Spinal cord stimulation can benefit patients with diabetic neuropathy

MINNEAPOLIS: According to a new study, diabetes-related nerve damage, or diabetic neuropathy, can cause pain and numbness, most commonly in the hands and feet. Diabetic neuropathy is a painful condition that affects around 25% of the 37 million Americans who have diabetes.

"Diabetic neuropathy often results in poor quality of life, depression, anxiety and impaired sleep, and the available medications can be ineffective for many people or have side effects that people can't tolerate," said study author Erika Petersen, MD, of the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. "These results are exciting because there is an urgent need for more effective therapies."

The study involved 216 people who had painful diabetic neuropathy symptoms for at least one year that were not responding to medications. Half of the people received spinal cord stimulation plus regular medical treatment for six months.

Half received only regular medical treatment. After six months, people had the option to switch to the other treatment. People were followed for a total of two years. Spinal cord stimulation involves a device that is implanted under the skin. The device delivers electrical stimulation to the spinal cord to cut off pain signals to the brain.

After six months, the people who received stimulation reported 76% decrease in their average pain amount, while the people who did not receive stimulation had a 2% increase in their average amount of pain. In tests of their motor function, sensation and reflexes, improvements were seen in 62% of those receiving stimulation compared to 3% of those receiving medication only.

A total of 93% of those receiving medication only and eligible to cross over chose to receive the stimulation after six months, while none of those receiving the stimulation wanted to receive medication only. After two years, people reported 80% improvement in their average pain amount, and 66% continued to have improvement in motor function, sensation and reflexes.

None of the participants had their devices removed because they were not effective. Eight people had infections related to the device. Three of those cleared up and five people, or 3%, had their devices removed due to infection, which Petersen said is within the range reported for people receiving spinal cord stimulation for other conditions.

Petersen also noted that the high-frequency stimulation appears to provide greater pain relief than low-frequency stimulation. High-frequency stimulation also does not create the "pins and needles" sensation that comes with low-frequency stimulation. "This study demonstrates that high-frequency stimulation provides long-term pain relief with acceptable safety," Petersen said.

"The improvements in motor function, sensation and reflexes suggest that this therapy could have disease-modifying potential." Petersen said, "Confirmation of results through studies in larger groups of people could further strengthen our understanding of this spinal cord stimulation therapy for the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy."