Intractable central pain in spinal cord injury is not relieved by spinal cord stimulation

Abstract

The results from a trial of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for intractable deafferentation pain in chronic spinal cord injury is presented. Adequate periods of SCS both above and below the level of the lesion had no effect on the subjects’ pain. It is concluded that SCS has no role in this group of patients. The physiological reason for this ineffectiveness is considered. © 1991 International Medical Society of Paraplegia.