[Central and peripheral deafferent pain: therapy with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation]

Abstract

Background: This study evaluates the effects of repeated sessions of low- and high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the primary motor cortex on central and phantom limb pain.

Methods: Twenty seven patients with central (n=13) and phantom limb (n=14) pain participated in a blind, randomised placebo-controlled study comparing the effect of 1-Hz and 5-Hz rTMS with sham stimulation. Each treatment block consisted of a 5-day baseline phase, a 5-day therapy phase, and an 18-day washout phase. In the therapy phase, 500 stimuli were applied in the particular frequency at about the same time on each day.

Results: A reduction in pain immediately after stimulation was observed in all therapy groups. This effect was similar for all treatment conditions, including sham stimulation. No significant long-term effects of rTMS on pain intensity or mood were observed.

Conclusion: At present, rTMS can not be recommended as a standard therapy for central and phantom limb pain.