Neurology at the Centre for Pain Medicine
Neurological diagnosis and therapy
The aim of neurological diagnosis is to establish whether there is neural pain and whether special therapy needs to be initiated for it. Burning pain, electric shock-like pain attacks and pain upon touch may indicate neural pain. Neural pain may develop due to injury (herniated disc, surgery, accident, spinal cord injury), inflammation (multiple sclerosis, nerve inflammation, shingles) and other causes (polyneuropathy).
A wide range of investigation techniques may help to diagnose neural pain. Treatment of neural pain includes medication, pain plasters, interventions such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), and other procedures such as nerve blocks and nerve stimulation techniques.
Our treatments
Routine measurements
Routine measurements comprise generally established procedures such as neurography, myography and other procedures.
Quantitative sensory testing (QST)
This investigation looks into the perception of temperature, touch and pressure sensations, helps to classify neural pain, and to optimise treatment. Our centre is certified for this investigation.
Laser-evoked potentials (LEPs)
Laser-evoked potentials provide information about the function of pain-conducting nerves and their pathways to the brain. Here, a laser ray is used to stimulate the skin and electrodes attached with sticky pads are used to measure the reaction in the brain.
Contact heart evoked potentials (CHEPs)
This investigation provides information about the function of pain-conducting nerves and their pathways to the brain. Here, heat stimuli are applied to the skin and electrodes attached with sticky pads are used to measure the reaction in the brain.
Laser Doppler imaging (LDI)
An electric impulse applied to the skin causes skin reddening, which is measured using a laser procedure. This allows the function of certain pain-conducting nerve fibres in the skin to be measured.
Neural ultrasound
Ultrasound offers the possibility of making pathological changes to nerve structures visible.
Thermography
Thermography can reveal temperature changes of the skin caused by nerve damage.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a new procedure that relieves neural pain and certain types of headaches using the effect of a magnetic field on the head.
