[Analgesic effect of high-frequency and acupuncture-like transcutaneous electric stimulation of nerve fibers in spinal osteochondrosis].

Epicutaneous electrostimulation of nerve fibers was used in 192 patients with the neurologic manifestations of spinal osteochondritis in order to alleviate the pain syndrome. Two stimulation regimens were used: a high-frequency one (rectangular impulses of current with an 0.1-0.2 msec duration and a 70 Hz frequency and the intensity being subliminal for a motor response) and "acupuncture-like" a series consisting of seven impulses of the same duration and frequency with the repetition of three series in one second, the intensity of the irritant being over the motor response threshold). The occurrence of prolonged analgesia was shown to be approximately equal with both regimens and to depend significantly on the duration of the pain syndrome and the presence of the symptoms of the loss of spinal root function. There were several cases when after one of the regimens had failed, the pain was controlled by the alternative method of stimulation.