[The treatment of neuralgiform facial pains with the combined therapy of transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) and the iontophoresis of nonsteroidal antiphlogistics].

Abstract

In a prospective study, 46 patients suffering from facial pain were treated by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). In case of insufficient pain relief the combined use of TENS and iontophoresis of non-steroidal antiphlogistics was employed. Benzydamine was applied to the anode and diclofenac to the cathode instead of the contact gel, reducing average pain intensity to a marked 18%, compared to 81% to 63% by TENS only. Furthermore, the consumption of analgetics declined considerably with combined therapy. Severe side effects could not be registered. Therefore, this new combined therapy must be considered to be an alternative treatment before using systemic medication.