help dramatically in the management of the pain symptoms -- and it carries no known risks!

Dr. Fandos is a certified anesthesiologist from NY.