Diabetes is a common condition that can lead to chronic pain and numbness in a person’s hands and feet, known as diabetic neuropathy – one of the most frequent complications of diabetes. Constant pain touches every aspect of a patient’s life, including negatively impacting sleep, the ability to work and complete normal daily activities, and mood with potential effects on relationships with friends and family. There are several types of pain medications currently used as treatments for diabetic neuropathy, including opioids. Unfortunately, many people living with diabetic foot pain do not achieve adequate relief despite the best available medical treatments. A recent study conducted by physicians across the United States may have discovered a new treatment option for patients suffering chronic pain from diabetic neuropathy.
The research, led by Dr. Erika Petersen, a neurosurgeon at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, explored whether an implanted medical device called a spinal cord stimulator could offer patients with diabetic neuropathy better pain relief. Spinal cord stimulators have been used by doctors for decades to treat chronic back and leg pain by delivering a mild electrical impulse to the nerves to interrupt the pain signals. The specific device used by Dr. Petersen and colleagues delivers a unique type of stimulation (high-frequency 10 kHz, Nevro Corp.) that prior research has shown to provide significantly better relief for patients with back and leg pain.
The study received a Best of Meeting Abstract Award from the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA) for its 19th Annual Pain Medicine Meeting, being held virtually November 20-22, 2020. Lead author Dr. Erika Petersen, will present Abstract #1542, “10 kHz Spinal Cord Stimulation for Treatment of Painful Diabetic Neuropathy – A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial” on Saturday, November 21, at 3:30 pm ET.
Doctors enrolled over 200 patients with pain due to diabetic neuropathy in a randomized, controlled trial. Half of the patients remained on their current medications as the control group while the other half were treated with the spinal cord stimulator. The researchers have presented their results after three months of treatment. Patients treated with the device saw a dramatic reduction in their pain, with 89% deemed to be responders while only 7% of the control group were responders.
In addition to pain relief, majority of patients treated with the high-frequency spinal cord stimulator also experienced reduced numbness and improvements in sensation in their feet, as well as improved sleep and function. Safety was comparable to previous studies in patients without diabetes with devices removed due to infection in 1.1% of patients.
The early results are promising for patients with diabetic neuropathy symptoms that do not improve with medications. Dr. Petersen and colleagues will continue the study for two years to understand the long-term benefits of high-frequency spinal cord stimulation.
ASRA is a professional member organization of more than 5,000 physicians and healthcare providers across the United States and the world. The vision of ASRA is to relieve the global burden of pain. ASRA is dedicated to advancing the science and practice of regional anesthesia and pain medicine to improve patient outcomes through research, education, and advocacy. Learn more at www.asra.com.
