The analgesic action of transcutaneous nerve stimulation (T.N.S.) was investigated in the laboratory situation. Fourteen healthy university students completed a trial where pain was induced by immersion of the non-dominant hand in water at 8°C. Subjective estimates of pain levels were less in a significant proportion of the subjects during the second half of the test period, where T.N.S. was applied to the same limb proximal to the site of immersion. These results support the clinical observations of the value of T.N.S. in alleviating some forms of severe pain. Finally, the mode of action of T.N.S. is briefly considered.
EbersoldM. J.LawsE. R.StonningtonH. H. and StillwellG. K.Transcutaneous electrical stimulation for the treatment of chronic pain, Surgical Neurology4, 96–99, 1975.
2.
EricksonD. L. and MichaelsonM. A.Electrical stimulation for the relief of pain, Clinical Medicine82, 31–35, 1975.
3.
OmuraY.Critical evaluation of the methods of measurement of "tingling threshold", "pain threshold" and "pain tolerance" by electrical stimulation, Acupuncture & Eleciro-therapeut. Res. Int. J.2, 161–236, 1976.
4.
LoeserJ. D.BlackR. G. and ChristmanA.Relief of pain by transcutaneous stimulation, Journal of Neurosurgery42, 308–314, 1975.
5.
PicazaJ. A.CannonB. W.HunterS. E.BoydA. S.GumaJ. and MaurerD.Pain suppression by peripheral nerve stimulation, Surgical Neurology4, 105–114, 1975.
6.
ThorsteinssonG.StonningtonH. H.StillwellG. K. and EuvebackL.A., T.N.S. —a double blind trial of efficacy for pain, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation58, 8–12, 1977.
7.
CoopermanA. M.HallB.SadraE. S. and HardyR. W.Use of transcutaneous nerve stimulation in control of post operative pain, Surgical Forum26, 77–78, 1975.
8.
BoasR. A. and HatangdiV. S.Electrical stimulation in the relief of pain. A pilot study, New Zealand Medical Journal22, 230–233. 1976.
9.
ShealyC. N., Transcutaneous nerve stimulation for the control of pain. Clinical Neurosurgery21, 269–277, 1974.
10.
VanderarkG. D. and McGrathK. A.Transcutaneous electrical stimulation in treatment of post operative pain, American Journal of Surgery130, 338–340, 1975.
ErikssonM.SchüllerH. and SjölundB., Hazards from transcutaneous nerve stimulation in patients with pacemakers, Lancet11319, 1978.
13.
NathanP. W. and RudgeP.Testing the gate-control theory of pain in man, Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry37, 1366–1372, 1974.
14.
SmithG. M.EgbertL. D.MarkowtizR. A.MostellerF. and BeecherH. K.An experimental pain method sensitive to morphine in man. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 154, 324–332, 1966.
15.
SiegelS.TableD p. 2S0 in Nonparametric Statistics for the Behaviourial Sciences,McGraw-Hill, New York, 1966.
16.
MerskeyH. and SpearP. G.Page 6 in Pain: Psychological and Psychiatric Aspects, Balliere, Tindell & Cassell, London, 1967.
17.
WolffH. G.HardyJ. D. and GoodellH.Measurement of the effect on the pain threshold of acetylsalicylic acid, acetanilid, acetophenetidin, aminopyrine, ethyl alcohol, trichloroethylene, a barbiturate, quinine, ergotamine, tartarate and caffein: an analysis of their relation to the pain experience. Journal of Clinical Investigation20, 63–80, 1941.
18.
DentonJ. E.StrausO. H.WaddellW. E. and BeecherH. K.A comparison of side-effects and analgesic action of morphine amidone and its isomers in men, Federal Proceedings7, 214–215, 1948.
19.
DoddsE. G.LawsonW.SimpsonS. A. and WilliamsP. CTesting diphenylethylamine compounds for analgesic action, Journal of Physiology194,47–51, 1945.
20.
BowsherD.Pain pathways and mechanisms. Anaesthesia33, 935–944, 1978.
21.
StrassburgH. M.KrainickJ. U. and ThodenU.Influence of transcutaneous nerve stimulation (T.N.S.) on acute pain, Journal of Neurology217, 1–10, 1977.
22.
SinclairD. CCutaneous sensation and the doctrine of specific energies, Brain78, 584–614, 1955.
23.
CampbellJ. N. and TaubA.Local analgesia from percutaneous electrical stimulation. Archives of Neurology28, 347–350, 1973.
24.
MelzackR. and WallP. D.Pain mechanisms: a new theory. Science150, 971–979, 1965.
25.
IgnelziR. J. and NyquistJ. K.Peripheral nerve stimulation for pain relief: effect on cutaneous peripheral evoked activity, Surgical Forum26, 474–476, 1975.
26.
CollinsW. F.NulsenF. E. and Randt, C. T., Relation of peripheral nerve fibre size and sensation in man, Archives of Neurology and Psychiatry3, 381–385, I960.
27.
KitahataL. M.A second look at the ‘gate control’ theory of pain. Excerpta Medica. International Congress Series. Fifth World Congress of Anaesihesiologists261136, 1972.
28.
GoldsteinA.Enkephalins, opiate receptors and general anaesthesia. Anaesthesiology49, 1–2, 1978.
29.
HosobuchiY.AdamsJ. E. and LinchitzR.Pain relief by electrical stimulation of the central grey matter in humans and its reversal by Naloxone, Science197, 183–186, 1977.
30.
MayerD. J.PriceD. D. and RafiiA.Antagonism of acupuncture in man by the narcotic antagonist Naloxone, Brain Research121, 368–372, 1977.
31.
OmuraY.Pain threshold measurements before and after acupuncture, Acupuncture & Electro-Therapeut. Res., Int. J.3, 1–21, 1978.
32.
OmuraY.Electro-acupuncture: its electro-physiological basis and criteria for effectiveness and safety — PartI. Acupuncture & Electro-Therapeut. Res., Int. J.1, 157–182, 1975.
33.
SjölundB. H. and ErikssonM.B., The relationship of endorphins to analgesia produced by peripheral conditioning stimulation, Neuroscience LettersSuppl 1. 435, 1978.
