Abstract
Rat neuromas have shown an increase of spontaneously active fibers to systemically administered potassium channel blocking agents such as tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA) and gallamine. Neuroma formation and spontaneous activity have been associated with autotomy in rats and pain in humans. To evaluate the chemosensitivity of human neurons to potassium channel blocking agents, 9 subjects with neuroma pain underwent perineuromal injection in a single-blinded fashion of normal saline, gallamine, and lidocaine. Sodium chloride had no effect on control pain levels, while gallamine significantly increased and lidocaine significantly decreased pain from control levels. Three of 4 patients with accompanying phantom limb pain noted an increase in pain after the injection of gallamine. The data suggest that peripheral input plays a modulating but not solitary role in both neuroma and phantom limb pain. Agents which increase potassium channel permeability or decrease sodium influx would be predicted to decreased perceived pain.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 321-325 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Pain |
Volume | 36 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1989 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Gallamine
- Lidocaine
- Neuroma pain
- Perineuromal injection
- Phantom limb pain
- Saline
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neurology
- Clinical Neurology
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine