Review of the Uses of Vagal Nerve Stimulation in Chronic Pain Management

Krishnan Chakravarthy; Hira Chaudhry; Kayode Williams; Paul J. Christo

doi:10.1007/s11916-015-0528-6

Review of the Uses of Vagal Nerve Stimulation in Chronic Pain Management

Krishnan Chakravarthy, Hira Chaudhry, Kayode Williams, Paul J. Christo

School of Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

51 Scopus citations

Abstract

Recent human and animal studies provide growing evidence that vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) can deliver strong analgesic effects in addition to providing therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of refractory epilepsy and depression. Analgesia is potentially mediated by vagal afferents that inhibit spinal nociceptive reflexes and transmission and have strong anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of this review is to provide pain practitioners with an overview of VNS technology and limitations. It specifically focuses on clinical indications of VNS for various chronic pain syndromes, including fibromyalgia, pelvic pain, and headaches. We also present potential mechanisms for VNS modulation of chronic pain by reviewing both animal and human studies.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	54
Journal	Current pain and headache reports
Volume	19
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-015-0528-6
State	Published - Dec 1 2015

Keywords

Chronic pain
Fibromyalgia
Headache
Inflammation
Pelvic pain
Vagal nerve stimulation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Clinical Neurology
Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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10.1007/s11916-015-0528-6

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abstract = "Recent human and animal studies provide growing evidence that vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) can deliver strong analgesic effects in addition to providing therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of refractory epilepsy and depression. Analgesia is potentially mediated by vagal afferents that inhibit spinal nociceptive reflexes and transmission and have strong anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of this review is to provide pain practitioners with an overview of VNS technology and limitations. It specifically focuses on clinical indications of VNS for various chronic pain syndromes, including fibromyalgia, pelvic pain, and headaches. We also present potential mechanisms for VNS modulation of chronic pain by reviewing both animal and human studies.",

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AU - Williams, Kayode

AU - Christo, Paul J.

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N2 - Recent human and animal studies provide growing evidence that vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) can deliver strong analgesic effects in addition to providing therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of refractory epilepsy and depression. Analgesia is potentially mediated by vagal afferents that inhibit spinal nociceptive reflexes and transmission and have strong anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of this review is to provide pain practitioners with an overview of VNS technology and limitations. It specifically focuses on clinical indications of VNS for various chronic pain syndromes, including fibromyalgia, pelvic pain, and headaches. We also present potential mechanisms for VNS modulation of chronic pain by reviewing both animal and human studies.

AB - Recent human and animal studies provide growing evidence that vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) can deliver strong analgesic effects in addition to providing therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of refractory epilepsy and depression. Analgesia is potentially mediated by vagal afferents that inhibit spinal nociceptive reflexes and transmission and have strong anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of this review is to provide pain practitioners with an overview of VNS technology and limitations. It specifically focuses on clinical indications of VNS for various chronic pain syndromes, including fibromyalgia, pelvic pain, and headaches. We also present potential mechanisms for VNS modulation of chronic pain by reviewing both animal and human studies.

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KW - Fibromyalgia

KW - Headache

KW - Inflammation

KW - Pelvic pain

KW - Vagal nerve stimulation

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Review of the Uses of Vagal Nerve Stimulation in Chronic Pain Management

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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