Electrostimulation in the management of chronic pain.

A new form of electrostimulation was investigated in a series of 768 patients with chronic pain. The method is based on the insertion of needle-electrodes in symmetrically selected points of the body and the passage of an electrical current of specified parameters. Treatment sessions last about 15-20 min and are repeated at intervals of 1 to 7 days. The procedure is simple and free from undesirable side effects. The investigation was based on 12000 sessions. The results of the treatment are discussed. No hypothesis of the mechanism of the beneficial effects obtained by electrostimulation is given, though the gate control theory of pain is cited.