Peripheral direct current suppresses physiologically evoked nociceptive responses at the spinal cord in rodent models of pain

Abstract

Chronic pain is a highly prevalent condition with a severe impact on quality of life. Existing pharmaceutical treatments such as opioids are associated with harmful side effects such as toxicity and addiction. While electrical neuromodulation provides a drug-free alternative, it is not suitable for all types of chronic pain. We examined the potential of direct current waveforms to expand the therapeutic range of neuromodulation devices. We applied direct current to a peripheral nerve in rodent models of neuropathic and inflammatory pain, and compared its effects on spinal activity produced by different stimuli delivered to the foot. We found that direct current could effectively suppress activity relating to painful stimuli in both pain models tested. Our findings support continued development of this technology towards clinical translation.