Scrambler Pain Therapy
Scrambler pain therapy is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique designed to reorganize maladaptive signal pathways. This approach has been evaluated for peripheral neuropathic pain and proven safe and effective.
This device utilizes low-amperage electrical stimulation to replace endogenous pain information with synthetic “non-pain” or “normal-self” information that travels along the same nerve pathways to the brain. This data is delivered through patient-specific, personalized cutaneous electric stimulation channels at low amperages.
For optimal results, positioning the electrodes so that their stimulation current intensity gradually increases until a level at which patients can tolerate sensation may take several sessions depending on intensity and type of nerve damage. Furthermore, make sure not to disrupt nerve pathways with these electrodes.
Studies have been conducted to test the effectiveness of scrambler pain therapy. One such study involved 25 patients suffering from pain associated with bone and visceral metastases; all participants experienced significant improvements in their symptoms after 10 daily treatments.
Another study was conducted on patients with chronic postsurgical neuropathic pain who had failed to respond to conventional pharmaceutical treatment. Randomization was done between guideline-based drug management or Scrambler therapy, each cycle consisting of 10 daily treatments. The primary outcome measured change in visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores at one month; secondary outcomes included VAS pain scores at two and three months, pain medication use, and allodynia.
Neuropathic pain is a debilitating condition that has various causes, such as postsurgical complications, tumors and spinal canal stenosis. It has significant impacts on quality of life, mood and mobility. Medication may provide temporary relief but they often have side effects like drowsiness or mental fogging along with increased appetite or weight gain.
Recently, there has been an increased interest in neuromodulation techniques to treat chronic pain. Such approaches as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and spinal cord stimulation are popular options but may require invasive procedures that require significant financial investment.
Scrambler pain therapy is a non-invasive, patient-specific technique. This involves applying low amperage electrical signals to replace endogenous pain information with synthetic “non-pain” or “normal-self” information that travels along the same nerve pathways. This stimulation is delivered through individual low-amperage cutaneous electric stimulation channels which can be modulated by an algorithm for optimal stimulation.
The device creates 16 distinct nerve action potentials similar to endogenous ones, organizes them into sequences, and uses algorithms to determine patient-specific cutaneous electrostimulation. The signals are applied directly onto C fiber receptors on the skin in order to replace endogenous pain information with synthetic “non-pain” data which travels along the same pathways back to the brain.
