Rationale: Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most common complications of Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Pain is a common symptom of diabetic neuropathy, affecting 11-34% of patients suffering form DM. The burden of disease of painful diabetic polyneuropathy (PDP) is high for both the patient and society, due to significant pain levels, frequent co-morbidity, polypharmacy and significant health resource use. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been used for over 30 years to treat neuropathic pain. Several small clinical studies have shown a beneficial effect of SCS on pain in PDP.

Objective: The primary objective of this study is to investigate whether SCS leads to clinically relevant (≥50%) pain relief in patients with moderate-to-severe PDP in the lower limbs after 6 months of treatment.

Secondary objectives to investigate 1) the effect of SCS on health related quality of life in PDP; 2) the effect of SCS on the quality of sleep in PDP; 3) the effect of SCS on mood in PDP; 4) the effect of SCS on blood glucose control in PDP; 5) the effect of SCS on large and small nerve fibre functions in PDP; 6) identifying predictive factors for success of SCS treatment of PDP; after 6 months 7) the effect of SCS on small fibre loss and regeneration in PDP; and 8) costs, cost-utility and cost-effectiveness after 12 months of treatment.

Study design: the study is a multi centre randomized controlled trial. Study population: Patients suffering from moderate-to-severe PDP in the lower limbs due to diabetes mellitus type 1 or type 2 as diagnosed by clinical symptoms (glove and stocking distribution).

Intervention: patients assigned to group 1 will receive spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and/or best (drug) treatment as possible, patients assigned to group 2 will receive best (drug) treatment as possible.

Main study parameters/endpoints: The main study parameter will be the mean pain intensity and/or maximal pain intensity during daytime and/or during night time as measured on a weighted NRS and/or a PGIC for pain and sleep measured on a 7-point Likert scale, after 6 months of treatment.

Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: SCS related risks include: lead migration (14%), lead breakage (7%), implanted pulse generator migration (1%), loss of therapeutic effect, lost or unpleasant paresthesias (12%), infection or wound breakdown (10%), Pain at IPG incision site (12%), IPG pocket fluid collection (5%). Treatment-as-usual related risks are related to the medication used and do not increase due to participation in this study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Moderate-to-severe PDP in the lower limbs

  • The pain intended to treat has been present for more than 12 months
  • Previous treatment has been unsuccessful (insufficient pain relief and/or unacceptable side-effects) with drugs from the following drug categories:
  • Amitriptylin or an other tricyclic antidepressant and/or
  • Pregabalin (Lyrica®) or Gabapentin (Neurontin®) and/or
  • Duloxetine (Cymbalta®) and/or
  • Tramadol or strong opioids Patients were treated with 3 drugs from the above mentioned drug categories and followed the treatment algorithm for painful diabetic polyneuropathy according to Jensen. Starting dosage was based on individual patient characteristics. Each drug was tried for at least 3 weeks and dose was raised once, if possible. By insufficient pain relief and/or unacceptable side-effects, the drug treatment was stopped. Patients reached a steady state in medication use and it is not allowed to increase dosage during the study.

• Mean pain intensity during daytime and/or night time should be 5 or higher measured on a numeric rating scale (NRS). Pain during daytime will be scored 3 times per day during for 4 days according to Jensen.

• Patient's age is between 18 and 75 years.

Exclusion Criteria:

• The patient has had neuromodulation therapy during the month before the intake

• Neuropathic pain is most prevalent in the upper limbs (NRS>3)

• Neuropathy or chronic pain of other origin than diabetes mellitus (NRS> 3)

• Addiction: drugs, alcohol (> 5E / day) and/or medication

  • Drugs: cocaine, heroine, marihuana.
  • Alcohol: wine, beer, liquor (max 5E / day)
  • Medication: benzodiazepines.

• Insufficient cooperation from the patient (little motivation, understanding or communication)

• Blood clotting disorder, when using 2 or more different kinds of anti coagulation

• Immune deficiency (HIV-positive, corticosteroids with a dose equivalent to > prednisolone 10 mg, immunodepressive, etc.)

• Peripheral vascular disease without palpable peripheral pulses at both feet (inclusion is possible if pulses are absent, but ankle brachial index is between 0.7 and 1.2 in both feet)

• Active foot ulceration

• Life expectancy < 1 year

• Pacemaker

• Local infection or other skin disorders at site of incision

• Psychiatric problems potentially interfering with cooperation in the study

• Pregnancy

• Severe cardiac or pulmonary failure (> NYHA classification II)

• Unstable blood glucose control (change in HbA1c>1,0% in three months prior to inclusion)