Twitch-obtaining intramuscular stimulation (TOIMS): long term observations in the management of chronic partial cervical radiculopathy.

PURPOSE: To display the long term observations noted on using Twitch-Obtaining Intramuscular Stimulation (TOIMS) in the management of myofascial pain from chronic partial cervical radiculopathy.

METHODS: Included in the study were forty consecutive patients with chronic neck and upper limb pain who failed standard treatments. They received TOIMS during 1/92 through 6/95. Control patients were those who received standard treatments (StdRx) only. TOIMS patients had longer symptom duration and more chronic electromyographic findings at C5 and C7 levels on the symptomatic side than the StdRx patients. Test patients received TOIMS in a bilateral multisegmental, multiradicular distribution on a 1-2 weekly basis for 23.9 +/- 21.5 treatments. The follow-up rate was 82.5% for TOIMS and 35% for StdRx. Follow-up occurred at 28.6 +/- 9.1 months after the last TOIMS treatment and at 32.2 +/- 4.3 months after the initial contact for the StdRx patients. Main outcomes measured were pain reduction and return to work.

RESULTS: For those able to be followed 45.5% of the TOIMS patients chose TOIMS as very effective for pain control, whereas only 10% of the StdRx had similar opinions for conventional treatments. More of the TOIMS patients also had lower pain levels and were working compared to StdRx patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Observations suggest TOIMS to have potential value in the long-term management of partial cervical radiculopathy related myofascial pain.