Central post-stroke pain — the effect of high and low frequency TENS

The effect of high (conventional) and low frequency (acupuncture-like) transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (Hi-, Lo-TENS) was tested in 15 patients with central post-stroke pain. During the initial 16 day trial of stimulation ipsilateral and contralateral to the pain, 4 patients obtained pain relief. Three of them benefitted from ipsilateral Hi- and Lo-TENS. Two patients also obtained pain relief with contralateral stimulation. Three patients continued to use TENS ipsilaterally with good effect at follow-up 23-30 months after the initial trial. In one-third of the patients, TENS temporarily increased the pain.