Can a gentle zap beat placebo for chronic pain?

This study looked at whether a mild, below-sensation level nerve stimulation (called sub-threshold DRG stimulation) can reduce chronic pain better than a sham (device turned off). Twenty adults who already have a nerve stimulator implant and had good pain relief from standard therapy took part. Each person received both active stimulation and sham for 5 days each, in random order, and reported their pain, sleep, mood, and activity levels. The goal was to see if the stimulation itself, not just the placebo effect, truly helps with pain and daily wellbeing.