A method of stimulating sensory nerves is disclosed that comprises the steps of providing an electrode plate with a pattern of needle-like (NL) electrodes and conductive plate (CP) electrodes disposed on a front face of the plate element, the NL electrodes being configured to apply electrical stimulation to cutaneous Aδ/C fibers, and the CP electrodes being configured to apply electrical stimulation to cutaneous Aβ fibers； mounting the electrode plate on a patient's skin with the front face in an abutting relationship with the patient's skin, the abutting relationship causing the NL electrodes to penetrate the epidermis of the patient's skin； and applying electrical stimulation to the patient's skin via the pattern of NL electrodes and CP electrodes, the electrical stimulation being applied so that Aβ fiber input from the CP electrodes overlaps in time at the patient's spinal cord and/or brain stem with Aδ/C fiber input from the NL electrodes.
