Use of electrical stimulation therapy to reduce pain associated with hard-to-heal wounds and reduce reliance on pharmacological analgesics: a case series.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effect of microcurrent electrical stimulation therapy (EST) on pain from hard-to-heal wounds and quantity/type of analgesic needed in its management.

Method: Patients with painful, stalled leg ulcers were treated with microcurrent EST. Pain scores (0-10 on a numerical rating scale (NRS)) and analgesic consumption were recorded daily for a seven-day run-in period and during treatment with EST for 24 days. Patients were followed up for six months.

Results: There were 20 patients in the experimental cohort. The median wound duration was nine months (range: 1.5-60 months); wounds included venous (14/20), arterial (5/20) and mixed aetiology (1/20) ulcers. Mean wound pain reduced significantly, from a value of 5.7 at baseline to 3.7 after 24 days of treatment (n=20; p<0.0001). Median time to achieve no/mild pain (NRS 0-4) was five weeks after the start of treatment. The median number of analgesics being taken for wound pain reduced between baseline and end of treatment from 2 to 1 (range: 0-4 at both timepoints). Mean daily dose reductions were observed for gabapentin, ibuprofen and paracetamol. Among patients taking analgesics for wound pain at baseline, 3/19 were able to discontinue all analgesia. After initiation of EST, the mean wound size reduction was 41% over four weeks, (10.2% reduction per week). The median time to healing was 18 weeks.

Conclusion: In this clinical evaluation, patients treated with microcurrent EST reported reduction in pain and reduced analgesic consumption.