Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation for Erythromelalgia Related Foot Pain: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Pain Pract. 2021 Jul;21(6):698-702. doi: 10.1111/papr.12998. Epub 2021 Feb 12.

Abstract

Erythromelalgia is a rare neurovascular disorder characterized by erythema, warmth, and episodic burning pain, often felt in the face, hands, and feet. Symptoms are typically worse with heat, exercise, stress, and during the overnight hours. Management often requires a multidisciplinary approach, including pain trigger avoidance, cool water baths, and topical and oral neuropathic medications. The use of spinal cord stimulation has been described in multiple case reports with success reported out to 24 months. To our knowledge, the use of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation for erythromelalgia-related pain has not been described. Herein, we present a case of erythromelalgia-related pain at the bilateral plantar surfaces of the feet, which was treated successfully with bilateral sacral S1 nerve root DRG stimulation.

Keywords: chronic pain; dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation; erythromelalgia; neuromodulation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Erythromelalgia* / complications
  • Erythromelalgia* / diagnosis
  • Erythromelalgia* / therapy
  • Foot
  • Ganglia, Spinal
  • Humans
  • Pain / etiology
  • Spinal Cord Stimulation*