The Effect of Transauricular Electrical Vagal Nerve Stimulation on Temporal Summation of Pain in Patients With Back Pain

The Effect of Transauricular Electrical Vagal Nerve Stimulation on Temporal Summation of Heat Pain in Patients With Chronic Low-back Pain

The effect of transauricular electrical vagal nerve stimulation (taVNS) will be studied on temporal summation of heat pain (TSP) in 30 patients with chronic low-back pain and in 30 heathy volunteers. Participants will receive either taVNS or sham stimulation before and during TSP induction in a randomized crossover manner. The participants will be unaware regarding the type of intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with chronic low-back pain
• age 30-60 yrs old
• without heart disease
• low-back pain intensity at least 4 out of 10 points measured using NRS-10
• without cognitive deficits (Mini Mental State Shake < 23)

Exclusion Criteria:

• opioid medication
• more than 1 low-back surgery
• sensory of motor neurological deficits at the level of back pain
• spinal stenosis
• diabetic polyneuropathy
• skin pathology at the site (cymba conchae) of stimulation