Is Fibromyalgia Whole Body Pain Treatable With Electrotherapy Without Implanting A Device?

   This article,  from The Huffington Post,  describes success treating fibromyalgia pain and discomfort with an implanted electrical device.   The post also describes how chronic pain responds to the implantation of a peripheral nerve stimulator ( PNS) .   Since these procedures are done originally in the clinic setting it appears the duration of stimulation is measured in time increments of less than an hour.  Often an external device is used to determine efficacy before any internal device is implanted.  Generally the external device is a machine that delivers 1 - 150 pulses of electricity per second, rate.   If there is some relief then the implantation is deemed probable of success.

    This use of a PNS machine for chronic body pain from fibromyalgia uses neural pathways around the back of the neck, entering the cranial area.  The purpose of such placement is to systemically affect the brain's ability to control the paralyzing pain  fibromyalgia patients have throughout their body.   The fibro patient often does not have one single source of pain, but has general systemic pain throughout that defies localization.   Not being able to localize the pain means most traditional tens machine type stimulators can not effectively help control the fibromyalgia patients pain issues.   By stimulating what is probably the occipital nerve the stimulus follows Dr. Giovanni DeDomenico's theory of descending pain control emanating from the brain.   The results of this treatment are consistent with his theory of pain, including general systemic pain.

    The use of an implanted device is generally intended only because of the resistance of the skin thusly preventing the electrical stimulus to target the occipital nerves.   By using interferential therapy the resistance is decreased and the actual electrical stimulus can then target the nerves themselves.  

   This study shows promise for self treatment with interferential therapy on an at home basis and without surgical implantation for the fibromyalgia patient who suffers systemic pain.