"Scrambler therapy": a new option in neuropathic pain treatment?

Author： Serafini Giuseppe Marineo Giuseppe Sabato Alessandro F.

ISSN： 1568-5691

Source： The Pain Clinic, Vol.12, Iss.4, 2000-12, pp. : 287-298

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Abstract

This work aims to evaluate the use of a new electromedical device, conceived in an exclusive way to subvert the concept of electric nerve stimulation. It uses the nervous fiber as a passive means to convey, by means of a procedure that we might define as 'scrambling' (the technical meaning of scrambling is mixing of information), a message of normality to the CNS which should enable to recognize it as self and non-algic one, thus modifying the reflex adaptive responses. This technique has been named 'scrambler therapy'.According to the theoretical guidelines, we have conceived first a prototype and subsequently an electromedical device called Transcutaneous Electromanipulation by Nervous Patterns Scrambler (T.E.N.P.S.).Thirty-four patients, age 64±12, all affected by chronic neuropathic pain have been enrolled in this study. Among them, only 18 (13 M, 5 F) have followed the whole treatment protocol and the subsequent follow-up.Patients experiencing a pain reliefs ≥50% were considered responsive to the treatment. All data have been evaluated by means of statistical analysis tests (Student's t-test, variance) and elaborated by Xlstat software.The first results obtained using the explained device and protocol show an effectively significant VAS score reduction after each 'scrambler therapy' session. Moreover, mean pre-treatment VAS score graph shows a significant decreasing trend. This can be shown also by analyzing pain intensity difference (PID) and summatory PID (SPID) data. Only 16.7% of patients (3 subjects) were not responsive to this protocol, while 11.1% of them (2 patients) have experienced only partial pain-relief.