Long lasting antalgic effects of daily repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in neuropathic pain.

The article focuses on long lasting antalgic effects of daily repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in neuropathic pain. A predictive test to improve outcome would have been invaluable in selecting patients for such procedures. In a study, procedures. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in single sessions were reported to have a predictive effect. However, it goes further. Prolonged and significant pain relief can be achieved with repetitive TMS. In this series the majority had head, face, and arm pain, either from trigeminal neuralgia or stroke. This may well establish higher frequency TMS as an effective methodology of screening patients for implantation of motor cortex stimulation and since the effects are rather prolonged, may even prove to be a methodology that may be useful as an outpatient treatment for certain pain patients.