Neuromodulation in Neurogenic Pain and Headache

About this Research Topic

Background

This section encompasses headache and pain originating from the nervous system. Neurogenic pain is a widespread healthcare problem. Neurogenic pain is frequently refractory to standard pharmacological treatment. There are side effects of such a treatment. There are several types and examples of neuropathic pain related to the injury of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Pathophysiology of this neurogenic pain and mechanisms responsible for its resistance on contemporary, available therapies are of a great interest. Neuromodulation is an attractive treatment option in chronic neuropathic pain. There are non-invasive and invasive neuromodulation methods in the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain. The commonest neurostimulation method is the spinal cord stimulation with new achievements in this method using different types of stimulation, sub-perception stimulation which are to be more efficient. Peripheral nerve stimulation is an attractive option.

Research areas of interest to this collection are:
_clinical trials on tDCS-transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, TMS
_Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, aVNS
_auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation, especially randomized studies, cohort studies, exceptional case reports.
TMS involves generation of magnetic field over the cortex of the brain. tDCS is a form of neurostimulation sending low-amplitude current modulating cortex. These therapies are emerging fields in research on treatment of pain which can be implemented in clinical practice. Spinal cord stimulation can be applied in syndromes encompassing neuropathic and nociceptive components of pain. Particular attention could be paid to the neurogenic pain caused by spinal cord injury, which is extremely difficult to treat. Effects of peripheral nerve stimulation e.g. occipital nerve stimulation in cluster headache, in occipital neuralgia, in trigeminal neuralgia, in migraine are also interesting. Sphenopalatine Ganglion stimulation can be the alternative in refractory headaches. Papers concerning less commonly applied neurostimulation methods in chronic pain as deep brain stimulation and motor cortex stimulation especially in neuropathic trigeminal pain, in cluster headache or in thalamic syndrome seem to be of general interest.

We welcome to this Research Topic:
• reviews and analyses of conditions amenable on neuromodulation therapy
• reviews and meta-analyses of nociceptive versus neuropathic pain conditions responding on neuromodulation methods
• case series reports with non-invasive and invasive neurostimulation in chronic neurogenic pain
• case reports on individualized and customized therapy of refractory pain syndromes
• reports demonstrating effects of neuromodulation in connectivity, neuroplasticity, in biochemical and molecular biomarkers
• articles describing structural neuroimaging alterations after neuromodulation in pain
• papers demonstrating biomarkers of improvement of pain therapy
• papers with neurophysiological assessment and criteria of improvement in pain therapy
• articles showing methods of assessment objectivizing pain perception in neuromodulation therapy
• articles demonstrating the influence of electrical stimulation on biochemical and physiological processes

Keywords: neuromodulation, non-invasive neurostimulation, invasive stimulation, headache

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