Gentle therapy for women with chronic pain
Women often suffer from chronic pain, especially after surgery. A promising, non-invasive therapy method is being investigated in a current study at Magdeburg University Hospital: stimulation of the vagus nerve in the ear area. The aim of the study is to test the effectiveness of this gentle treatment for pain relief after gynecological surgery and thus offer a gentle alternative to existing pain therapies.
In the study, which is being conducted by the University Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy Magdeburg in cooperation with the University Clinic for Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine Magdeburg, patients use a small device that is about the size of a smartphone. Electrodes are attached to this device, which are attached to the patient's ear via a clip and stimulate the vagus nerve with gentle electrical impulses - without any intervention in the body. The vagus nerve runs from the brain through the neck to the abdomen and controls important bodily functions such as heartbeat, digestion and the sensation of pain. Targeted stimulation of this nerve can reduce the transmission of pain signals and activate the body's own pain regulation system.
Photo: Targeted stimulation of the vagus nerve via a clip on the ear can reduce the transmission of pain signals and reactivate the body's own pain regulation.Photographer: Sarah Kossmann/University Medicine Magdeburg
“This method has shown promising results in previous studies and could be a gentle and important addition to existing therapies for the treatment of acute and chronic pain,” explains Dr. Caroline Rometsch, head of the study at the University Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy Magdeburg.
Vagus nerve stimulation is currently being used on patients at the University Women's Hospital who are undergoing treatment following gynecological procedures such as caesarean sections. What makes this treatment so special: “Patients can operate the stimulation device themselves after the operation and individually adjust the intensity of the electrical impulses. This enables a very personal and needs-based pain therapy,” adds Prof. Dr. med. Atanas Ignatov, Director of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine.
The researchers want to use the study to gain valuable insights into how well the therapy works in everyday life. “Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation could help prevent chronic pain in the long term, which many women develop after surgery,” says Rosa Butzlaff, a medical student and doctoral candidate at the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy.
The study could make an important contribution to the development of gentler and more effective pain treatments in the future. Prof. Dr. med. Florian Junne, Director of the Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, explains: “We want to continuously develop our therapeutic services to be able to help people suffering from pain symptoms even better.” The research aims to create new, patient-friendly treatment options that provide safe and effective pain relief.
Scientific contact
Dr. med. Caroline Rometsch, University Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Tavus@med.ovgu.de