PhD defence Xander Zuidema

Keywords: Spinal cord stimulation, Chronic neuropathic pain, Pain management

"Different paradigms for stimulating the spinal cord to treat neuropathic pain"

Over the past 5 years, research has been conducted into the treatment of two common forms of nerve pain using spinal cord stimulation.

The effectiveness and safety over a period of ten years of a longer-standing stimulation setting (known as conventional) and the effects on pain reduction, quality of life, and functioning of a relatively new specific setting (known as DTM) of spinal cord stimulation were investigated. 

To answer the research questions, literature research, data analysis from previous studies with conventional stimulation, and analysis of new data obtained from questionnaires after treatment of patients with DTM stimulation were used.

Results show that DTM stimulation differs from conventional stimulation in terms of its mechanism of action, that spinal cord stimulation, remains effective and safe over a period of 10 years despite a loss of effect in one-third of patients, and that DTM stimulation appears promising with fewer side effects for the treatment of two common forms of nerve pain.

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