Background and aims: Paresthesia and dysesthetic sensations are often reported by patients with neuropathic pain. In this study, we introduced an experimental technique to induce pain and paresthesia in healthy individuals. The primary aim of this study was to quantify the intensity of experimental paresthesia and propose this technique for subsequent research projects. 
Methods: Twenty-three healthy volunteers were randomly allocated into one of two groups. They were exposed to three trials of ischemic stimuli delivered by an electronic sphygmomanometer attached to their non-dominant arm. Group 1 received high (200 mmHg), while group 2 low pressure (150 mmHg) in every trial. One week after the first assessment participants were examined again for the purpose of reliability analysis. The intensity of the symptoms was measured continuously by a computerized Visual Analogue Scale (VAS, 0-100).
Results: There were no significant differences in the intensity of paresthesia induced on the first and second examination day (P>0.05). The mean intensity of paresthesia was 15.39±10.53 and 34.13±25.70 (VAS) for high and low pressure, respectively. Reliability of the averaged and maximum intensity of symptoms was moderate with the ICC values of 0.61 and 0.70, respectively.
Conclusions: Preliminary data from this study indicates that it is plausible to induce robust paresthesia in an experimental setting. The reliability of this symptom induction is moderate. Its reasonable that slightly less intensive stimulation (lower ischemia) might induce stronger paresthesia, however,​ this observation has to be verified in a larger sample.

EXPERIMENTAL INDUCTION OF PARESTHESIA BY NOXIOUS STIMULI: PRELIMINARY DATA