The efficiency of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation with clinical and neurophysiological findings in peripheral polyneuropathy patients associated with chronic renal disease and diabetes mellitus

The Efficiency of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation With Clinical and Neurophysiological Findings in Peripheral Polyneuropathy Patients Associated With Chronic Renal Disease and Diabetes MellitusIntroduction: The polyneuropathies associated with diabetes mellitus tye 2 and chronic renal disease are referred by long term complications. Especially, painfull polyneuropathy situations decrease the quality of the patient?s lifes severely. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation is a method which is used in painfull polyneuropathy treatment. In our study, we tried to evaulate the analgesic efficiency of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation in uremic & diabetic polyneuropathy patients? life quality and recovery of symptoms.Material and Method: 60 patients admitted to the Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Nephrology and Endocrinology Outpatient Clinics between 2010 ? 2012 who had been diagnosed peripheric polyneuropathy associated with Diabetes Mellitus and Stage 4 or 5 Chronic Renal Disease were included in this study.In Patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 and chronic renal disease, disease related symptoms, medication use, disease and neuropathy duration were recorded. General physical examination was performed and routine laboratory tests, vitamin b12 and folate levels were asked in all patients. Before and after the treatment of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation therapy international scalas (VAS, LANNS and NHP) were performed and recorded. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation therapy was applied to the patients 30 minutes daily for 3 weeks by physiotherapists in Departmant of Physical Therapy of Cukurova University.Results: Significant recovery were assessed within patients life quality before and after the therapy which were evaulated by a lot of parameters of VAS, LANNS and NHP scalas.Conclusion: In our study, The symptoms of painfull polyneuropathy patients are attenuated with Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation therapy. Besides, there were significant improvement in life quality of patients. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation therapy is an alternative therapy of drug theraphy in patients.