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Advances in Therapy
Published in: Advances in Therapy 3/2020

01-03-2020 | Neuropathic Pain | Review

Repetitive Magnetic Stimulation for the Management of Peripheral Neuropathic Pain: A Systematic Review

Authors: Abdullah Aamir, Ayesha Girach, Ptolemaios Georgios Sarrigiannis, Marios Hadjivassiliou, Antonela Paladini, Giustino Varrassi, Panagiotis Zis

Published in: Advances in Therapy | Issue 3/2020

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Abstract

Introduction

Repetitive magnetic stimulation (rMS) is a safe and well-tolerated intervention. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is used for the treatment of depression and for the treatment and prevention of migraine. Over the last few years, several reports and randomised controlled studies of the use of rMS for the treatment of pain have been published. The aim of this systematic review was to identify the available literature regarding the use of rMS in the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain.

Methods

After a systematic Medline search we identified 12 papers eligible to be included in this review.

Results

The majority of the studies were on patients with phantom limb pain, followed by radiculopathy, plexopathy, post-traumatic pain and peripheral neuropathy. The treatment protocols vary significantly from study to study and, therefore, pooling the results together is currently difficult. However, rMS has a definite immediate effect in pain relief which, in the majority of studies, is maintained for a few weeks.

Conclusion

rMS seems to be a promising intervention in the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain. Further research is in the field is needed. Use of neuronavigation might increase the precision of stimulation and subsequently its effectiveness.
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Metadata
Title
Repetitive Magnetic Stimulation for the Management of Peripheral Neuropathic Pain: A Systematic Review
Authors
Abdullah Aamir
Ayesha Girach
Ptolemaios Georgios Sarrigiannis
Marios Hadjivassiliou
Antonela Paladini
Giustino Varrassi
Panagiotis Zis
Publication date
01-03-2020
Publisher
Springer Healthcare
Published in
Advances in Therapy / Issue 3/2020
Print ISSN: 0741-238X
Electronic ISSN: 1865-8652
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-020-01231-2

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