Non-Invasive Neuromodulation With The Nesa Device To Improve Sleep, Pain, And Bladder Symptoms In Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune demyelinating inflammatory disease of unknown cause and chronic course caused by damage to myelin. Myelin damage results in impairment of the ability of nerves to conduct electrical impulses to and from the brain and this produces a variety of symptoms including spasticity, fatigue, neuropathic pain and/or urinary incontinence. Because they often do not remit and respond poorly to conventional medical treatment, attention has recently turned to novel interventions for bladder, pain, and sleep management. Non-invasive surface neuromodulation applied with the NESA device can help restore electrical balance in the body by regulating the Autonomic Nervous System and is beginning to show promising results in patients with sleep disorders. So, it may be an opportunity for an autonomic approach to sleep, bladder, and pain management. The aim of the study has been to improve sleep quality as well as urinary incontinence control and pain perception in patients treated exclusively with NESA technology. Materials and Methods: A prospective randomized quasi-experimental study is conducted with 11 patients from a local multiple sclerosis association. They were divided into two treatment groups (Group A: with NESA microcurrent treatment based on program 2 + program 3 (with directional electrode located at L1-L3) and program 5 + program 7 (with directional electrode located at C7). Each program for 15min. Group B: with NESA microcurrent treatment based on program 2 + program 6 + program 5 + program 7 (with directional electrode located at C7). Data on sleep quality, urinary incontinence and pain are measured using various rating scales at three different times during the study. Results: The analysis of the urinary incontinence and pain variables shows significant and favorable data in the treatment group with programming A with a positive improvement throughout the 3 weeks of treatment, obtaining a more favorable score with programming A. The sleep quality variable shows a significant improvement in both experimental groups, obtaining a more beneficial score in the treatment group with the A programming. Conclusions: This new technology attempts to neuromodulate the autonomic nervous system which is involved in many endogenous regulations such as sleep, stress, bladder, or chronic pain. This first study using the Nesa non-invasive neuromodulation device in patients with multiple sclerosis reveals its efficacy in improving sleep quality, pain, and urinary incontinence