The Use of Electrical Nerve Stimulation to Treat Migraines: A Systematic Review

Author: Karan Patel1, Sai Batchu1, Rebecca Wang2, Sean Bunachita3, Aditya Joshi1,4, Ria Soni5, Aadi Pandya6, Urvish Patel7
Affiliation:
1 Medicine, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, USA.
2 Medicine, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nutley, USA.
3 Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
4 Orthopaedics, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, USA.
5 Medicine, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, USA.
6 Medicine, Herricks High School, New Hyde Park, USA.
7 Epidemiology and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA.
Conference/Journal: Cureus
Date published: 2021 Aug 30
Other: Volume ID: 13 , Issue ID: 8 , Pages: e17554 , Special Notes: doi: 10.7759/cureus.17554. , Word Count: 220


Migraines have been defined as an intense unilateral throbbing or pulsating sensation lasting anywhere between a few hours to multiple days. They are the sixth most prevalent disease in the United States, with approximately 18% of women and 6% of men experiencing some form of a migraine throughout their lifetime. In addition, they pose a significant economic burden, accounting for anywhere between $13 and $17 billion in medical costs annually in the United States. While there are a wide variety of treatments for migraines on the market, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), beta-blockers, and anti-epileptics, there is still no standard treatment. Moreover, each of these medications has a wide range of side effects, ranging from stomach ulcers to light-headedness. Within the last few decades, the presence of electrical nerve stimulation has emerged as a possible treatment option. These methods are almost free of harmful side effects and may be able to reduce the economic burden on those who suffer from migraines. However, studies have shown mixed results in regard to their efficacy. In this paper, we performed a systematic review to detail the current state of the literature regarding electrical nerve stimulation as a treatment modality for migraines.

Keywords: migraine disorder; occipital nerve stimulation; percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; trigeminal nerve stimulation; vagus nerve stimulation.

PMID: 34646611 PMCID: PMC8481154 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.17554

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