Characterising the Features of 381 Clinical Studies Evaluating Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for Pain Relief: A Secondary Analysis of the Meta-TENS Study to Improve Future Research

Non-pharmacological pain palliation methods in chronic pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a condition characterized by persistent and often severe pain resulting from the inflammatory disease of the pancreas. While pharmacological treatments play a significant role in palliative pain management, some patients require non-pharmacological methods. This review article focuses on non-pharmacological approaches used to alleviate pain in CP. The article examines non-pharmacological palliation options, including surgery, endoscopic approaches, neurostimulation techniques, acupuncture, and other alternative medicine methods. The effectiveness of each method is evaluated, taking into consideration patient compliance and side effects. Additionally, this article emphasizes the importance of personalized pain management in CP and underscores the need for a multidisciplinary approach. It aims to summarize the existing knowledge on the use of non-pharmacological palliation methods to improve the quality of life for patients with CP.

Broadening the lens through which we view pain and its management: an interview with Mark Johnson

Mark Johnson, PhD is Professor of Pain and Analgesia and Director of the Centre for Pain Research at Leeds Beckett University. Having initially trained as a neurophysiologist, Professor Johnson has expanded his research into the science of pain and its management, leading a team of pain scholars at the university. His research covers a wide range of topics including studying the effects of nonpharmacological interventions (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS], acupuncture, low-level laser therapy and Kinesio tape) for pain management, individuality and pain, epidemiology of pain and more recently health promotion and pain. His expertise spans a range of research methodologies including evidence syntheses such as meta-ethnography and meta-analysis including Cochrane Reviews, as well as conducting clinical trials and laboratory studies. In addition to his research, Professor Johnson is involved in pain education for healthcare professionals, patients, and the general public to provide people with up-to-date knowledge for a better understanding of the science of pain and its management.

Pain Relief in Dental Local Anaesthesia with Vibrational Devices: Much Ado about Nothing? A Scoping Review

In recent years, vibrational devices have been introduced in order to reduce patient discomfort in some situations such as orofacial pain, orthodontic therapy, and injection of local anaesthetics. This article aims to review the clinical experience given by the use of these devices in local anaesthesia. The literature search was carried out on the main scientific databases for articles up to November 2022. Eligibility criteria were established, and pertinent articles selected. The results were classified by author, year, type of study, sample size and characteristics, purpose of use, type of vibrational device used, protocol used, and outcomes. Nine relevant articles were found. These are split mouth randomized clinical trials which evaluate the reduction in pain perception with different devices and different protocols of use in children, during procedures which require local analgesia by injection, compared with traditional local anaesthesia with premedication based on anaesthetic gels. Different objective and subjective scales of pain and discomfort perception were used. Although results are promising, some data, such as those relating to vibrational intensity and frequency, are not clear. Evaluations on samples varying by age and context of use are necessary to fully define the indications for this type of aid during oral rehabilitation procedures.

Using TENS for Pain Control: Update on the State of the Evidence

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-pharmacological intervention used in the treatment of acute and chronic pain conditions. The first clinical studies on TENS were published over 50 years ago, when effective parameters of stimulation were unclear and clinical trial design was in its infancy. Over the last two decades, a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying TENS efficacy has led to the development of an adequate dose and has improved outcome measure utilization. The continued uncertainty about the clinical efficacy of TENS to alleviate pain, despite years of research, is related to the quality of the clinical trials included in systematic reviews. This summary of the evidence includes only trials with pain as the primary outcome. The outcomes will be rated as positive (+), negative (−), undecided (U), or equivalent to other effective interventions (=). In comparison with our 2014 review, there appears to be improvement in adverse events and parameter reporting. Importantly, stimulation intensity has been documented as critical to therapeutic success. Examinations of the outcomes beyond resting pain, analgesic tolerance, and identification of TENS responders remain less studied areas of research. This literature review supports the conclusion that TENS may have efficacy for a variety of acute and chronic pain conditions, although the magnitude of the effect remains uncertain due to the low quality of existing literature. In order to provide information to individuals with pain and to clinicians treating those with pain, we suggest that resources for research should target larger, high-quality clinical trials including an adequate TENS dose and adequate timing of the outcome and should monitor risks of bias. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses should focus only on areas with sufficiently strong clinical trials that will result in adequate sample size.