Estimulação Transcraniana por Corrente Contínua melhora a dor em mulheres com dismenorreia primária

Abstract

Primary Dysmenorrhea (PD) is considered a chronic pain condition that occurs with menstruation. Studies indicate that Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a technique that has good results in improving chronic pain in some populations because it produces stimuli in regions of the brain related to pain control. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of tDCS on the relief of pain in women with PD. Twenty-two women with PD were randomized into the tDCS-active and tDCS-sham groups. All were followed during two menstrual cycles, in the first cycle, performed initial evaluation with sociodemographic and clinical data, Visual Numerical Pain Scale (VNS) and began filling in the pain diary. Before starting the second menstrual cycle they received the intervention with anodic tDCS with 2 mA for 5 consecutive days, 20 min per day. On the first day of menstruation of the second cycle, participants were re-evaluated (post-tDCS). There were no significant differences in the sociodemographic parameters and in the initial clinical characteristics between the groups, except for VNS. The active tDCS group achieved a significant and clinical reduction in pain scores in the 1st (p = 0.001), 2nd (p = 0.025) and 3rd (p = 0.019) days post intervention when compared to the scores of the previous menstrual cycle. In the Sham group, no significant change in pain score was identified. These results provide preliminary evidence for the use of tDCS in reducing PD pain.