Percutaneous Peri-Auricular Peripheral Nerve Field Stimulation

Arthur Roberts DDS, MD, MSC, and Christopher R. Brown, DDS, MPS, The Pain Practitioner, Volume 25, Number 3, Fall 2015

A NOVEL, NON-OPIOID THERAPY FOR DIABETIC NEUROPATHY

Neuropathy has a complex pathogenesis, and can affect sensory, motor, and autonomic nervous systems in a number of different ways. Diabetic neuropathy results in complications involving the sensory, motor, and autonomic systems. These changes have long been understood to be associated with altered perfusion and metabolic function (1,2). Vagal stimulation alters perfusion. Perfusion alters neuropathy. Therefore, vagal stimulation alters neuropathy. This simple syllogism provides a basis to consider vagal neuromodulation as a potential adjunct therapy for patients with neuropathy in general, and symptomatic diabetic neuropathy in particular (3).